Over 50 schools around North East and Teesside chosen for Breakfast Club pilot
It rolls out in April
Last updated 1st May 2025
The first schools to offer free breakfast clubs for pupils as part of the Government's flagship scheme have been named ahead of a trial of the programme.
Some 750 state schools with primary-aged children from every region of England have been selected to join the pilot, which is expected to run from April before a national rollout.
The schools chosen for the trial are expected to offer a free breakfast to all pupils and at least 30 minutes of childcare before school.
Here's the list of all the North East and Teesside schools:
Newcastle upon Tyne
- Welbeck Academy - Our Lady and St Anne's Catholic Primary School North Tyneside
- St Bernadette's Catholic Primary, Wallsend - Langley First School - Ivy Road Primary School South Tyneside
- St Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields - Ashley Academy - Stanhope Primary School Sunderland
- Barnwell Academy - Fatfield Academy - St Leonard's Catholic Primary School, Silksworth - St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland - Hudson Road Primary School - Dame Dorothy Primary School - Richard Avenue Primary School Hartlepool
- St Helen's Primary School - Greatham CofE Primary School Middlesbrough
- Pennyman Primary Academy - St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School Redcar and Cleveland
- Skelton Primary School - New Marske Primary School - Overfields Primary School - Lockwood Primary School Stockton-on-Tees
- Prior's Mill CofE Primary School - Ingleby Mill Primary School - Holy Trinity Rosehill CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School - Ash Trees Academy - Green Gates Academy Gateshead
- St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley County Durham
- Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy - Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School - St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blackhall - St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Bishop Auckland - Moorside Primary Academy - Witton-le-Wear Primary School - Middlestone Moor Academy - Beamish Primary School - Cockfield Primary School - St Margaret's Church of England Primary School - Prince Bishops Community Primary School - Croft Community School Darlington
- High Coniscliffe CofE Primary School Northumberland
- Morpeth Chantry Middle School - Morpeth Newminster Middle School - Malvin's Close Academy - Croftway Academy - Mickley First School - NCEA Warkworth Church of England Primary School - Amble Links Primary School - Otterburn Primary School - Cambo First School - Shilbottle Primary School - Bothal Primary School - Hareside Primary School - Chollerton Church of England Aided First School - Holy Trinity Church of England First SchoolThe £7 million "early adopters" scheme - which will test the delivery of the programme ahead of a wider national rollout in England - was announced at Labour's party conference last September.
It is expected to run until July before being expanded as soon as possible.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the clubs would help to break the link "between background and success" for families "all over the country".
"Alongside our plans to roll out school-based nurseries and get thousands more children school-ready, this Government is delivering the reforms needed to give every child, wherever they grow up, the best start in life," she said.
The headteachers' union welcomed the expansion of breakfast clubs, which some schools already run, but expressed concerns that funding would fall short of the cost.
"It will be crucial that these concerns are addressed before the programme is rolled out across the country to ensure that it does not place further pressure on already strained school budgets, and that children and families can fully reap the benefits," said Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT.