Pupils using food banks get lower GCSE grades, Covid study shows

AN England-wide study looking at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on educational inequality, wellbeing and social mobility has found a link between poverty, mental health and attainment of GSCEs.

Findings from the Covid social mobility opportunities (COSMO) study, which is tracking the progress of 13,000 year 11 students from the academic year 2020/21 at more than 500 schools, were published in May. The research, led jointly by the UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities (CEPEO), the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, and education charity The Sutton Trust, has found food poverty and hunger are linked with lower GCSE attainment.

Pupils in families using food banks received lower GCSE grades – half a grade

Findings from the COSMO research

• 82 per cent of parents and more than half (53 per cent) of young people in families struggling financially report poor mental health

• Food bank use and long-term poverty is associated with lower GCSE attainment

• O ne in ten young people are living in households classed as food insecure per subject on average – than they would be expected to, even taking into account previous grades and other aspects of their household finances.

Food poverty hit many families during the pandemic. The majority (57 per cent) of households in the study where young people went hungry were not eligible for free school meals (FSM), and 36 per cent of young people using food banks were not FSM eligible either. The report says this raises questions of whether eligibility is set at the right level, especially as food costs have risen.

NEU joint general secretary Mary Bousted commented: “This research confirms what teachers have witnessed over the last few years: that rising family poverty levels have had a devastating impact on children’s education. No child should go hungry throughout the day and the fact that so many children accessing food banks are not eligible for free school meals is a harrowing indictment of restrictive eligibility criteria. Fifty-eight per cent of our members told us they or their schools are providing additional food for children throughout the day.

“The best way to ensure that all children access the education they deserve is to offer free school meals to all children, starting with those in primary school. This would reduce stigma and improve attainment for the most disadvantaged, ensuring no child is left behind.”

She added that the Government needed to urgently address mental health support, with many schools struggling to access child and adolescent mental heath services.

See Masterclass, page 18, and sign up to the NEU’s campaign for free meals for all: #freeschoolmealsforall youtube.com/ watch?v=HQ0EvWhAQSU neu.org.uk/campaigns/child-poverty