‘Something needs to be done’: Hackney headteachers speak out as cost-of-living crisis hits schools and families

Mandeville primary is one school offering free meals to all pupils. Photograph: Mandeville School

Headteachers have warned politicians that the cost of living is “starting to bite” families in Hackney.

Louise Nicholls, who heads up three primary schools in the borough, told councillors: “It really needs something to be done quite urgently.”

She was one of the headteachers giving evidence to the children and young people scrutiny commission about how schools have stepped in with universal free school meals and free food shops to help parents put food on the table.

Members of the commission have also visited schools to see for themselves what extra support is needed.

It is estimated that nearly half of Hackney’s children live in poverty, according to the latest data.

The borough has the seventh highest number of children getting free school meals in England.

This includes 41 per cent of secondary school pupils – nearly double the figure across London – 36 per cent of primary school children, and 62 per cent of children at special schools. Forty-seven per cent of students at pupil referral units also get free school meals.

Across the nation, all children in reception receive free school meals, which the government funds at £2.41 per lunch.

After that they are only eligible if their families get Universal Credit and their income is less than £7,400 or if they get other benefits.

Several Hackney schools have opted to give free school meals to every pupil to ensure they all get the healthy diet needed to help them study. It also frees up schools from chasing outstanding payments, the scrutiny commission was told.

Jenna Clark, the head of Gainsborough primary, said it costs £20,000 a year to offer free school meals to 120 children. The school also runs a free breakfast club and staff can eat with the children.

The school is also embarking on a circular food project to grow their own produce.

Nicholls, the executive head of Gayhurst, Kingsmead and Mandeville primaries, explained how some parents who can afford meals make donations which are ploughed into after-school and breakfast clubs.

There are universal free school meals at Mandeville, and Kingsmead offers a completely free breakfast club.

There’s also a weekly free food shop for all families through a partnership with the Felix Project.

Nicholls said: “We don’t want this attached to a stigma, many of our families are just above the threshold, they’re the ones really struggling, in low-paid work, going out with childcare costs that are prohibitive.”

Andy English, headteacher at Our Lady’s Catholic secondary in Stamford Hill, echoed his colleagues.

He said 60 to 80 students a day enjoy a free breakfast and a chance to finish school work. Other help includes giving out hygiene packs and encouraging families to donate uniforms that their children have outgrown.

He warned that the cost of living is affecting the school too and asked the council to consider ways it can help schools.

“The canteen manager has to make decisions because of rocketing food costs,” he said.

Richard Brown runs Urswick secondary school in Homerton – the first secondary to offer free school meals for all eight years ago.

He said: “It’s been going so long now there’s no child in school who’s ever paid for a school lunch.”

Staff can also have a free lunch, provided they sit with the pupils.

Brown said: “It brings together people – the act of breaking bread brings people together.”

However, he said schools need clarity and pointed to delays in government announcements about funding meals for the October half-term, which schools learned about just a fortnight in advance.

They are yet to have any official news on what will happen during the Christmas break, although it is hoped there will be provision.

Hackney Council has recently launched a food poverty task group.

It has also compiled a booklet which directs people to support with fuel, bills and food, and it is hosting an online cost-of-living event on Wednesday 9 November.

Find out more here.