Clinical Effectiveness Group

An evaluation of Universal Free School Meals schemes in four London boroughs found some positive effects on children’s reading and maths, though only in the longer term.

Guaranteed meals where they are needed most 

The London boroughs of Newham, Islington, Southwark and Tower Hamlets are among the eight local authorities in England with the highest rates of child poverty.  Universal Free School Meals schemes in these boroughs  offer a free lunch to every child throughout their entire primary school years. The schemes were introduced in Newham, Islington, Southwark, and Tower Hamlets at different time points between 2009-10 and 2014-15. This was before the London Mayor introduced this policy across London. 

The meals are doing more than preventing hunger. Through our ongoing qualitative research, parents in Tower Hamlets tell us they are struggling, and that Universal Free School Meals are helping to support them through rising living costs and growing social inequalities.

About the study

• The Queen Mary-led evaluation was funded through the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) in Tower Hamlets. It investigates educational benefits of Universal Free School Meals, asking whether the schemes have improved school attendance and capacity for learning, leading to measurable improvements in reading and maths. 
• We analysed data from the Spring school census and National Pupil Database for Newham, Islington, 
Southwark and Tower Hamlets. We studied the first six years of Universal Free School Meals in all four 
boroughs, and additionally the first 7-10 years of the two longest-running schemes in a natural experiment 
design.  
• No data is available on meal uptake. The study compared areas with and without the universal offer as 
a policy. Control groups used for comparison were socio -demographically similar neighbourhoods in London.

Key Findings:

• Educational attainment and school attendance were not significantly different during the first six 
  years of Universal Free School Meal policies.
• There were positive impacts on reading and maths in the boroughs who had the scheme in 
  place for the longest time (seven years or more).
• Additional research in more areas over longer periods of time is needed to better understand 
  the mechanisms, how the schemes impact on the school environments, and how they may be 
  improved. 

Food for thought? 

The pathways between funding meals and ‘producing’ better exam results or attendance is complex and should not be portrayed too simplistically. There are many factors that could not be measured or accounted for in our study, so different types of studies are needed to help unpick specific enablers or barriers.  
The study highlighted that meal uptake data were not collected systematically during the study period. Better recording of uptake by schools and local authorities will enable more accurate research on who benefits from the schemes. This would support evaluation of the London wide scheme. 

The primary aim of Universal Free School Meals policies is to support families facing rising living costs and food insecurity, a potent cause of social inequalities. A sustained policy may also deliver educational benefits.