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Free School Meals: Primary Education

Asked by Andrew LewinLabourDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 20 February 2025UIN 30174

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children in year three who are eligible for free school meals attend schools rated (a) Outstanding, (b) Good, (c) Requires Improvement and (d) Inadequate in England.

Answered by Stephen Morgan

Data on the number pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) broken down by a schools’ single headline grade is not held by the department. Ofsted has, as of September 2024, ceased providing headline grades as part of the move to a comprehensive school report card to provide greater information for parents and proportionate accountability for schools. Subject to the ongoing consultation report, cards will include reporting on inclusion.

Information on the total number of pupils in year 3 who are eligible for FSM is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/d86ace7e-c9c0-4fd6-6cbc-08dd48e2728c.

Information on the number and percentage of pupils eligible for FSM by school, is published as part of the statistical release. The release is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics.

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