HC Deb 12 January 2004 vol 416 cc576-7W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have fallen below the 20 per cent. threshold of pupils taking free school meals in the past five years. [145424]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

The information is given separately for pupils taking free school meals and for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals in primary and secondary schools over the last five years.

Maintained primary and secondary schools1: proportion of school population known to be eligible for a free school meal. Position in January each year 1999 to 2003—England
Maintained Primary Schools 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Number of schools by proportion of school population known to be eligible for free school meals2
Below 20 per cent. 12,230 12,368 12,534 12,639 12,631
20 per cent. and over 6,004 5,790 5,535 5,346 5,230
Total number of schools 18,234 18.158 18,069 17,985 17,861
Percentage of schools by proportion of school population known to be eligible for free school meals3
Below 20 per cent 67.1 68.1 69.4 70.3 70.7
20 per cert. and over 32.9 31.9 30.6 29.7 29.3
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Maintained Secondary Schools
Number of schools by proportion of school population known to be eligible for free school meals2
Below 20 per cent. 2,367 2,397 2,421 2,491 2,502
20 per cent. and over 1,193 1,153 1,060 966 934
Total number of schools 3,560 3,550 3,481 3,457 3,436
Percentage of schools by proportion of school population known to be eligible for free school meals3
Below 20 per cent. 66.5 67.5 69.5 72.1 72.8
20 per cent. and over 33.5 32.5 30.5 27.9 27.2
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1Includes middle schools as deemed.
2 Prior to 2001 figures relate to number of pupils known to be eligible for a free school meal. From 2001 this definition was expanded to include only pupils who were known to be eligible for and claiming a free school meal.
3 Number of schools in each band expressed as a percentage of all schools.

Source:

Annual Schools Census

Maintained primary and secondary schools1: proportion of school population who took a free school meal Position in January each year 1999 to 2003—England
Maintained Primary Schools 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Number of schools by proportion of school population taking a free school meal2
Below 20 per cent. 13,602 13,601 13,870 13,865 13,735
20 per cent. and over 4,632 4,557 4,199 4,120 4,126
Total number of schools 18,234 18,158 18,069 17,985 17,861
Percentage of schools by proportion of school population taking a free school meal3
Below 20 per cent. 74.6 74.9 76.8 77.1 76.9
20 per cert. and over 25.4 25.1 23.2 22.9 23.1
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Maintained Secondary Schools
Number of schools by proportion of school population taking a free school meal2
Below 20 per cent. 2,845 2.839 2,858 2,870 2,856
20 per cent. and over 715 711 623 587 580
Total number of schools 3,560 3,550 3,481 3,457 3,436
Percentage of schools by proportion of school population taking a free school meal3
Below 20 per cent. 79.9 80.0 82.1 83.0 83.1
20 per cent. and over 20.1 20.0 17.9 17.0 16.9
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1 Includes middle schools as deemed.
2 Proportion of school population taking a free school meal on the day of the Census in January.
3 Number of schools in each band expressed as a percentage of all schools.

Source:

Annual Schools' Census