Free Meals Make Calmer Classes

Free school meals for all pupils, whether rich or poor, improves behaviour, says an expert who studied the UK’s only substantial test project. Children in five areas of Scotland are set to take part in a pilot scheme where all primary pupils will be able to have free meals. This idea was previously tested for three years in Hull, before being scrapped on grounds of cost.

Professor Derek Colquhoun from the University of Hull carried out an evaluation of the free school meals project and is set to publish a full report early next year.

Professor Colquhoun’s findings suggested that raising the number of people who had eaten hot, healthy meals during the day brought an overall improvement to the mood of the classroom. “Classrooms in the city are calmer now because more children are getting a balanced meal at breakfast and lunchtime and the project could also lead to less incidences of bullying.”

The free school meal scheme, the first of its kind in the UK, was stopped in summer 2007, when the incoming Liberal Democrat administration decided not to continue the project. A council spokesperson said that the decision was taken on cost grounds that children from families which could afford to pay should not be given a free meal.

21st Oct 2007