High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: June 2012
School Nutrition
School meals (free or purchased)
Of those pupils present on the survey day, 49 per cent took a meal supplied by the school, compared to 48 per cent in 2011.
Over fifty three per cent of the pupils who were present on the survey day took a meal in primary schools, an increase from 51.9 per cent in 2011 and the highest rate recorded over the last ten years.
Free school meals
In 2012, across all sectors, 130,477 (19.6 per cent of the total school roll) were registered for free school meals – a decrease of 777 (0.6 per cent) on the previous year.
Of those registered and present, 83.6 per cent took a free school meal on the survey day, up from 82.3 per cent in 2011.
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All authorities are included. A trial took place in 2008, providing free school meals to all pupils in P1- P3. This affects the comparability of school meal uptake in the period 2007-2009.
In August 2010, local initiatives at local authority level increased eligibility for free school meals.
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