School Meals in Education Authority Schools 1999-00
A National Statistics Publication
The provisional results of the latest annual survey of school meals are published today by The Scottish Executive Education Department.
These results have been calculated using information from the annual survey of school meals collected from education authorities in Scotland in January 2000. This news release updates the figures published in June 1999 in the News Release School Meals in Education Authority Schools, 1998-99, which reported the results of the January 1999 survey.
The main findings are:
- At January 2000, 22 per cent of primary pupils and 17 per cent of secondary pupils were recorded as being entitled to free meals in education authority schools. (Table 1).
- Of the 687,327 pupils present on census day, 47 per cent took school meals. (Table 2).
- Actual uptake of free meals amongst pupils present on
census day (16 per cent) was lower than the recorded level of entitlement of
pupils on the register (20 per cent).
- Glasgow City had the highest percentage (42 per cent) of pupils recorded as being entitled to free meals compared to Aberdeenshire who had the lowest at 6 per cent (Table 3).
- 87 per cent of pupils present on census day took meals in the Shetland Islands compared with the national average of 47 per cent (Table 4).
TABLES
Table 1 - Pupils on the register of education authority schools: Number and percentage of pupils recorded as being entitled to free meals by sector, 1994-95 to 1999-00.
Table 2 - Pupils present in education authority schools on census day: Pupils present taking meals by sector, 1994-95 to 1999-00.
Table 3 - Pupils on the register of education authority schools: Number and percentage of pupils recorded as being entitled to free meals by education authority and sector, 1999-00.
Table 4 - Pupils present in education authority schools on census day: Pupils present taking meals, by education authority 1999-00.
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS
- A survey of school meals provided by education
authorities has been carried out annually since 1982-83. The survey is
conducted in the spring of each year. In January 2000 around 95 per cent of
primary and 88 per cent of secondary pupils on schools registers were present
on census day, a slight increase compared to the previous year.
- The data for the years 1994-95 to 1997-98 for primary
schools may include some nursery pupils attending primary schools, who were
unable to be separately identified in recording those entitled to free school
meals and taking meals. The provision of free school meals is not compulsory
within the pre-school education sector, therefore no information has been
collected since 1998-99 from centres of pre-school education.
- This information is used in calculating the
distribution of grant support to local authorities and for target setting. In
order to improve the quality of the data, Local Authorities were issued with
agreed guidance to allow for an estimate for those pupils who they believed to
be entitled to free school meals, but were not recorded as such on their
systems.
- Changes in the way school meal data is reported by
Local Authorities has caused some inconsistency in the results between years
and between different Local Authorities.
- Under Section 53(3) of the Education (Scotland) Act
1980, education authorities had a duty to provide school meals in the middle
of the day and free of charge to a pupil whose parents were in receipt of
Income Support, or who was him/her self in receipt of income support.
Effective from 7 October 1996, section 41(4) of, and paragraph 5 of Schedule 2
to, the Jobseekers Act 1995 amended section 53(3) of the Education (Scotland)
Act 1980. This amendment meant that education authorities have a duty to
provide meals free of charge to a pupil whose parents are in receipt of income
support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance (payable under the Jobseekers
Act 1995) or who is him/her self in receipt of that benefit.
- This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional
standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo
regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs.
They are produced free from any political interference.
Enquiries
- Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should be addressed to Adam Krawczyk, Statistician, The Scottish Executive Education Department, Area 1A-West, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 0323 or email adam.krawczyk@scotland.gov.uk.
News Release
29 June 2000
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