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Schools spending £43.5m a year to meet basic needs

Pastoral issues Pupil wellbeing
Two in five schools say that they “frequently” have to provide food for pupils who come to class hungry. Schools are also buying items of uniform, other equipment and even basic items of clothing, such as underwear, for disadvantaged pupils

Schools are also buying items of uniform, other equipment and even basic items of clothing, such as underwear, for disadvantaged pupils.

And some are even offering pupils clothes washing and showering facilities and paying for things such as haircuts.

The stark findings come from a survey of more than 2,100 school leaders by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).

Overall, 84 per cent said they had provided extra, unfunded support for pupils from deprived backgrounds.

Analysis of the survey results suggests that schools are spending £43.5 million a year to pay for these extra commitments – money that has to be found from within schools’ budgets.

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