Students in families that used food banks during the pandemic scored almost half a GCSE grade lower per subject on average.

Furthermore, 1 in 10 young people were living in food insecure households during Covid, while a third of young people in families using food banks during the pandemic were not eligible for free school meals (FSMs).

The findings come from the on-going COVID Social Mobility and Opportunities (COSMO) study. They reveal a concerning – but sadly not surprising – link between food insecurity, mental health, and GCSE grades, heightening fears about the extent of the long-term impact of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis on young people.

The new paper – entitled Financial inequalities and the pandemic (Cullinane et al, 2023) – finds that 81% of parents who report financial struggles – and 54% of young people – are at high risk of psychological distress.

Register now, read forever

Thank you for visiting SecEd and reading some of our content for professionals in secondary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.

What's included:

  • Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcast

  • New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday and Thursday

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here

Related articles