Thousands more free healthy school meals for secondary pupils as Southwark Council extends scheme

11 January 2024

Over 1,500 young people are set to benefit from free healthy school meals for the second year running as Southwark Council announces plans to extend their secondary school scheme.

The council has provided free healthy school meals for all primary school children for over a decade.

This academic year, the council used funding from the Mayor of London to extend their offer to secondary school pupils whose parents receive Universal Credit but currently miss out due to earning over the national threshold (£7,400 a year as a family).

Southwark Council will be doing the same for these families next academic year following the Mayor of London announcing he would be extending funding for universal free school meals in London primary schools.

Cllr Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Refugees, said: “It is fantastic news that the Mayor of London is extending a scheme that goes hand in hand with our delivery of free healthy school meals for all primary school children in Southwark for more than a decade. It means we can continue providing thousands of additional free healthy hot meals to secondary school students who previously missed out. A guaranteed healthy meal at school every day is more important than ever as more families struggle to get by; it puts money back in our parents’ pockets, while helping their children’s life chances grow.”

Southwark Council supported secondary schools with an audit to determine whether extra equipment and dining room capacity was needed to accommodate for the increased meals. Six schools were identified and have been awarded a grant to cover the expense of upgrading equipment and dining hall space.

Page last updated: 11 January 2024