School Healthy Living Survey: school meal uptake and PE provision statistics 2023

Statistics on school meal uptake and PE provision from the 2023 School Healthy Living Survey


Section 1: School meal uptake

Figure 1: Uptake of free school meals increased between 2022 and 2023 in all school sectors, following a long-term general decline

Percentage of pupils registered for free school meals and who were present on survey day taking free school meals, Scotland, 2017 to 2023

The percentage of pupils registered for free school meals and present on the survey day who took a free school meal (the meal uptake rate) increased in all sectors from 2022 to 2023, although no sectors reached their pre-pandemic level. The largest increase was seen in special schools (74% to 84%), with smaller increases in primary (68% to 72%) and secondary schools (60% to 61%). These increases over the most recent year mark a change to the long-term general decline in uptake rates for free meals. The overall uptake rate for free school meals across all sectors was 70% in 2023, up from 67% in 2022 but down from 85% in 2014.

Figure 2: Uptake of free school meals increased between 2022 and 2023 in the primary stages receiving universal provision of free school meals

Percentage of primary pupils registered for free school meals and who were present on survey day taking free school meals, Scotland, 2017 to 2023

In 2015 universal entitlement to free school meals was introduced for pupils in P1 to P3. This universal entitlement was extended to all pupils in P4 in August 2021 and then to all pupils in P5 in January 2022.

The free school meal uptake rate for pupils in these universal entitlement stages increased between 2022 and 2023 (from 68% to 72%) while the uptake rate for those in means tested stages also increased but to a lesser degree (66% to 67%). As in 2022, the uptake rate for universal entitlement stages was higher than the uptake rate for means-tested stages. This is in contrast to the pre-pandemic years where the means-tested stages had a higher uptake rate. The reason for this likely to be linked, at least in part, to the extension of universal entitlement over this period.

Figure 3: Uptake of school meals (free and paid for) increased from 2022 to 2023 in all school sectors, with uptake in primary and special schools higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2020

Percentage of pupils present on survey day taking school meals (free and paid for), Scotland, 2017 to 2023

The uptake rate for all school meals (both free and paid for) increased in all sectors from 2022 to 2023. The largest increase (64% to 81%) was seen in special schools. The uptake rate in primary and special schools now exceeds the pre-pandemic levels. For all sectors, the increase in uptake rate for all school meals between 2022 and 2023 was predominantly driven by an increase in the uptake rate for paid meals.

Figure 4: Uptake of school meals is highest among pupils with universal entitlement to free meals (P1-P5 and Special Schools) compared to where free meal provision is means-tested (P6-P7 and Secondary Schools)

Percentage of pupils present on survey day taking school meals, Scotland, February 2023

Uptake for all school meals (free and paid for) is highest among pupils with universal entitlement to free school meals (P1-P5 72%; Special schools 81%) and lowest among pupils where access to free meals is means-tested (P6-P7 42%; Secondary schools 39%).

Figure 5a: The number of free school meals taken in 2023 was the highest on record (since 2006) but the total number of meals (free and paid for) taken remains below pre-2022 levels, following a long-term decline in paid-for meals

Number of pupils taking school meals (free and all meals) on survey day by sector, Scotland, 2017 to 2023

Pupils present and taking meals

2017

2018

2019

2020

2022

2023

Free meals: Primary

165,027

160,323

160,539

155,258

186,965

 200,850

Free meals: Secondary

23,911

23,937

24,287

25,217

24,464

26,310

Free meals: Special

3,418

3,466

3,448

4,131

3,624

4,797

Free meals: Total

192,356

187,726

188,274

184,606

215,053

231,957

All meals: Primary

246,162

237,315

230,271

222,005

212,838

230,953

All meals: Secondary

110,288

110,364

112,722

112,816

90,225

101,178

All meals: Special

4,375

4,663

4,371

5,005

4,047

5,044

All meals: Total

360,825

352,342

347,364

339,826

307,110

337,175

 

Figure 5b: Uptake rate of school meals (free and paid for) increased in all sectors from 2022 to 2023

Percentage of pupils present on survey day taking school meals (free and all meals), Scotland, 2017 to 2023

Pupils present and taking meals

2017

2018

2019

2020

2022

2023

Free meals: Primary

82.1

80.5

79.2

76.9

68.3

71.6

Free meals: Secondary

73.4

72.8

70.9

70.9

59.5

60.6

Free meals: Special

91.3

87.1

85.1

86.8

73.7

83.6

Free meals: Total

81.0

79.6

78.1

76.2

67.2

70.4

All meals: Primary

65.0

62.4

60.4

58.6

59.5

63.1

All meals: Secondary

44.3

44.6

45.2

44.6

35.9

39.0

All meals: Special

78.0

77.8

72.4

77.4

63.9

81.2

All meals: Total

56.9

55.6

54.5

53.3

49.9

53.4

 

Figure 6a: The number of free school meals taken by primary school pupils was the highest on record with increases in both means-tested and universal free meals in 2023. The total number of all meals (free and paid for) taken also increased but not to record levels

Primary pupils taking school meals (free and all meals) by universal or means-tested free school meal provision stages [note 1], 2017 to 2023

Primary pupils present and taking meals

2017

2018

2019

2020

2022

2023

Free meals: universal stages

134,042

130,201

127,888

120,977

172,869

185,744

Free meals: means-tested stages

30,985

30,122

32,651

34,381

14,096

15,106

Free meals: All primary stages

165,027

160,323

160,539

155,358

186,965

200,850

All meals: universal stages

134,042

130,201

127,888

120,977

172,869

185,744

All meals: means-tested stages

112,120

107,114

102,383

101,128

39,969

45,209

All meals: All primary stages

246,162

237,315

230,271

222,105

212,838

230,953

Note 1: In 2015 universal entitlement to free school meals was introduced for pupils in P1 to P3. This universal entitlement was extended to all pupils in P4 in August 2021 and then to all pupils in P5 in January 2022.

Figure 6b: Uptake rates of free and paid for meals among primary pupils increased from 2022 to 2023

Percentage of primary pupils present on survey day taking school meals (free or paid for) by universal or means-tested free school meal provision stages [note 1], Scotland, 2017 to 2023

Primary pupils present and taking meals

2017

2018

2019

2020

2022

2023

Free meals: universal stages

81.2

79.6

79.0

75.7

68.4

72.1

Free meals: means-tested stages

86.2

84.9

79.9

81.4

66.2

66.7

Free meals: All primary stages

82.1

80.5

79.2

76.9

68.3

71.6

All meals: universal stages

81.2

79.6

79.0

75.7

68.4

72.1

All meals: means-tested stages

52.4

49.5

46.7

46.2

38.1

41.7

All meals: All primary stages

65.0

62.4

60.4

58.6

59.5

63.1

Note 1: In 2015 universal entitlement to free school meals was introduced for pupils in P1 to P3. This universal entitlement was extended to all pupils in P4 in August 2021 and then to all pupils in P5 in January 2022.

Contact

Email: school.stats@gov.scot

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