Statistical Bulletin on school meals in NI 2015/16 published

The Department of Education has published statistics on the uptake of school meals in local schools, commonly known as the School Meals Census.

The key findings from the School Meals Census are:-

Uptake of school meals

• Over 185,000 school meals, both free and paid, were taken by pupils on census day, which equates to a school meals uptake level of 60.6% by pupils present for lunch on the day.
• The school meals uptake level for 2015/16 is 0.9 percentage point higher than the previous year.

Entitlement to free school meals

• The number of pupils entitled to free school meals has surpassed the 100,000 mark; at 101,063 this represents 30.6% of pupils.

Uptake of free school meals

• The uptake level for free school meals by entitled pupils is 81.1%; this represents an increase of half a percentage point from the previous year.

This statistical release may be accessed at School meals - 2015/16 statistical bulletin - 14 April 2016

Notes to editors: 

1. For more details about the statistics contained in this press release, or to request further information and analysis, please contact:

Stephen Paulin
Analytical Services Unit
Department of Education
Rathgael House
Balloo Road
Rathgill
BANGOR
BT19 7PR

Tel. 028 9127 9638
Fax 028 9127 9594

Email: stephen.paulin@deni.gov.uk

2. DE statistical press releases can be accessed on the DE website under the Statistics and Research Section.

3. Media enquiries to the Department of Education’s Communications Team on Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.

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