1. Key points

  • 194,324 school meals, both free and paid, were taken by pupils on the school meals uptake reference date (11 November 2022), which equates to a school meals uptake level of 62.3% by pupils present for lunch on the day.

  • The school meals uptake level for 2022/23 is 10 percentage points higher than for 2020/21 (there was no data collected on uptake for 2021/22). Uptake of school meals in 2020/21 was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The school meals uptake level for 2022/23 is almost three percentage points higher than the pre-pandemic uptake level (59.5%) for 2019/20.

  • The overall percentage of children entitled to free school meals is 27.7%, a slight decrease compared to the previous year (28.5%). This 27.7% equates to 96,319 free school meal entitled pupils in nursery, primary/preparatory, post-primary, and special schools.

  • The uptake level for free school meals by entitled pupils is 79.2%; this is 4.3 percentage points higher than for 20/21 (74.9%) and just over one percentage point lower than in 2019/20 (80.5%).

2. Introduction

The purpose of this statistical bulletin is to provide results of the latest annual data collection relating to the uptake of school meals in Northern Ireland schools.

The data collected are used by policy teams within the Department of Education and by other users across the education service. The data are also used to inform responses to Assembly questions. The Department is responsible for formulating and developing policy and the associated financial arrangements in relation to school meals.

The information was collected with a reference point of 11 November 2022 and relates to all grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland. This date was chosen to better align with an agreed extension, between the Department of Education and the Education Authority, to the date used for the purposes of assessing school’ Free School Meals entitlement numbers. Data was imputed for some schools who did not make a return, most citing that they were participating in Action Short of Strike (see paragraph 17 of Notes to readers).

The uptake data was not collected from schools for 2021/22. The 2020/21 data was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore any comparisons with 2020/21 data should be treated with caution. Comparisons with 2019/20 have also been provided.

3. Uptake of school meals (free and paid)

Figure 1 - Uptake of school meals (free and paid), by school type: 2018/19 – 2022/23

1. Nursery only includes pupils in nursery schools.
2. Primary includes pupils in reception and nursery classes.
3. In 2020/21 the school meal numbers include food provision to pupils who were unable to attend school due to COVID-19 but who were engaging in distance learning. The uptake figure is based on the number of pupils present for lunch on census day, including pupils who were engaging in distance learning.
4. Data taken from Table 3
5. School meals uptake data was not collected from schools for 2021/22


  • 194,324 school meals, both free and paid, were taken by pupils on the school meals uptake reference date [Note 1] (Table 1). This equates to an uptake level of 62.3% by pupils present for lunch (Table 3). This is 10 percentage points higher than in 2020/21 and almost three percentage points higher than in 2019/20 (Table 3).

  • Pupils not taking a school meal are making alternative arrangements for lunch, which can include bringing their own food into school, or having lunch at home. This category represents 37.9% of meals (Tables 1 and 2). This is almost 10 percentage points lower than 2020/21, when far fewer pupils were accessing the school meals service because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022/23 figure is almost three percentage points lower than the figure for 2019/20.

  • The proportion of pupils paying for a school meal increased by 9.1 percentage points (from 29% in 2020/21 to 38.1% in 2022/23), while the proportion of pupils having a free school meal slightly increased by 0.7 percentage points (from 23.3% in 2020/21 to 24% in 2022/23). When compared to 2019/20 the proportion paying for a school meal has increased by just over three percentage points (34.8% in 2019/20), while the proportion having a free school meal was similar (24.6% in 2019/20).

  • There is a variation in the level of uptake across school types with Nursery schools having the highest uptake at 89.5%. Primary & Preparatory have the lowest levels of uptake at 59.2% (Table 3). The tables for this bulletin can be found at the end of the webpage.

Note:

1 - 11 November 2022

Figure 2 - Uptake of school meals in primary schools, according to relative fsme 2022/23

1. Includes preparatory departments, pupils in reception and nursery classes of primary schools. Excludes schools where no meal service is available.
2. Data taken from Table 5.


Figure 3 - Uptake of school meals in post-primary schools, according to relative fsme 2022/23

1. Excludes schools where no meal service is available.
2. Data taken from Table 5.


  • Pupils from the least affluent schools, as measured by free school meal entitlement (fsme) were more likely to take a school meal, rather than make other arrangements. For example, 71% of pupils in primary schools with 40% or more fsme pupils took a school meal compared to 49.1% in primary schools with 10% or less fsme pupils (Table 5 which can be found here).

4. Entitlement to free school meals

Figure 4 - Percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals, by school type 2018/19 - 2022/23

1. Nursery only includes pupils in nursery schools.
2. Primary includes pupils in reception and nursery classes.
3. Data taken from Table 7
4. School meals uptake data was not collected from schools for 2021/22.


  • Across all school types, including special schools, 96,319 pupils were entitled to free school meals [Note 2], which is a decrease of 2,485 pupils on the 2021/22 figure (Table 6). The overall percentage of children entitled to free school meals has dropped slightly compared to the previous year (28.5%) at 27.7%.

  • Compared to 2021/22, there are slight decreases, across all school types, in the proportion of pupils that are free school meal entitled. special schools have the highest proportion at 52%, whilst grammar schools have the lowest proportion at 12.7%.

  • Due to a large number of late or incomplete free school meal applications, DE and the EA agreed to an extension to the date used for the purposes of assessing schools’ Free School Meals entitlement numbers. Normally, children must be entitled on census day, for this year this was extended to Friday 4th November.

Note:

2 - Parental receipt of certain social security benefits is used as a proxy for free school meal entitlement for pupils in nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools. Does not include pupils in EOTAS centres.

5. Uptake of free school meals

Figure 5 - Uptake of free school meals (fsm) by school type 2022/23

1. Nursery only includes pupils in nursery schools.
2. Primary includes pupils in reception and nursery classes.
3. Data taken from Table 9


  • There were 74,961 free school meals taken by pupils across all school types, an increase of 2,618 on 2020/21 (Table 9). This represents 38.6% of all meals provided by schools, which is 5.4 percentage points lower than 2020/21 and almost three percentage points lower than 2019/20.

  • When considering the number of free school meals provided as a proportion of the number of pupils with actual entitlement to free school meals [Note 3], uptake of free school meals was 79.2% (Table 9). The 2022/23 free school meals uptake level is 4.3 percentage points higher than 2020/21 (74.9%), but 1.3 percentage points lower than 2019/20 (80.5%). The 2020/21 figure was likely lower due to the COVID-19 situation, resulting in fewer pupils wanting to take a free school meal.

  • There is a variation in the level of uptake of free school meals by those entitled across school types. Figure 5 shows that uptake is highest in nursery schools (84.1%). This is followed by primary and preparatory schools and special schools, with 82.4% and 81.7% respectively. Uptake in secondary schools is 75.1% and is lowest in grammar schools with 72.9% (Table 9). Tables can be found at the end of the webpage.

Note:

3 - For the purposes of calculating uptake the actual entitlement figure for nursery schools and primary schools with nursery pupils is based on full-time pupils only and excludes pupils counted under the proxy measure of free school meal entitlement (parental receipt of certain social security benefits). See notes to readers paragraph 14.

6. Notes to readers

Official Statistics

  1. This is an Official Statistics publication. Official statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

  2. For general enquiries about the Code of Practice for Statistics, contact the National Statistics Public Enquiry Service on 0845 601 3034
    Minicom: 01633 812399
    E-mail:
    Fax: 01633 652747
    Letters: Customer Contact Centre, Office for National Statistics, Rm 1.101, Government Buildings, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP10 8XG

  3. You can also find Official Statistics on the Internet.

School meal provision

  1. The Education Authority is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school meals service in all grant-aided schools, with the exception of voluntary grammar schools and grant-maintained integrated schools, where the responsibility lies with the Trustees/Boards of Governors.

  2. The service is provided in line with the Approved Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities made under Articles 58 and 59 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 drawn up by the Department of Education (DE), which will be referred to as ‘the Arrangements’ in the remainder of this document. DE website opens in new window;

  3. Two main types of school meal service exist:

  • A traditional meal comprising a main course and dessert; and
  • A cash cafeteria service, where items are priced separately.

Free school meal provision

  1. With regard to free school meal provision the following terms are used:
  • Eligibility: When a pupil within a family meets one of the criteria contained in paragraph 6 of the Arrangements for the provision of milk, meals and related facilities.
  • Entitlement: When an application for free school meals is made on behalf of a pupil and the application is successful.
  • Uptake: When a pupil who is entitled to free school meals makes use of the free school meal provision by taking a free school meal.
  1. Details of the eligibility criteria for free school meals are contained in paragraph 6 of the Arrangements. The Education Authority is responsible for administering the award of free school meals. Entitlement to free school meals is widely used as an indicator of deprivation.

School meals uptake data collection

  1. The main statistics in this statistical bulletin have been derived from the annual school meals uptake data collection. This is undertaken by the Department, with data collected directly from each grant-aided school. No data collection took place for 2021/22.

  2. The 2022/23 school meals uptake figures are based on information for a reference date of 11 November 2022 [Note 4]. This date was chosen to better align with data collected on pupils entitled to free school meals (fsme), collected as part of the annual school enrolments data collection. Some tables in this statistical bulletin include data on school enrolments and the number of pupils entitled to free school meals. Enrolments data is based on a reference date of 7 October 2022 while the cut-off date for numbers entitled to free school meals was 4 November 2022.

Note 4: If school meals were not being provided by the school on the reference date, or are not typical of a normal day, the school could choose to provide figures for the nearest day on which meals are provided. This may mean that dual registered pupils could be included in both their main and subsidiary schools’ figures

  1. In nursery and primary schools, new pupils often have a phased introduction to school, with some pupils not starting school until late October. Also new pupils may have a shorter day initially, without a lunch break. The school meals uptake reference date is usually the Friday of the first full week in October. This means that not all pupils will have started school or be staying for lunch break. While pupils due to start later in the month will be counted in school enrolment, and free school meal entitlement figures, they will not be present to take a meal and will not therefore be counted in the school meals uptake figures, resulting in an artificially low uptake rate. Due to the later reference date for the school meals uptake in 2022/23 the impact of a phased introduction to school should be less, if occurring at all.

  2. In schools with a cash cafeteria system, school meal numbers are calculated from lunchtime income. Schools also include income from sales at morning break but income from breakfast clubs is not included. The cost of a fixed price meal is used to convert income from lunch and break-time sales to equated meal numbers. Equated meal numbers will not exactly match pupils present for meals.

  3. There were 5,594 pupils who were recorded as being present on the reference date (11 November 2022) but schools indicated they were not availing of a school lunch break. These pupils were mainly in nursery, primary or special schools. This will include part-time nursery pupils and primary pupils whose school day, by the reference date, did not yet include a lunch break. These pupils have been excluded from the count of pupils present for meals for the purposes of calculating uptake of school meals.

  4. For uptake of free school meals by pupils entitled in nursery schools and primary schools with nursery units, the denominator used in the calculation of the percentages is based on full-time pupils only and excludes pupils counted under the proxy measure of free school meal entitlement (where parents are entitled to receive Income Support, or Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Employment Support Allowance where an award of income-based job-seekers allowance has been converted; or Universal Credit).

  5. There were 11 schools indicating that they do not provide a school meals service. Nine are nursery schools where none of the pupils have a lunch break included as part of their hours of attendance. A total of 30 pupils at the remaining two schools do receive a lunch break. These 30 pupils are recorded as ‘making other lunch arrangements’ and are included in the count of pupils present for lunch when calculating percentage uptake of school meals (Tables 3 and 8).

  6. Figures for primary schools can include nursery and/or reception pupils attending primary schools and preparatory departments.

  7. Figures have been imputed for 86 schools that did not make a return for 2022/23. Action short of strike was reported by 68 of these schools. To calculate the number of pupils present on the reference date, the average pupils present rate by school type for responding schools was applied to 2022/23 enrolment numbers for the non-responding schools. The Education Authority Catering Team were able to provide daily average meal numbers, for November 2022, for 83 of these schools. Three schools are not managed by EA Catering but two of these schools were Nursery schools, with part-time pupils, that did not offer a school meals service. For the remaining school, the proportions taking meals in a previous year were applied to the estimated pupils present figure. There were a further 25 schools that submitted a return but did not fully engage with attempts to validate the data. The data submitted has been assumed as correct.

Impact of the COVID-19 on data for uptake of school meals

  1. Data for 2020/21 was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many schools were not experiencing typical numbers of pupils present on site in school or accessing the school meals service. Some schools were only providing a meals service to pupils entitled to free school meals, or not providing a hot meals service. This will have contributed to a reduced uptake figure for school meals, both paid and free.

  2. Due to resources being diverted to other higher priorities the Department did not collect school meals uptake data from schools for 2021/22.

Other useful information

  1. Information presenting uptake of school meals in Northern Ireland, England and Scotland was discontinued as policy differences between the regions and availability of up-to-date information for other regions make comparisons difficult.

  2. The figures in this statistical bulletin may be subject to minor revision and these will be notified in accordance with our revisions policy. This can be accessed at DE website; opens in a new window

  3. More detail about the collection of data on school meals can be found on the DE website. This can be accessed at DE website; opens in a new window.

  4. The Statistics and Research section of the DE website; opens in a new window also presents data on uptake of school meals. Statistics on school enrolments, school performance, pupil attendance, teacher numbers, pupil: teacher ratios, school leaver destinations and qualifications may also be accessed via the website.

  5. The following symbols are used in the tables in this statistical bulletin:
    * = Relates to fewer than 5 cases
    # = Number (5 or more) suppressed to prevent disclosure of small numbers elsewhere
    - = Indicates no schools in this category

School Management Types

Controlled schools are managed and funded by the Education Authority (EA) through Boards of Governors (BoG). Primary and secondary school BoGs consist of representatives of transferors (mainly the Protestant Churches) along with representatives of parents, teachers and EA. Controlled nursery, grammar and special school BoGs consist only of representatives of the latter three categories and the Department (DE).

Controlled Integrated schools are managed and funded by the Education Authority (EA) through Boards of Governors (BoG). The majority of BoGs consist of representatives of transferors, catholic maintained trustees, parents, teachers and EA.

Grant-Maintained Integrated schools are owned and managed by their BoG which consist of foundation governors along with representatives of parents, teachers and DE. They are funded by EA.

A Voluntary school means a grant-aided school other than a controlled school or a grant‐maintained integrated school:

  • Catholic maintained schools are voluntary schools owned by trustees and managed by BoGs which consist of members appointed by trustees along with representatives of parents, teachers, EA and DE. Catholic Maintained schools are funded by EA.
  • Other maintained schools are voluntary schools owned by trustees and managed by BoGs which consist of members appointed by trustees along with representatives of parents, teachers, EA and in some cases, DE. Other Maintained schools are funded by EA.
  • Voluntary grammar schools are owned by trustees and managed by BoGs. The majority of BoGs consist of members appointed by the trustees along with representatives of parents, teachers, DE and in some cases, EA. Voluntary Grammar schools are funded by EA.

All of the above are types of grant-aided school. Independent Schools do not receive any funding from the Education Authority or the Department of Education.

Open Government Licence

All content in this report is licensed and available under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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To view this licence go to: Open Government Licence

Contact information

Request for further information should be addressed to:-

Helen McClure

Statistics and Research Team
Department of Education
Rathgael House
Balloo Road
Rathgill
BANGOR
Co. Down
BT19 7PR

Telephone (028) 9127 9403
E-mail:

Special analyses of the school meals statistics can be undertaken on request.

Press enquiries should be made to the Department’s Press Office at the same address, telephone (028) 9127 9772.

Feedback on this publication can be provided directly to Helen McClure (contact details above) or contact the Statistics and Research Team

7. List of tables and charts

School meals (free and paid for)

  • Table 1 Number and type of meals taken on reference date, by school type and school management type: 2022/23

  • Table 2 Percentage and type of meals taken on reference date, by school type and school management type: 2022/23

  • Table 3 Uptake of school meals (free and paid) - number and percentage of pupils present for lunch on reference date, by school type and school management type: 2018/19 – 2022/23

  • Table 4 Number and percentage of school meals provided (free and paid) by type of meal provision, school type and school management type: 2022/23

  • Table 5 Uptake of school meals (free and paid) – number and percentage of pupils present for lunch on reference date, according to relative free school meal entitlement, by school type: 2022/23

Free school meals

  • Table 6 Number and percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals by school type: 2018/19 – 2022/23

  • Table 7 Number and percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals, by school type and school management type: 2022/23

  • Table 8 Number and percentage of pupils taking free school meals as a proportion of all school meals provided and as a proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals, by school type and school management type: 2022/23

  • Table 9 Uptake of free school meals - number and percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals, by school type: 2018/19 – 2022/23

Adults taking school meals

  • Table 10 Adults taking school meals, by school type: 2022/23

Tables

Table 1

Table 1 Number and type of meals taken on reference date, by school type and school management type: 2022/23

School type Management type Paid meals (provided by school) [Note 2] Free meals (provided by school) All meals (provided by school) [Note 2] Pupils making other lunch arrangements (including own food) [Note 1] Total [Note 1]
Nursery [Note 3] Controlled 1,106 728 1,834 153 1,987
Nursery [Note 3] Catholic Maintained 540 617 1,157 159 1,316
Nursery [Note 3] Controlled Integrated 22 26 48 46 94
Nursery [Note 3] Total 1,668 1,371 3,039 358 3,397
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Controlled 24,383 17,083 41,466 33,617 75,083
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Voluntary 996 14 1,010 373 1,383
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Catholic Maintained 26,809 20,585 47,394 26,976 74,370
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Other Maintained 1,164 1,185 2,349 1,393 3,742
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Controlled Integrated 1,136 1,136 2,272 2,152 4,424
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments GMI 2,069 1,326 3,395 2,919 6,314
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Total 56,557 41,329 97,886 67,430 165,316
Secondary Controlled 8,741 7,162 15,903 11,665 27,568
Secondary Catholic Maintained 11,837 11,797 23,634 11,528 35,162
Secondary Other Maintained 168 519 687 253 940
Secondary Controlled Integrated 722 1,036 1,758 1,916 3,674
Secondary GMI 4,718 2,717 7,435 2,250 9,685
Secondary Total 26,186 23,231 49,417 27,612 77,029
Grammar Controlled 5,335 1,160 6,495 7,134 13,629
Grammar Voluntary 28,603 4,927 33,530 14,271 47,801
Grammar Total 33,938 6,087 40,025 21,405 61,430
Post Primary Total 60,124 29,318 89,442 49,017 138,459
Special Controlled 962 2,679 3,641 1,709 5,350
Special Catholic Maintained 41 220 261 76 337
Special Other Maintained 11 44 55 20 75
Special Total 1,014 2,943 3,957 1,805 5,762
All schools Controlled 40,527 28,812 69,339 54,278 123,617
All schools Voluntary 29,599 4,941 34,540 14,644 49,184
All schools Catholic Maintained 39,227 33,219 72,446 38,739 111,185
All schools Other Maintained 1,343 1,748 3,091 1,666 4,757
All schools Controlled Integrated 1,880 2,198 4,078 4,114 8,192
All schools GMI 6,787 4,043 10,830 5,169 15,999
All schools Total 119,363 74,961 194,324 118,610 312,934

Source: NI school meals uptake data collection 2022/23

Note:

  1. Excludes pupils present on the reference date whose school day did not include a lunch break, including part-time nursery pupils and some P1 pupils (see notes for readers, paragraph 13).

  2. Paid meal figures presented are equated meals: Where schools have a cash cafeteria system for lunch the meal numbers are calculated based on lunchtime income. Income from morning break provision is also included in the calculation of meal numbers (see notes for readers, paragraph 12)

  3. Only includes pupils at nursery schools.

  4. Includes pupils in reception and nursery classes of primary schools.

Table 2

Table 2 Percentage and type of meals taken on reference date, by school type and school management type: 2022/23

School type Management type Paid meals (provided by school) [Note 3] % Free meals (provided by school) % All meals (provided by school) [Note 3] % Pupils making other lunch arrangements (including own food) % [Note 2] Total [Note 1] %
Nursery [Note 4] Controlled 55.7 36.6 92.3 7.7 100.0
Nursery [Note 4] Catholic Maintained 41.0 46.9 87.9 12.1 100.0
Nursery [Note 4] Controlled Integrated 23.4 27.7 51.1 48.9 100.0
Nursery [Note 4] Total 49.1 40.4 89.5 10.5 100.0
Primary [Note 5] & Preparatory Departments Controlled 32.5 22.8 55.2 44.8 100.0
Primary [Note 5] & Preparatory Departments Voluntary 72.0 1.0 73.0 27.0 100.0
Primary [Note 5] & Preparatory Departments Catholic Maintained 36.0 27.7 63.7 36.3 100.0
Primary [Note 5] & Preparatory Departments Other Maintained 31.1 31.7 62.8 37.2 100.0
Primary [Note 5] & Preparatory Departments Controlled Integrated 25.7 25.7 51.4 48.6 100.0
Primary [Note 5] & Preparatory Departments GMI 32.8 21.0 53.8 46.2 100.0
Primary [Note 5] & Preparatory Departments Total 34.2 25.0 59.2 40.8 100.0
Secondary Controlled 31.7 26.0 57.7 42.3 100.0
Secondary Catholic Maintained 33.7 33.6 67.2 32.8 100.0
Secondary Other Maintained 17.9 55.2 73.1 26.9 100.0
Secondary Controlled Integrated 19.7 28.2 47.8 52.2 100.0
Secondary GMI 48.7 28.1 76.8 23.2 100.0
Secondary Total 34.0 30.2 64.2 35.8 100.0
Grammar Controlled 39.1 8.5 47.7 52.3 100.0
Grammar Voluntary 59.8 10.3 70.1 29.9 100.0
Grammar Total 55.2 9.9 65.2 34.8 100.0
Post Primary Total 43.4 21.2 64.6 35.4 100.0
Special Controlled 18.0 50.1 68.1 31.9 100.0
Special Catholic Maintained 12.2 65.3 77.4 22.6 100.0
Special Other Maintained 14.7 58.7 73.3 26.7 100.0
Special Total 17.6 51.1 68.7 31.3 100.0
All schools Controlled 32.8 23.3 56.1 43.9 100.0
All schools Voluntary 60.2 10.0 70.2 29.8 100.0
All schools Catholic Maintained 35.3 29.9 65.2 34.8 100.0
All schools Other Maintained 28.2 36.7 65.0 35.0 100.0
All schools Controlled Integrated 22.9 26.8 49.8 50.2 100.0
All schools GMI 42.4 25.3 67.7 32.3 100.0
All schools Total 38.1 24.0 62.1 37.9 100.0

Source: NI school meals uptake data collection 2022/23

Note:

  1. Figures may not add due to rounding.

  2. Excludes pupils present on the reference date whose school day did not include a lunch break, including part-time nursery pupils and some P1 pupils (see notes for readers, paragraph 13).

  3. Paid meal figures presented are equated meals: Where schools have a cash cafeteria system for lunch the meal numbers are calculated based on lunchtime income. Income from morning break provision is also included in the calculation of meal numbers (see background note 12).

  4. Only includes pupils at nursery schools.

  5. Includes pupils in reception and nursery classes of primary schools.

Table 3

Table 3 Uptake of school meals (free and paid) - number and percentage of pupils present for lunch on school meals census day, by school type and school management type: 2018/19 - 2022/23 [Note 1]

School type Management type 2018/19 School meals provided [Note 2] 2018/19 Uptake [Note 3] % 2019/20 School meals provided [Note 2] 2019/20 Uptake [Note 3] % 2020/21 School meals provided [Note 2 and 6] 2020/21 Uptake [Note 3 and 6] % 2021/22: Data not collected 2022/23 School meals provided [Note 2] 2022/23 Uptake [Note 3] %
Nursery [Note 4] Controlled 1802 96.0 1906 95.6 1836 91.6 1,834 92.4
Nursery [Note 4] Catholic Maintained 1084 90.0 1168 92.0 1145 90.0 1,157 87.9
Nursery [Note 4] Controlled Integrated 48 51.1
Nursery [Note 4] Total 2886 93.6 3074 94.2 2981 91.0 3,039 89.5
Primary [Note 5] and Preparatory Departments Controlled 39935 51.1 39631 51.1 34473 45.3 41,466 55.3
Primary [Note 5] and Preparatory Departments Voluntary 1110 71.2 1034 69.0 852 58.8 1,010 73.0
Primary [Note 5] and Preparatory Departments Catholic Maintained 47427 60.5 47268 60.5 41808 54.9 47,394 63.8
Primary [Note 5] and Preparatory Departments Other Maintained 2290 62.1 2244 60.4 1953 53.2 2,349 62.8
Primary [Note 5] and Preparatory Departments Controlled Integrated 2057 49.5 1998 48.8 1783 42.5 2,272 51.4
Primary [Note 5] and Preparatory Departments Grant Maintained Integrated 3183 53.7 3227 52.8 2419 38.3 3,395 53.8
Primary [Note 5] and Preparatory Departments Total 96002 55.9 95402 55.7 83288 49.6 97,886 59.2
Secondary Controlled 15307 59.3 15234 57.5 13850 51.9 15,903 58.4
Secondary Catholic Maintained 23036 67.9 23327 68.0 21112 62.2 23,634 67.5
Secondary Other Maintained 404 55.9 467 57.1 529 57.4 687 69.3
Secondary Controlled Integrated 1217 48.5 1333 50.2 1100 41.7 1,758 47.8
Secondary Grant Maintained Integrated 6852 75.4 7140 78.5 5398 59.1 7,435 76.8
Secondary Total 46816 65.0 47501 64.7 41989 57.2 49,417 64.5
Grammar Controlled 6929 51.7 6599 48.9 4808 35.1 6,495 47.4
Grammar Voluntary 29222 62.9 30497 64.8 26101 55.4 33,530 71.0
Grammar Total 36151 60.4 37096 61.3 30909 50.8 40,025 65.7
Post-Primary Total 82967 62.9 84597 63.2 72898 54.3 89,442 65.0
Special Controlled 3310 68.3 3400 67.7 3190 65.4 3,641 68.2
Special Catholic Maintained 185 74.0 196 78.7 194 65.1 261 77.4
Special Other Maintained 53 72.6 53 79.1 49 76.6 55 73.3
Special Total 3548 68.6 3649 68.4 3433 65.6 3,957 68.8
All Schools Controlled 67283 54.2 66770 53.6 58157 47.1 69,339 56.2
All Schools Voluntary 30332 63.1 31531 65.0 26953 55.5 34,540 71.1
All Schools Catholic Maintained 71732 63.1 71959 63.1 64259 57.5 72,446 65.3
All Schools Other Maintained 2747 61.2 2764 60.1 2531 54.3 3,091 64.3
All Schools Controlled Integrated 3274 49.1 3331 49.4 2883 42.2 4,078 49.8
All Schools Grant Maintained Integrated 10035 66.8 10367 68.2 7817 50.6 10,830 67.7
All Schools Grand Total 185403 59.4 186722 59.5 162600 52.3 194,324 62.3

Source: NI school meals uptake data collection 2018/19 - 2022/23

Note:

  1. School meals uptake data was not collected from schools for 2021/22

  2. Meal figures presented are equated meals: Where schools have a cash cafeteria system for lunch the meal numbers are calculated based on lunchtime income. Income from morning break provision is also included in the calculation of meal numbers (see notes for readers, paragraph 12).

  3. Uptake is expressed as the number of school meals provided (free and paid) as a percentage of the number of pupils present for lunch on census day. Pupils present for lunch excludes pupils present on school meals census day whose school day did not include a lunch break, including part-time nursery pupils and some P1 pupils (see notes for readers, paragraph 13).

  4. Only includes pupils at nursery schools.

  5. Includes pupils in reception and nursery classes of primary schools.

  6. In 2020/21 the school meal numbers include food provision to pupils who were unable to attend school due to COVID-19 but who were engaging in distance learning. The uptake figure is based on the number of pupils present for lunch on census day, including pupils who were engaging in distance learning.

Table 4

Table 4 : Number and percentage of school meals provided (free and paid) by type of meal provision, school type and school management type: 2022/23

School type Management type Traditional meals Number Traditional meals % Cash cafeteria meals [Note 1] Number Cash cafeteria meals [Note 1] %
Nursery [Note 2] Controlled 1,834 100.0 0 0.0
Nursery [Note 2] Catholic Maintained 1,157 100.0 0 0.0
Nursery [Note 2] Controlled Integrated 48 100.0 0 0.0
Nursery [Note 2] Total 3,039 100.0 0 0.0
Primary [Note 3] & Preparatory Departments Controlled 41,007 98.9 459 1.1
Primary [Note 3] & Preparatory Departments Voluntary 827 81.9 183 18.1
Primary [Note 3] & Preparatory Departments Catholic Maintained 46,902 99.0 492 1.0
Primary [Note 3] & Preparatory Departments Other Maintained 2,349 100.0 0 0.0
Primary [Note 3] & Preparatory Departments Controlled Integrated 2,272 100.0 0 0.0
Primary [Note 3] & Preparatory Departments GMI 3,395 100.0 0 0.0
Primary [Note 3] & Preparatory Departments Total 96,752 98.8 1,134 1.2
Secondary Controlled 201 1.3 15,702 98.7
Secondary Catholic Maintained 3,242 13.7 20,392 86.3
Secondary Other Maintained 0 0.0 687 100.0
Secondary Controlled Integrated 0 0.0 1,758 100.0
Secondary GMI 1,014 13.6 6,421 86.4
Secondary Total 4,457 9.0 44,960 91.0
Grammar Controlled 188 2.9 6,307 97.1
Grammar Voluntary 778 2.3 32,752 97.7
Grammar Total 966 2.4 39,059 97.6
Post Primary Total 5,423 6.1 84,019 93.9
Special Controlled 3,493 95.9 148 4.1
Special Catholic Maintained 261 100.0 0 0.0
Special Other Maintained 55 100.0 0 0.0
Special Total 3,809 96.3 148 3.7
All schools Controlled 46,723 67.4 22,616 32.6
All schools Voluntary 1,605 4.6 32,935 95.4
All schools Catholic Maintained 51,562 71.2 20,884 28.8
All schools Other Maintained 2,404 77.8 687 22.2
All schools Controlled Integrated 2,320 56.9 1,758 43.1
All schools GMI 4,409 40.7 6,421 59.3
All schools Total 109,023 56.1 85,301 43.9

Source: NI school meals uptake data collection 2022/23

Note:

  1. Cash cafeteria meal figures presented are equated meals: Where schools have a cash cafeteria system for lunch the meal numbers are calculated based on lunchtime income. Income from morning break provision is also included in the calculation of meal numbers (see notes for readers, paragraph 12).

  2. Only includes pupils at nursery schools.

  3. Includes pupils in reception and nursery classes of primary schools.

Table 5

Table 5 Uptake of school meals (free and paid) - number and percentage of pupils present for lunch on school meals census day, according to relative free school meal entitlement, by school type: 2022/23

Proportion entitled to free school meals School type Paid school meals provided [Note 1] Paid school meals uptake [Note 2] % Free school meals provided Free school meals uptake [Note 2] % All school meals provided [Note 1] All school meals uptake [Note 2] %
10% and less Nursery [Note 3] # # * # 51 100.0
10% and less Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments 7,725 43.8 934 5.3 8,659 49.1
10% and less Secondary 0 - 0 - 0 -
10% and less Grammar 14,856 59.4 1,403 5.6 16,259 65.1
10% and less Post Primary 14,856 59.4 1,403 5.6 16,259 65.1
10% and less Special 0 - 0 - 0 -
10% and less All Schools [Note 5] # # # # 24,969 58.5
10.1% - 20.0% Nursery [Note 3] # # # # 280 98.6
10.1% - 20.0% Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments 18,250 40.7 5,903 13.2 24,153 53.9
10.1% - 20.0% Secondary 2,827 46.6 755 12.4 3,582 59.0
10.1% - 20.0% Grammar 14,373 55.3 2,691 10.3 17,064 65.6
10.1% - 20.0% Post Primary 17,200 53.6 3,446 10.7 20,646 64.4
10.1% - 20.0% Special 0 - 0 - 0 -
10.1% - 20.0% All Schools [Note 5] # # # # 45,079 58.4
20.1% - 40.0% Nursery [Note 3] 787 53.8 409 28.0 1,196 81.7
20.1% - 40.0% Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments 23,783 34.8 16,897 24.7 40,680 59.5
20.1% - 40.0% Secondary 19,655 38.6 12,828 25.2 32,483 63.8
20.1% - 40.0% Grammar 4,709 47.4 1,993 20.1 6,702 67.5
20.1% - 40.0% Post Primary 24,364 40.0 14,821 24.3 39,185 64.4
20.1% - 40.0% Special 184 21.3 300 34.7 484 56.0
20.1% - 40.0% All Schools [Note 5] 49,118 37.3 32,427 24.6 81,545 62.0
40.1% + Nursery [Note 3] 601 37.6 911 57.0 1,512 94.7
40.1% + Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments 6,799 19.8 17,595 51.2 24,394 71.0
40.1% + Secondary 3,704 18.9 9,648 49.3 13,352 68.2
40.1% + Grammar 0 - 0 - 0 -
40.1% + Post Primary 3,704 18.9 9,648 49.3 13,352 68.2
40.1% + Special 830 17.0 2,643 54.3 3,473 71.3
40.1% + All Schools [Note 5] 11,934 19.7 30,797 51.0 42,731 70.7

Source: NI school meals uptake data collection 2022/23

Note:

  1. Meal figures presented are equated meals: Where schools have a cash cafeteria system for lunch the meal numbers are calculated based on lunchtime income. Income from morning break provision is also included in the calculation of meal numbers (see notes for readers, paragraph 12).

  2. Uptake is expressed as the number of school meals provided (free and paid) as a percentage of the number of pupils present for lunch on census day. Pupils present for lunch excludes pupils present on school meals census day whose school day did not include a lunch break, including part-time nursery pupils and some P1 pupils (see notes for readers, paragraph 13).

  3. Only includes pupils at nursery schools.

  4. Includes pupils in reception and nursery classes of primary schools.

  5. Does not include pupils attending EOTAS centres.

Table 6

Table 6 : Number and percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 1] by school type: 2018/19 - 2022/23

Category School Type 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23
Total enrolment Nursery [Note 4] 5,832 5,824 5,835 5,795 5,796
Total enrolment Primary [Note 5] and Preparatory Departments 184,245 183,711 183,079 182,142 181,075
Total enrolment Secondary (non grammar) 79,377 81,662 84,520 86,588 88,590
Total enrolment Grammar 62,862 63,423 64,398 65,313 65,722
Total enrolment Special 5,959 6,174 6,403 6,653 6,930
Total enrolment All Schools [Note 6] 338,275 340,794 344,235 346,491 348,113
Entitlement to free school meals [Note 2] Nursery [Note 4] 1,997 1,983 2,064 2,259 2,247
Entitlement to free school meals [Note 2] Primary [Note 5] and Preparatory Departments 54,117 52,011 52,088 52,976 51,174
Entitlement to free school meals [Note 2] Secondary (non grammar) 31,080 30,833 31,372 31,292 30,942
Entitlement to free school meals [Note 2] Grammar 8,848 8,665 8,793 8,762 8,354
Entitlement to free school meals [Note 2] Special 3,100 3,194 3,257 3,515 3,602
Entitlement to free school meals [Note 2] All Schools [Note 6] 99,142 96,686 97,631 98,804 96,319
Percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 2 and 3] Nursery [Note 4] 34.2 34.0 35.4 39.0 38.8
Percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 2 and 3] Primary [Note 5] and Preparatory Departments 29.4 28.3 28.5 29.1 28.3
Percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 2 and 3] Secondary (non grammar) 39.2 37.8 37.1 36.1 34.9
Percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 2 and 3] Grammar 14.1 13.7 13.7 13.4 12.7
Percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 2 and 3] Special 52.0 51.7 50.9 52.8 52.0
Percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 2 and 3] All Schools [Note 6] 29.3 28.4 28.4 28.5 27.7

Source: NI school census 2018/19 - 2022/23

Note:

  1. School meals uptake data was not collected from schools for 2021/22

  2. Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance where an award of income-based job-seekers allowance has been converted and the amount of the award remains unchanged; and Universal Credit are some of the benefits which determine eligibility for free school meals. As school meals are not universally available to children in pre-school education, parental receipt of these benefits is a better indicator of social disadvantage for the pre-school sector.

  3. Percentages express the number of pupils entitled to free school meals in a particular category (e.g. those at primary school) as a proportion of the total pupil enrolment in the same category.

  4. Only includes pupils at nursery schools.

  5. Includes pupils in reception and nursery classes of primary schools.

  6. Does not include pupils attending EOTAS centres.

Table 7

Table 7 : Number and percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 1], by school type and school management type: 2022/23

School type Management Type Pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 1] Free school meal entitlement [Note 2] %
Nursery [Note 3] Controlled 1,389 35.1
Nursery [Note 3] Catholic Maintained 827 47.7
Nursery [Note 3] Controlled Integrated 31 29.8
Nursery [Note 3] Total 2,247 38.8
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Controlled 21,993 26.7
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Voluntary 17 1.2
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Catholic Maintained 24,423 30.0
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Other Maintained 1,397 33.5
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Controlled Integrated 1,528 31.6
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments GMI 1,816 25.5
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Total 51,174 28.3
Secondary Controlled 10,279 32.7
Secondary Catholic Maintained 14,970 36.7
Secondary Other Maintained 496 42.1
Secondary Controlled Integrated 1,538 36.1
Secondary GMI 3,659 33.7
Secondary Total 30,942 34.9
Grammar Controlled 1,645 11.2
Grammar Voluntary 6,709 13.2
Grammar Total 8,354 12.7
Post Primary Total 39,296 25.5
Special Controlled 3,328 51.5
Special Catholic Maintained 230 60.7
Special Other Maintained 44 50.0
Special Total 3,602 52.0
All schools [Note 5] Controlled 38,634 27.8
All schools [Note 5] Voluntary 6,726 12.8
All schools [Note 5] Catholic Maintained 40,450 32.6
All schools [Note 5] Other Maintained 1,937 35.6
All schools [Note 5] Controlled Integrated 3,097 33.6
All schools [Note 5] GMI 5,475 30.5
All schools [Note 5] Total 96,319 27.7

Source: NI school census 2022/23.

Note:

  1. Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance where an award of income-based job-seekers allowance has been converted and the amount of the award remains unchanged; and Universal Credit are some of the benefits which determine eligibility for free school meals. As school meals are not universally available to children in pre-school education, parental receipt of these benefits is a better indicator of social disadvantage for the pre-school sector.

  2. Percentages express the number of pupils entitled to free school meals in a particular category (e.g. those at primary school) as a proportion of the total pupil enrolment in the same category.

  3. Only includes pupils at nursery schools.

  4. Includes pupils in reception and nursery classes of primary schools.

  5. Does not include pupils attending EOTAS centres.

Table 8

Table 8 Number and percentage of pupils taking free school meals as a proportion of all school meals provided and as a proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 1], by school type and school management type: 2022/23

School type Management type Free school meals taken by pupils present Free meals as a proportion of all school meals provided [Note 2] % Free school meals taken as a proportion of pupils entitled [Note 1] %
Nursery [Note 3] Controlled 728 39.7 80.9
Nursery [Note 3] Catholic Maintained 617 53.3 87.9
Nursery [Note 3] Controlled Integrated 26 54.2 92.9
Nursery [Note 3] Total 1,371 45.1 84.1
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Controlled 17,083 41.2 79.2
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Voluntary 14 1.4 82.4
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Catholic Maintained 20,585 43.4 85.7
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Other Maintained 1,185 50.4 86.2
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Controlled Integrated 1,136 50.0 75.5
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments GMI 1,326 39.1 78.5
Primary [Note 4] & Preparatory Departments Total 41,329 42.2 82.4
Secondary Controlled 7,162 45.0 69.7
Secondary Catholic Maintained 11,797 49.9 78.8
Secondary Other Maintained 519 75.5 104.6
Secondary Controlled Integrated 1,036 58.9 67.4
Secondary GMI 2,717 36.5 74.3
Secondary Total 23,231 47.0 75.1
Grammar Controlled 1,160 17.9 70.5
Grammar Voluntary 4,927 14.7 73.4
Grammar Total 6,087 15.2 72.9
Post Primary Total 29,318 32.8 74.6
Special Controlled 2,679 73.6 80.5
Special Catholic Maintained 220 84.3 95.7
Special Other Maintained 44 80.0 100.0
Special Total 2,943 74.4 81.7
All schools [Note 5] Controlled 28,812 41.6 76.4
All schools [Note 5] Voluntary 4,941 14.3 73.5
All schools [Note 5] Catholic Maintained 33,219 45.9 83.2
All schools [Note 5] Other Maintained 1,748 56.6 91.3
All schools [Note 5] Controlled Integrated 2,198 53.9 71.6
All schools [Note 5] GMI 4,043 37.3 75.6
All schools [Note 5] Total 74,961 38.6 79.2

Entitlement Source: NI school census 2022/23

Uptake Source: NI school meals uptake data collection 2022/23

Note:

  1. For the purposes of calculating uptake of free school meals by pupils entitled the denominator used is based on full-time pupils only and excludes pupils counted under the proxy measure of free school meal entitlement (parental receipt of qualifying benefits). This only applies to nursery and primary schools. See notes for readers, paragraph 14.

  2. Percentages express the number of pupils taking free school meals in a particular category (e.g. those at primary school) as a proportion of all school meals provided in the same category.

  3. Only includes pupils at nursery schools.

  4. Includes pupils in reception and nursery classes of primary schools.

  5. Does not include pupils attending EOTAS centres.

Table 9

Table 9 : Uptake of free school meals - number and percentage [Note 1] of pupils entitled to free school meals, by school type: 2018/19 - 2022/23

Category School Type 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23
Free school meals taken by pupils present [Note 2] Nursery Schools [Note 4] 1,238 1,321 1,382 1,371
Free school meals taken by pupils present [Note 2] Primary and Preparatory Departments [Note 4] 44,955 43,027 39,703 41,329
Free school meals taken by pupils present [Note 2] Secondary 23,628 23,299 22,654 23,231
Free school meals taken by pupils present [Note 2] Grammar 7,116 7,016 6,181 6,087
Free school meals taken by pupils present [Note 2] Special 2,501 2,547 2,423 2,943
Free school meals taken by pupils present [Note 2] All schools 79,438 77,210 72,343 74,961
Pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 3] Nursery Schools [Note 4] 1,714 1,692 1,675 1,630
Pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 3] Primary and Preparatory Departments [Note 4] 53,482 51,493 51,484 50,167
Pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 3] Secondary 31,080 30,833 31,372 30,942
Pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 3] Grammar 8,848 8,665 8,793 8,354
Pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 3] Special 3,100 3,184 3,242 3,602
Pupils entitled to free school meals [Note 3] All schools 98,224 95,867 96,566 94,695
Free school meals taken as a proportion of pupils entitled [Note 2 and 3] Nursery Schools [Note 4] 72.2 78.1 82.5 84.1
Free school meals taken as a proportion of pupils entitled [Note 2 and 3] Primary and Preparatory Departments [Note 4] 84.1 83.6 77.1 82.4
Free school meals taken as a proportion of pupils entitled [Note 2 and 3] Secondary 76 75.6 72.2 75.1
Free school meals taken as a proportion of pupils entitled [Note 2 and 3] Grammar 80.4 81 70.3 72.9
Free school meals taken as a proportion of pupils entitled [Note 2 and 3] Special 80.7 80 74.7 81.7
Free school meals taken as a proportion of pupils entitled [Note 2 and 3] All schools 80.9 80.5 74.9 79.2

Entitlement Source: NI school census 2018/19 - 2022/23

Uptake Source: NI school meals uptake data collection 2018/19 - 2022/23

Note:

  1. School meals uptake data was not collected from schools for 2021/22.

  2. Percentages express the number of free school meals taken in a particular category (e.g. those at primary school) as a proportion of the number of pupils entitled to free school meals in the same category.

  3. For the purposes of calculating uptake of free school meals by pupils entitled the free school meal entitlement figure used is based on fulltime pupils only and excludes pupils counted under the proxy measure of free school meal entitlement (parental receipt of qualifying benefits). This only applies to nursery and primary schools. Figures prior to 2016/17 are not directly comparable. See notes for readers, paragraph 14.

  4. The nursery figures only include pupils at nursery schools. The primary figures include pupils in reception and nursery classes of primary schools.

Table 10

Table 10 Adults taking school meals, by school type: 2022/23

School type Adult taking school meal (free or paid) Adult taking free school meal [Note 1] %
Nursery [Note 2] 290 90.7
Primary [Note 3] & Preparatory Departments 5,117 90.5
Secondary 2,760 81.8
Grammar 1,660 64.2
Post Primary Total 4,420 75.0
Special 814 97.1
Total 10,641 84.7

Source: NI school meals uptake data collection 2022/23

Note:

  1. Depending on their terms and conditions kitchen staff and mid-day supervisors may be entitled to a free mid-day meal. Those who opt in for a free meal have a small daily deduction per day from salary.

  2. Only includes nursery classes in nursery schools.

  3. Includes reception and nursery classes in primary schools.

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Dissemination Branch
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