AQW 4509/22-27
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 12/10/2022
Answered On Date: 27/10/2022
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Education (i) to detail the number of school pupils in receipt of free school meals in each of the last five years; (ii) what this number represents as a percentage of all school pupils; and (iii) for her assessment of any change in these figures.
Answer:
The table below shows the (i) number and (ii) percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals attending all schools in Northern Ireland. The figures show a broadly consistent pattern over the five year period despite the disruption to education caused by the pandemic during this time. The number and percentage of pupil entitled to free school meals 2017/18 to 2021/22 Academic Year | (i) Number of pupils | (ii) Percentage of pupils | 2021/22 | 98,804 | 28.5% | 2020/21 | 97,592 | 28.3% | 2019/20 | 96,697 | 28.4% | 2018/19 | 99,165 | 29.3% | 2017/18 | 100,275 | 29.9% |
Source: Annual School Census
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