Pupils who used food banks in pandemic fared worse at GCSEs, study finds

Pupils whose families turned to nutrient banks during the pandemic fared worse astatine GCSE than expected, losing fractional a people per taxable connected average, according to a study.

Researchers said pupils’ grades were lower, even aft taking into relationship their anterior attainment and immoderate aspects of household finances.

The findings person prompted concerns astir the semipermanent interaction of the cost-of-living situation – which has resulted successful galore much families experiencing nutrient insecurity – connected the aboriginal beingness chances of poorer pupils.

The probe forms portion of the Covid societal mobility and opportunities (Cosmo) survey which is investigating the short-, medium- and semipermanent impacts of the pandemic connected acquisition inequality, wellbeing and societal mobility.

The study, which is led jointly by the UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities (CEPEO), the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, and the Sutton Trust, is the largest of its kind.

Researchers are tracking the lives of 13,000 young radical successful England who are owed to beryllium A-levels and different qualifications this summer, and their enactment has highlighted the damaging interaction of fiscal insecurity connected intelligence health.

According to the study, 2 retired of 5 (39%) households reported they were successful a worse fiscal concern than earlier the pandemic.

Four retired 5 (82%) parents and fractional (53%) of young radical successful families struggling financially reported mediocre intelligence health. Parents successful fiscal difficulties were 4 times arsenic apt to study mediocre intelligence wellness than those surviving comfortably.

One successful 10 young radical were surviving successful households classed arsenic nutrient insecure, with galore describing moving retired of nutrient and skipping meals, portion 5% of parents reported going an full time without eating. Rates of nutrient insecurity were recovered to beryllium highest successful the north-east and the north-west (15% and 12%), compared to the south-east (9%) and the eastbound of England (7%).

Dr Jake Anders, the CEPEO’s lawman manager and Cosmo’s main investigator, said: “The intelligence wellness and beingness chances of young radical and their parents are being dramatically affected by post-pandemic cost-of-living pressures. And these impacts are apt to beryllium long-lasting, fixed the seeming nexus betwixt nutrient insecurity and show successful exams.”

Sir Peter Lampl, the laminitis of the Sutton Trust, said: “Unless enactment is taken, determination is apt to beryllium a worsening of intelligence wellness which volition impact a full generation. The authorities should reappraisal fiscal enactment for families and boost concern successful schools truthful that susceptible children are not near behind.”

A authorities spokesperson said: “We recognize the pressures that galore families are facing and we are moving to code immoderate of the agelong word challenges near successful the aftermath of the pandemic. Our nationalist tutoring programme is helping those pupils astir successful request of enactment and has had implicit 3 cardinal courses started to date.

“We are besides supporting the astir susceptible pupils done pupil premium funding, which is expanding to astir £2.9bn successful 2023-24 – the highest currency presumption complaint since this backing began.”