Children in poverty struggling to keep up at school and 'too hungry' to focus

02 September 2023 , 21:04

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One student said he takes extra food from school to feed himself (Image: Getty Images)

Almost two-thirds of children helped by a poverty charity are struggling to keep up at school.

The charity Buttle said 63% risked falling behind, a rise of 12% on this time last year. Its figures show 49% live in overcrowded homes with a lack of personal space and a similar number admitted they were too hungry to concentrate in class. Meanwhile, 55% have no wi-fi and computer access to complete their homework.

Shadow Minister for Children and Young People Helen Hayes branded the situation “horrific”. She said: “The Conservatives crashed our economy and this is the result. “Labour would be helping families now with free breakfast clubs in every primary school and cutting the cost of uniforms – our focus is on growing the economy so we can put money back into families’ pockets.”

The charity said half live in overcrowded homes with no personal space (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

One A-level student from South East London told how she had to regularly skip meals. The 18-year-old, who lives alone, said: “It’s got to the point where I’m unable to feed myself because it’s between eating and having somewhere to sleep. “I often take extra food from school so I have something to eat in the evenings.”

Buttle chief executive Joseph Howes said: “Education is something a lot of families can no longer prioritise because they can’t sustain basic needs. “This will impact young people’s long-term life chances.”

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Saskia Rowlands