Back-to-school but blocked from learning – secondary pupils excluded by costs

~ Bruce Levitan

Secondary school children from low-income families are starting the new school year bounced out of some subjects and learning by costs, research from Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) shows. A survey of over 1000 secondary school children in England found:

  • 23% of those on free school meals (FSM) say the cost or worries about the cost of taking a subject has prevented them from choosing a subject to study (compared to 9% of non-FSM pupils).
  • 29% on FSM say the cost is important to them when choosing their subjects, compared to 11% of pupils not receiving FSM.
  • 30% of students eligible for free school meals say it’s difficult to afford what they need for homework, including access to technology and devices.

Read the full story on their website, here.