Pupils at a UK school are being offered full roast dinners in the mornings, but the reason behind the decision is shocking. Whitmore High School in Barry, Wales, was forced to serve larger meals to students in the mornings because many children arrive at school hungry. Executive head teacher Innes Robinson decided to move mealtime to 11am, adding that it improved pupils' concentration in class.

While all primary school pupils in Wales already receive free school meals, secondary school students only qualify for the benefit if their families receive Universal Credit and their household income is below £7,400 a year. However, the Welsh government has announced a £15m investment to help more secondary school students access free school meals.

The Government will remove the family income threshold and allow all secondary pupils whose families receive Universal Credit to be eligible for free school meals.

Cabinet Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Anna Brychan, described the funding as “a first step” in the commitment to making more pupils eligible for free school meals.

The rollout will begin with year 7 and year 8, in which parents of students in those years and on Universal Credit can apply for the scheme, regardless of their household income.

Mr Robinson, who is also executive head teacher at Pencoedtre High School, said that pupil hunger was “an issue everywhere” and backs the government’s expanded offer that would mean “more pupils get that benefit”, BBC reports.

The youngest students at Whitmore High have their dinner at 10:55am, which has made an “enormous impact”, according to Mr Robinson. He said that pupils would say they would be “hungry every single day,” but would say nothing.

Hayley Prosser, head of Welsh at Whitmore High, said: “Some of our children come to school maybe without breakfast - it has a huge impact on their concentration. We know they make more progress once they've got full bellies.”

The additional funding for free school meals is part of Welsh government budget for 2026/27 in efforts to tackle child poverty. Around £10m is expected to be spent on upgrading school kitchens and dining areas.

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth added: “Extending eligibility to more families on Universal Credit is an important move in our wider effort to tackle child poverty and reduce inequalities across Wales.

“Starting this work is a key aspect of our 100 Day Plan and beyond - taking practical action by putting money back into families’ pockets and ensuring every young person has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.”