Average Brit teacher spends £220 of their OWN money every school year feeding hungry pupils, research finds

Scottish Sun

06-05-2025

From research of 867 educators as part of a new report 'Hungry to Learn'
IN NEED Average Brit teacher spends £220 of their OWN money every school year feeding hungry pupils, research finds
THE IMPACT of morning hunger on schoolchildren found 36 per cent of teachers claim to see hungry children arriving at school every day, and 16 per cent are regularly parting with their own money to buy food for kids.
And 27 per cent have given away food they brought in for their own snacks or meals.
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Many teachers admit they often feel more like a caregiver than a teacher
Credit: Getty
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Buying new school uniforms is the job parents will prioritise first
Credit: SWNS
But this left more than one in twenty (seven per cent) claiming they may not have become a teacher, had they known the extra 'pastoral responsibility' that would come with it, while another 30 per cent would have given it more thought.
With an average of four hours a week spent helping and supporting hungry children, 80 per cent of teachers admitted they often feel more like a caregiver than a teacher.
Andrew Ridge, social impact and sustainability lead at Kellogg's, which commissioned the research to launch its annual Breakfast Clubs Awards, said: "Teachers are truly going above and beyond to help kids stay fed.
'As the cost of living continues to bite, parents are really feeling the pinch which is sadly leaving many children struggling to focus on their education due to the impact of being hungry in the morning.
'Going to school on an empty stomach as a result of skipping breakfast can be truly detrimental, and it's worrying to see teachers are being left out of pocket as a result.
'We must continue to join forces as educators, businesses and government to help support those communities, and take collective action to tackle hunger.'
The study found 78 per cent of the teachers polled consider the issue of kids not having food every day to be a 'significant' worry.
Some of the most common side effects of hunger include being tired in class (81 per cent), having difficulty concentrating (79 per cent) or disruptive behaviour (50 per cent).
Worryingly, 49 per cent of teachers feel the number of children going hungry has increased compared to last year.
It also emerged 77 per cent of teachers feel their role has become more pastoral in the last few years, while 78 per cent said the school had become more of a 'community hub'.
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The research also polled 2,000 adults, and found a quarter admitted to struggling to feed their families – and of these, 72 per cent had asked for help.
More than half (53 per cent) have cut back on electricity and gas to pay for food, while 52 per cent have borrowed from friends and family.
Of the one in 10 parents who said their children do not always eat breakfast, 36 per cent say it is simply because they aren't hungry at that time.
While 26 per cent eat food later during break time, and 19 per cent eat at a school breakfast club.
The spokesperson for Kellogg's, which is inviting schools to enter the Breakfast Club Awards added: 'Mornings can be a real challenge for many families, in between work, travel, caring responsibilities and more.
'That's where breakfast clubs make a huge difference. They not only create a welcoming space where children can socialise, feel settled before school, and be ready to learn, but also provide vital childcare support for parents and carers.
'That's why we are celebrating the teachers and schools going above and beyond at our annual Breakfast Club Awards, highlighting those who are making considerable impacts on their local community.'
CASE STUDY
Jack Ryan, 20, works as Buildings Health and Safety and Community Manager at Co-op Academy Failsworth, a school with nearly 1,500 students.
He works both on the Academy's community fridge scheme, as well as their Breakfast Clubs, which can feed as many as 400 students on a single day.
He said: 'It's all anonymous. People can come and take whatever they need. Our motto is 'take what you need and leave what you can'.
'We provide ambient food, staples you can make meals out of, and hygiene products as well because we are fighting hygiene and period poverty and things like that.
'Around 45 per cent of our students are entitled to free school meals, and the area is quite deprived.
'We also offer in the morning a free Breakfast Club, which is run by a small team.
'I come in early every morning, and the team and I give that time for free.
'We have a range of options like bagels and spreads that the students can come in, take for free, have a juice, have a sit down, have a chat with their mates just before they start school.
'And the uptake of it, we thought, was going to be really small – but at the minute we're supporting 400 kids every morning.'
Despite not being on the teaching staff, Jack interacts with children on a daily basis and recognises the dangers of children not arriving to school well-fed, noting: "Arriving to school hungry can sometimes have an impact on their behaviour."
Jack also reports there are children who are not entitled to free school meals, but still struggle, which is where breakfast clubs can continue to help.
He said: 'On the one hand it's amazing, we've got this facility that so many people are donating to, so many companies are donating and supporting such great provision, which is having such a massive impact – but on the other hand, it's something that we shouldn't have to do.'
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Co-op are adding new community fridges to Hubbub's network to reach 250
Credit: Dave Phillips/PinPep
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Community fridge stocked with canned goods and dry goods at Co-op Academy
Credit: SWNS