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School and local authority characteristics associated with take-up of free school meals in Scottish secondary schools, 2014

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  • Stephanie Chambers
  • Ruth Dundas
  • Ben Torsney

Abstract

School meals are an important state-delivered mechanism for improving children’s diets. Scottish local authorities have a statutory duty to provide free school meals (FSM) to families meeting means-testing criteria. Inevitably take-up of FSM does not reach 100%. Explanations put forward to explain this include social stigma, as well as a more general dissatisfaction amongst pupils about lack of modern facilities and meal quality, and a preference to eat where friends are eating. This study investigated characteristics associated with take-up across Scottish secondary schools in 2013–2014 using multilevel modelling techniques. Results suggest that stigma, food quality and the ability to eat with friends are associated with greater take-up. Levels of school modernisation appeared less important, as did differences between more urban or rural areas. Future studies should focus on additional school-level variables to identify characteristics associated with take-up, with the aim of reducing the number of registered pupils not taking-up FSM.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie Chambers & Ruth Dundas & Ben Torsney, 2016. "School and local authority characteristics associated with take-up of free school meals in Scottish secondary schools, 2014," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 52-63, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsocxx:v:11:y:2016:i:1:p:52-63
    DOI: 10.1080/21582041.2016.1223871
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Barigazzi & Giovanni Gallo, 2023. "How Pandemic Shock Affects Claim for Minimum Income Measures," Center for the Analysis of Public Policies (CAPP) 0185, Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento di Economia "Marco Biagi".

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