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No such thing as a free lunch? Exploring the consistency, validity, and uses of the ‘Free School Meals’ (FSM) measure in the National Pupil Database

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  • Tammy Campbell
  • Polina Obolenskaya

Abstract

This paper examines the existing literature on what the Free School Meals ('FSM') measure in the National Pupil Database (NPD) can proxy, and on ways in which the measure is used and understood. Through new empirical analyses of data for Reception-aged children in the NPD, and of the DWP's Household Below Average Income (HBAI) data, it then highlights inconsistencies and change in the characteristics of Reception pupils recorded as 'FSM,' over time, place, and family background. It also suggests increased under-ascription of young children from low-income families / families living in poverty over the recent decade. Implications for research, interpretation, policy-making, and practice are critically discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Tammy Campbell & Polina Obolenskaya, 2021. "No such thing as a free lunch? Exploring the consistency, validity, and uses of the ‘Free School Meals’ (FSM) measure in the National Pupil Database," CASE Papers /225, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:sticas:/225
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    File URL: https://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/cp/casepaper225.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Jerrim, 2020. "Measuring socio-economic background using administrative data. What is the best proxy available?," DoQSS Working Papers 20-09, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.
    2. Kerris Cooper & Kitty Stewart, 2021. "Does Household Income Affect children’s Outcomes? A Systematic Review of the Evidence," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(3), pages 981-1005, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Free School Meals (FSM); National Pupil Database (NPD); Measurement; Education; Schools; Poverty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty

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