Free meals extended to disadvantaged college students

The government has announced plans to provide free meals for more than 100,000 disadvantaged 16 to 18-year-old college students.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said a new scheme for free meals in schools will be extended to cover college students from poorer backgrounds from next September.

The move comes after heavy lobbying from the Association of College’s (AoC) No Free Lunch? campaign.

AoC chief executive Martin Doel said the extension marks the end of a funding anomaly that saw students penalised based on their choice of attending either sixth form or college.

“The news will, no doubt be welcomed by disadvantaged students and their parents, at a time when family budgets are being stretched to the limit,” he said.

Details of the scheme’s funding arrangements are expected in the government’s upcoming Autumn Statement.

Natalie Thornhill