The Department of Education today published the 2017/18 School Meals in Northern Ireland Statistical Bulletin.
![](https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/inline-expandable/public/images/de/news/de-stats.png?itok=TDzGtLEu×tamp=1444307926)
The purpose of the statistical bulletin is to provide results of the annual data collection relating to the uptake of school meals in Northern Ireland schools in 2017/18, this data collection is commonly known as the school meals census.
The key findings are as follows:
Uptake of School Meals (free and paid)
- Over 184,000 school meals, both free and paid, were taken by pupils on census day, which equates to a school meals uptake level of 59.5% by pupils present for lunch on the day.
- The school meals uptake level for 2017/18 is 1.6 percentage points lower than the previous year.
Entitlement to Free School Meals
100,254 pupils in grant-aided schools are entitled to free school meals; this represents 29.9% of pupils.
Uptake of Free School Meals
The uptake level for free school meals by entitled pupils is 80.8%.
The full statistical bulletin can be found on the Department of Education website at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/school-meals-201718-statistical-bulletin-12-april-2018
Notes to editors:
1. For more details about the statistics contained in this press release, or to request further information and analysis, please contact:
Leonie RobinsonAnalytical Services Unit
Department of Education
Rathgael House
Balloo Road
Bangor
BT19 7PR
Tel: 02891 279992
Email: leonie.robinson@education-ni.gov.uk
2. For media enquiries please contact the Department of Education’s Press Office on tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07623 974383 and your call will be returned.
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