Today’s Education in the media blog looks at free school meal eligibility under Universal Credit and Googlebox star Josh Tapper’s apprenticeship at Number 10.
FREE SCHOOL MEALS AND UNIVERSAL CREDIT
Today, Tuesday 13 March, parliament will debate the introduction of Universal Credit and the effect it will have on eligibility for free school meals. The issue has been widely reported with some commentators claiming the move will reduce the number of pupils who will get a free school meal based on their household’s circumstances.
This is not the case. Our calculations show that around 50,000 more pupils will become eligible for free school meals under the reformed benefits system and, contrary to some reports and claims, no pupil currently eligible for free school meals will lose that status.
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
No child who is currently receiving a free school meal will lose out as a result of this change and it is misleading to suggest otherwise. The fact is under our new criteria, we estimate that by 2022 around 50,000 more children will benefit from a free school meal compared to the previous benefits system. It’s right that we make sure this support reaches children from the most disadvantaged families.
APPRENTICESHIPS
Today, Tuesday 13 March, the Daily Mirror and Metro have reported that Josh Tapper, a star from the TV show Googlebox has left the show start an apprenticeship at Number 10. He has joined as a Communications Apprentice as part of the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme.
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