College free meals rate equalised with schools after sector campaign

Further education colleges are set to receive increased funding for free student meals, with rates rising by 5p to match those provided to schools. The change eliminates a long-standing disparity that saw colleges reimbursed at lower levels than their school counterparts for providing meals to eligible learners. The decision follows significant backlash from further education leaders and campaigners who highlighted the unfairness of the funding gap. Ministers have now confirmed that colleges will no longer receive a lower rate, ensuring that post-16 providers can adequately support disadvantaged students without facing financial penalties for offering nutritional support. This policy shift represents a victory for the sector, which has argued that equitable funding is essential for maintaining accessible education. By aligning college and school rates, the government aims to remove barriers that might otherwise prevent young people from continuing their education due to concerns about meal costs.