The role of schools in alleviating child poverty through food banks: A vital but unrecognised service

Schools in the UK have adapted to a context where 4.5 million children live in poverty, including by opening food banks providing free food for families living with food insecurity. Stepping into this new role as a provider of food involves schools moving beyond their core purpose, although this work remains unfunded and unrecognised in accountability measures. Using data from case studies of six primary schools which operate a food bank, this paper explores how schools have become responsibilised by record levels of child poverty to address the immediate needs of the child and to reduce the longer-term impact of food insecurity on the wider family. We explore the reasons why food banks located in schools are effective in helping families, and how they impact on children’s learning. Teachers’ uncertainty about this new role is also discussed. We conclude that while the schools have a positive impact, their work should not absolve the state from responsibility for reducing child poverty.