Too many young people start the school day without breakfast.
For some, that’s linked to financial pressures at home. For others, it’s long journeys, caring responsibilities, busy family routines or simply the realities of modern teenage life. But whatever the reason, when young people miss breakfast, they may be missing out on much more than food.
That’s why we brought pupils and teachers from two secondary schools to Parliament this week, in an event hosted by Sureena Brackenridge MP, as part of our More Than Breakfast campaign.
The campaign is calling for school breakfast provision for all secondary-aged pupils in England, while building understanding of the wider difference breakfast can make in young people’s lives. Because secondary school breakfast is about more than addressing hunger. It has implications for education, wellbeing, belonging and opportunity, and can contribute to progress across a range of priorities that matter to young people and schools.
Throughout the afternoon, pupils and teachers shared their experiences with parliamentarians, staff and supporters, helping ground discussions in the reality of school life today.
Teachers spoke about the challenges they see young people facing every day, and the difference a positive start to the morning can make. Pupils shared their own perspectives on what helps them feel ready to learn, connected to their school community and able to make the most of the opportunities available to them.
Their contributions reflected something at the heart of More Than Breakfast: if we want solutions that work for young people, we need to listen to young people. And if we want to understand the role breakfast can play, we need to hear from the schools delivering that support every day.
School breakfast matters because it can do much more than address hunger. It can provide nourishment, routine, connection and a positive start to the day. It can help young people feel ready to learn, confident to participate and more connected to their school community. Over time, that can support healthier, happier young people who are better able to thrive, both now and in the future.
We wish more people understood that the need for free breakfast does not disappear as children get older. Secondary school pupils are still heavily impacted by poverty, food insecurity, and the cost of living crisis, but they are often less visible than younger children. Many adolescents quietly manage hunger, tiredness, anxiety, or difficult home circumstances without drawing attention to themselves. It is not simply about providing food – it is about removing barriers to learning and ensuring all pupils can begin the school day with the same opportunity to succeed.”
Magic Breakfast partner school, Secondary, North West
As the More Than Breakfast campaign continues to grow, we’ll keep working alongside schools, teachers and young people to ensure their experiences help shape what comes next. The insights gathered through this event will inform future campaign activity, resources and engagement, helping us build a stronger case for action. This includes our call for the Government to establish a dedicated secondary school breakfast programme and ensure that secondary-aged pupils with SEND in all-through special schools are not excluded from breakfast provision because of their age.
Because the conversation about secondary school breakfast is about more than a meal. It’s about ensuring every young person has the chance to start the day ready to participate, connect, learn and thrive, so that no young person misses out on the opportunities a good start to the day can bring.
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