‘Half of senior schools forced to wash poor pupils’ clothes’

TEACHERS at almost half of secondary schools are forced to wash pupils’ clothes because benefit changes have led to a surge in poverty, it is claimed.

In a survey of 407 schools, 47 per cent of head teachers said they had to buy washing machines because so many parents were sending in their children wearing dirty uniforms.

In addition, 75 per cent claimed they were forced give free breakfasts to pupils who turned up hungry in the morning.

The poll was carried out by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), which represents secondary school head teachers. It blamed what it said was a growing trend on ‘chaotic home lives’ caused by families struggling to make ends meet on Universal Credit, as well as cuts to social care and local authority budgets.

Sarah Bone, head of Headlands School in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, said: ‘We have far too many children with no heating in the home, no food in the cupboards, washing with cold water... and living on one hot meal a day provided at school.’

Another respondent said: ‘Every day I wonder, is this a developing or a developed country?’

The survey of 11 per cent of state-funded secondaries in England and Wales found 96 per cent thought pupil poverty had increased over the past few years. In addition, 91 per cent said they had given out clothing for poor pupils.

Geoff Barton, ASCL general secretary, said: ‘Essentially the heads are stepping in as a safety net. They have become an unofficial fourth emergency service for poor and vulnerable children.’

The Department for Education said: ‘This Government is spending £90billion a year on welfare to support those who need it most. Teachers shouldn’t have to step in to tackle the issues highlighted by this survey, and we’re already taking action to make sure that they don’t have to.’