The findings come from the results of a randomised controlled trial published by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) today.
Kevan Collins, chief executive of the EEF, said: “The fact that there are children that will go to school hungry today is a national scandal. Offering free breakfasts at school is a relatively cheap and straightforward way of alleviating this symptom of disadvantage.
“Many schools across the country already offer some sort of breakfast provision. That’s why the findings from today’s evaluation report are so encouraging. Not only does a good breakfast provide all young people with a nutritious start to the day, but well-run breakfast clubs have the potential to boost attainment and behaviour too.
“The government has committed to spending £10m a year on healthy breakfast clubs, as part of their plan to tackle childhood obesity. They, and school leaders more generally, should consider using a free, universal and before-school model to benefit attainment as well.”
The trail saw charity Magic Breakfast deliver to 8,600 pupils at 106 English primary schools with a higher than average number of disadvantaged pupils. Over the course of the year, parents were encouraged to send their child to free breakfast clubs before registration.
The evaluators reported that pupils’ concentration and behaviour improved too, which the EEF attributes to the additional nutritional benefits of the breakfast as well as the social and educational benefits of the breakfast club environment.
The independent evaluation was carried out by researchers at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the National Children’s Bureau.