LETTER: ‘Free school meals’ statement was insulting

I was reading the article “Education Pendle”, in the Nelson Leader, Friday, November 26th on page 15, headed, “Ofsted says school is making good progress”, about the inspection at Sacred Heart Primary School and one of the paragraphs stated, “In the 2011 national tests for 11-year-olds, the results in reading and writing were slightly above the national figure and pupils known to be eligible for free school meals performed as well as their classmates.”
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Dec 2011, 14:58 BST

My dad was in hospital for most of my young life and died when I was 13. My mum went out cleaning to earn money to keep our family and because of this, we were given free school meals. I was considered quite bright at school and went on to attend Nelson Grammar School, but the way it was worded in this article is insulting. Why should having free school meals affect your reading ability and writing? I think those pupils deserve an apology.

MARGARET FARNWORTH

Orton Court, Barrowford

Related topics:OfstedBarrowford