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Government to annouce free sanitary products in secondary schools from September
EB News: 11/03/2019 - 07:58
The government is expected to make sanitary products available for free in all English secondary schools.
According to various reports, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond will pledge the new funding at Wednesday's spring statement, which will take effect from September this year.
Campaigners have claimed that period poverty is currently causing young girls from low-income families to miss school days.
The scheme is already in effect in Scotland. It is understood that the Treasury has not yet carried out a detailed costing,.
Amika George, who started the #FreePeriods campaign told the i newspaper: "This is a victory for everyone who has been campaigning to eradicate period poverty in schools.
“Periods should never hold back a child from achieving their true potential, and now, after two years of campaigning, we will see menstrual products available for free in all English secondary schools."
Job adverts for secondary school teaching roles have dropped to their lowest level in nine years, raising fresh concerns about teacher recruitment in England.
The government has announced the locations of 19 new Technical Excellence Colleges, backed by £175 million investment in skills training in priority areas.
New research suggests that eight out of 10 people (80%) back banning cars in streets around schools to encourage children to travel by healthier alternatives.
The government is proposing that schools appoint a lead governor with designated responsibility for school food, as part of its reforms to school food standards.