Pupils in maintained schools receiving milk by local authority and year

Standard shorthand is used in this table: [t] = total.

Data values	Data description	Year	Local Authority
123,111 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2015/16	Wales
120,962 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2016/17	Wales
120,818 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2014/15	Wales
119,477 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2013/14	Wales
117,005 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2017/18	Wales
114,479 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2012/13	Wales
113,880 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2011/12	Wales
112,354 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2018/19	Wales
110,901 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2010/11	Wales
109,977 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2019/20	Wales
106,475 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2008/09	Wales
106,340 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2009/10	Wales
105,570 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2003/04	Wales
105,188 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2004/05	Wales
104,881 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2006/07	Wales
104,382 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2005/06	Wales
102,475 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2007/08	Wales
95,372 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2020/21	Wales
93,615 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2022/23	Wales
92,067 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2021/22	Wales
86,766 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2023/24	Wales
81,374 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2024/25	Wales
19,814 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2013/14	Wales
19,773 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2015/16	Wales
18,489 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2007/08	Wales
18,336 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2014/15	Wales
18,207 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2017/18	Wales
18,162 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2011/12	Wales
18,129 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2012/13	Wales
17,701 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2008/09	Wales
17,622 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2005/06	Wales
17,514 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2006/07	Wales
17,267 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2003/04	Wales
17,256 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2010/11	Wales
17,053 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2009/10	Wales
16,613 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2016/17	Wales
15,116 [t]	The number of pupils on roll who paid for school milk on the Census day.	2004/05	Wales
14,863	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2015/16	Cardiff
14,709	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2016/17	Cardiff
14,493	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2014/15	Cardiff
14,455	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2013/14	Cardiff
14,373	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2017/18	Cardiff
13,888	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2012/13	Cardiff
13,764	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2018/19	Cardiff
13,731	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2019/20	Cardiff
13,098	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2011/12	Cardiff
12,865	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2010/11	Cardiff
11,838	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2009/10	Cardiff
11,634	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2003/04	Cardiff
11,565	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2004/05	Cardiff
11,414	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2005/06	Cardiff
11,205	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2006/07	Cardiff
11,120	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2008/09	Cardiff
11,062	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2007/08	Cardiff
10,994	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2020/21	Cardiff
10,827	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2016/17	Rhondda Cynon Taf
10,769	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2013/14	Rhondda Cynon Taf
10,715	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2015/16	Rhondda Cynon Taf
10,547	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2014/15	Rhondda Cynon Taf
10,535	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2022/23	Cardiff
10,495	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2021/22	Cardiff
10,414	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2017/18	Rhondda Cynon Taf
10,394	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2012/13	Rhondda Cynon Taf
10,272	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2011/12	Rhondda Cynon Taf
10,256	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2003/04	Rhondda Cynon Taf
10,193	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2010/11	Rhondda Cynon Taf
9,923	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2004/05	Rhondda Cynon Taf
9,857	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2018/19	Rhondda Cynon Taf
9,845	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2009/10	Rhondda Cynon Taf
9,843	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2014/15	Swansea
9,837	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2015/16	Swansea
9,796	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2008/09	Rhondda Cynon Taf
9,792	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2019/20	Rhondda Cynon Taf
9,692	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2006/07	Rhondda Cynon Taf
9,675	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2023/24	Cardiff
9,586	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2016/17	Swansea
9,585	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2007/08	Rhondda Cynon Taf
9,557	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2005/06	Rhondda Cynon Taf
9,406	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2013/14	Swansea
9,245	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2017/18	Swansea
9,221	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2020/21	Rhondda Cynon Taf
9,148	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2024/25	Cardiff
9,012	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2012/13	Swansea
8,899	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2018/19	Swansea
8,866	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2022/23	Rhondda Cynon Taf
8,789	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2011/12	Swansea
8,661	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2004/05	Swansea
8,656	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2021/22	Rhondda Cynon Taf
8,538	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2005/06	Swansea
8,481	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2003/04	Swansea
8,388	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2006/07	Swansea
8,374	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2010/11	Swansea
8,302	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2007/08	Swansea
8,160	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2023/24	Rhondda Cynon Taf
8,159	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2019/20	Swansea
8,157	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2009/10	Swansea
8,131	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2008/09	Swansea
7,812	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2014/15	Caerphilly
7,798	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2015/16	Caerphilly
7,616	The number of pupils on roll who had free school milk on the Census day.	2013/14	Caerphilly

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Main information

• Most recent update: 26 September 2025
• Next update expected: July 2026
• Designation: Official statistics
• Data provider: Welsh Government
• Data source: Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC)
• Time period covered: September 2003 to August 2025

Data notes

Overview

• Summary of dataset and variables:

  Data from the annual School Census which collects information on schools, pupils, classes, ethnicity, free school meal eligibility, additional learning needs and special educational needs.

• Data collection or calculation:

  The data in this report is collected by the Welsh Government from local authority maintained schools in a return called the Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC). PLASC is an electronic collection of pupil and school level data. Schools record data on pupils and the school throughout the year in their Management Information System (MIS) software. This data is collated into an electronic PLASC return and submitted to the Welsh Government through DEWI, a secure online data transfer system developed by the Welsh Government. Various stages of automated validation and sense-checking are built into the process to ensure a high quality of data to inform policy making and funding.

• Statistical quality:

  The returns are authorised by headteachers and validated by local authorities.

  The school census date is usually in January. Due to the level of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in January 2022, the 2022 census date was delayed to 15 February 2022. School closures between December 2020 and March 2021 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic meant that the 2021 census date was delayed to 20 April 2021.

  Pupils are eligible for free school meals if their parents or guardians are in receipt of certain means-tested benefits or support payments. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have impacted on the quality of this data and may have resulted in over recording of this data in 2020 to 2022. These figures do not include pupils who only receive free school meals due to the universal primary free school meal policy.

• Related reports:
  • Schools' census results

Published by

• Organisation: Welsh Government
• Contact email: school.stats@gov.wales

Metadata

The metadata for this dataset is not included when you download the data. You can download this separately. This contains all the information from the 'About this dataset' tab.