Pupils go to school with rotting teeth and dirty uniform as 'hygiene poverty' grips UK

A survey of 500 school staff has found that a majority have seen pupils arrive for lessons with dirty uniforms, unwashed hair and unbrushed teeth in the past year

Most school staff say they are seeing pupils arrive for lessons in dirty uniforms, unwashed hair and unbrushed teeth, according to a “heartbreaking” new survey.

It reveals how children have been repeatedly skipping school in the past year, because of the ‘shame’ of hygiene poverty. The survey of school staff suggests that pupils affected by hygiene poverty have experienced low self-esteem, bullying and isolation.

Now school staff are warning the situation could get worse as the 'silent crisis’ grips schools. Staff have told how they have been forced to step in by personally washing pupils' uniforms and buying families in need, soap, toiletries and laundry detergent.

On average, school staff spent around £27 out of their own pocket in the last year on hygiene poverty support for pupils, the poll found. The survey, of 500 school staff in the UK who interact with pupils at least five days per week, suggests that nearly three in 10 (28%) have seen children repeatedly miss school because of hygiene poverty.

While four in five (80%) school staff believe there has been an increase in "hygiene poverty" issues in their school in the last year - and a third of these said the rise has been "significant", according to a poll.

Previous research has shown how young children in the UK’s primary schools had arrived with soiled underwear and rotting baby teeth. While in secondary schools teachers described seeing girls coming to classes wearing excessive makeup in an attempt to disguise unwashed uniforms.

Ruth Brock, chief executive at The Hygiene Bank charity, said of their recent survey: "It's heartbreaking that in 2024 children across the UK are missing out on their education because their families cannot afford what they need to stay clean.

"Hygiene poverty is a silent crisis that impacts not only children's health and wellbeing, but also their ability to participate fully in school, potentially limiting their life chances. Teachers need to be able to teach; they should not be left to fill the gap, financially and emotionally, by providing these essentials.

"The government's Child Poverty Task Force must urgently address this issue ensuring that no child's future is limited by the shame and isolation caused by hygiene poverty."

More than three in five (62%) have seen pupils with dirty uniforms or PE kits, and 60% have noted unwashed hair and unclean teeth, according to the poll carried out by Censuswide in September for the charity and cleaning brand Smol. Nearly two in three (63%) school staff said they expect the level of hygiene poverty will increase in their school in the upcoming year.

The Hygiene Poverty charity and Smoll have now joined forces to launch a campaign calling on the government to address the issue in its upcoming Child Poverty Strategy. And they are asking members of the public to write to their local MP to bring child hygiene poverty to their attention.

They have estimated that school staff in the UK spent around £40 million of their own money supporting pupils with hygiene poverty issues in the past year.

Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT union, said: "No child should suffer the shame and embarrassment of coming to school in dirty and unwashed clothes because their family either can't afford to wash them, or doesn't have enough money for spare items of school uniform, which are becoming increasingly expensive for many. It is undeniable that teachers are having to pick up the pieces of rising levels of child poverty, caused by the worst cost-of-living crisis in half a century."