Almost half of eligible schools in Oxfordshire are yet to sign up to a Government scheme designed to help tackle period poverty by providing free sanitary products to pupils.
The Red Box Project, which campaigned for the scheme to be introduced in schools, has said the rising cost of living is making it even more important for young people to have access to free period products.
Department for Education data shows just 56 per cent of 294 eligible state-funded schools in Oxfordshire ordered period products for their pupils between the start of the scheme in January 2020 and the end of last year.
It means the remaining 44 per cent of schools are yet to take advantage of the scheme.
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The figures cover primary and secondary schools, as well as 16 to 19 education providers such as colleges.
Products schools can order include period pads and tampons, and environmentally friendly alternatives such as period cups and reusable pads.
They are available to all pupils who need them, including those who have forgotten products, start their period unexpectedly, or cannot afford them.
Many schools in the county are helping to tackle period poverty by provide free products.
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Lyndsey Caldwell, headteacher at St Gregs secondary school in Cowley, said: “We make use of the funding and have sanitary products ready for the girls and packs to send out to students on arrival.
“All students know they can and come pick up items from the pastoral managers.
“We know there’s period poverty, sanitary products are expensive.
“It’s really hard for girls, especially if they’re facing economic hardship so actually having this as a foundation is powerful.”
Cheney School in Headington is also taking advantage of the scheme and says it removes embarrassment.
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Headteacher Rob Pavey said: “We have free period products for kids in every year group. It's about removing additional barriers, whether that's embarrassment or financial, particularly for the younger girls.
“Having free products avoids embarrassment and shame in school, if a pupil needs to replace their product. It's about them coming to school and not having an additional worry or concern.”
Clegg Bamber, co-founder of The Red Box Project, wants more schools to sign up to the project to avoid young people missing school due to a lack of access to period products.
He said: "No young person must miss out on their education because they have their period."
The figures show schools in Oxfordshire spent an average of £289 each to provide the products in 2021 – around 53 per cent of the £544 spend cap last year.
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