A third of secondary and more than a quarter of Oxfordshire primary pupils entitled to free school meals are not taking them.

Of the county's 38,600 secondary state school students, 3,310 are eligible for free school meals.

But Parliamentary questions yesterday revealed only 2,110 are claiming them.

Of the 3,990 primary state school pupils entitled to free meals, only 2,840 take them up.

That means 36.3 per cent of secondary pupils and 28.8 per cent of primary students are not taking up the free school meals to which they are entitled.

This compares to a national average of 17.3 per cent and south-east average of 21.6 per cent for secondary students, and a national average of 27 per cent and south-east average of 28.6 per cent for primary pupils.

Phil Willis, Liberal Democrat education spokesman, said he was deeply concerned that more than one in four secondary school pupils and one in six primary school pupils were not taking up their right to a free school meal. He said: "A healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime is essential to our children's health.

"A free school meal should mean a two-course lunch and a drink according to the Secretary of State for Education.

"However, research commissioned by his department has shown that pupils are having to pay extra or select a less than adequate meal.

"A free school meal should have high nutritional value and should be an attractive offer to children. Simply offering children a plate of chips is not sufficient.

"The whole point of free school meals is to provide the most needy children with a good nutritious meal -- yet many would rather do without. To many pupils, there is no such thing as a free lunch under Labour."

Ian Johnson, headteacher of Oxford Community School, in Glanville Road, said about 30 per cent of its 1,100 pupils were entitled to free meals and the vast majority took them up.

He said: "The secret to success is that our lunches are so good. Youngsters are given the same kind of dinner ticket as those which students buy, so there's nothing to show they are getting them free."