New research funded by smol and The Hygiene Bank finds a 68% year-on-year rise in hygiene-related disruption in state schools, with almost three million children affected and millions of learning days lost, prompting a push for in-school laundries.
Almost three million children in the UK are now believed to experience hygiene poverty, with new research commissioned by the laundry brand smol and supported by The Hygiene Bank illustrating a sharp rise in daily incidents among pupils in state schools. The findings, released as the government’s Child Poverty Taskforce prepares its strategy, show a 68% year-on-year surge in teachers reporting that pupils are affected by poor personal and laundry hygiene. The study involved 500 state-school pupils and estimates that, on average, children miss about 6.5 school days each year, totalling around 23 million days of learning lost. Among the most troubling insights is the belief among 91% of teachers that the problem will have lasting effects, with 76% saying it damages children’s self-worth, 75% citing mental-health impacts and 65% noting that hygiene poverty harms the ability to form friendships.
The social and educational consequences are already visible in classrooms. Teachers report a range of visible signs, from pupils avoiding eye contact (39%) to sitting apart from peers (49%). Victoria Archer, a London primary school teacher, told The Independent that the issue has intensified in recent years: “It’s always been there but in the last five years, we’ve seen it worsening to the point that the last two years have been quite hard to manage.” She gave examples of pupils coming to school with unwashed clothes, and spoke of the broader emotional toll: “We see pupils who were once confident and engaged in class become withdrawn and quiet.” The same account highlights practical struggles, such as toothbrushes and basic hygiene items becoming a regular part of the school day.
Alongside the personal impact, the research highlights a growing push for practical solutions. The campaign Suds in Schools has emerged from the partnership between The Hygiene Bank and smol, advocating for laundries in educational settings to reduce the stigma and disruption caused by dirty uniforms and lacking hygiene facilities. The researchers’ partnership with schools shows teachers themselves see cleaning facilities as a potential game changer: 95% say access to washing facilities would benefit children and families facing hygiene poverty. Ruth Brock, chief executive of The Hygiene Bank, described the issue as an obstacle to learning and social connectedness: “No child should miss school because they don’t have access to a clean uniform, deodorant or basic hygiene products.” The organisations emphasise that public and policymaker action is urgently needed to move beyond visible symptoms to systemic support for families.
Interest in the issue has grown beyond the survey itself, with multiple outlets reporting similar patterns in late 2024. A Censuswide poll commissioned by The Hygiene Bank and Smol found that around 28% of school staff had witnessed pupils missing school due to hygiene poverty, and that 62% had seen dirty uniforms while 60% observed unwashed hair or unclean teeth. Other reporting in the period echoed these concerns, noting that teachers often paid for toiletries or even washed uniforms out of their own pockets, and that a substantial share believed the problem would worsen unless government action is taken within the broader child-poverty agenda. Coverage from The Telegraph, Sky News and ITV News in autumn 2024 reflects the same themes—embarrassment, social isolation, and a push for practical school-based responses—while The Guardian has long documented the broader deprivation context and the call for greater government investment. In parallel, Smol’s Marked Absent campaign has put real-life clothes on display to illustrate the stigma and missed learning caused by hygiene poverty, underscoring the tangible costs to children’s confidence and educational opportunities.
As policymakers prepare their response, the converging body of evidence reinforces a single point: hygiene poverty is not a marginal or episodic nuisance, but a barrier to equal participation in education. School leaders say the burden falls unevenly on the children who can least afford to absorb it, while teachers on the front line report a range of coping strategies that stretch budgets and patience. The Independent’s reporting shows that families are seeking help with everyday essentials—from clothing to cleaning products—yet the underlying issue persists, compounding stigma and undermining the school year for many pupils. If the government’s strategy is to be effective, it will need to address not only immediate needs but the structural supports that keep children from watching their potential slip away.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/school-children-uniforms-hygiene-poverty-b2812377.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://smol.com/uk/hygiene-poverty – Hygiene poverty is defined as the inability to afford essential personal care products and laundry needs, leaving families unable to stay clean. The page notes that over three million people in the UK are thought to experience this issue, which is often overlooked despite its impact on health, dignity and participation in daily life. It highlights laundry products as among the most requested items at food banks and says school staff frequently intervene by providing clothes or toiletries. Smol supports The Hygiene Bank and works with charities to fund and distribute products through schools and local groups to alleviate hardship.
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/01/teachers-buy-primary-school-pupils-soap-hygiene-poverty/ – Primarily summarizes a Censuswide poll conducted for The Hygiene Bank and smol, revealing that hygiene poverty is rising in UK schools. It reports that 28% of UK primary and secondary school staff have seen children repeatedly miss school because of hygiene poverty, with many pupils arriving at school with dirty uniforms, unwashed hair and unclean teeth. The piece notes that around two-thirds expect the problem to worsen, and that staff frequently wash uniforms or buy toiletries with their own money, averaging about £27 per person in the last year. It also highlights the campaign for action to address hygiene poverty.
- https://news.sky.com/story/teachers-seeing-pupils-with-dirty-clothes-unwashed-hair-and-unbrushed-teeth-as-hygiene-poverty-increases-13225620 – Sky News reports a Censuswide poll of 500 UK school staff, commissioned by The Hygiene Bank and smol, revealing hygiene poverty’s reach. It shows 28% have seen pupils miss school due to poverty, 62% have seen dirty uniforms, and 60% unwashed hair or unclean teeth. Teachers say they have washed uniforms themselves and bought toiletries for families, often using their own money. The article also notes 80% think the problem will grow, and that while some schools have secured support, staff have collectively spent substantial sums, with individual outlays averaging about £27. It also notes pupils’ embarrassment and isolation too.
- https://www.itv.com/news/2024-09-30/majority-of-school-staff-have-seen-pupils-arriving-in-dirty-uniforms-poll – ITV News reports that a Censuswide poll of 500 UK school staff, conducted for The Hygiene Bank and smol, indicates that hygiene poverty is on the rise. A majority of respondents have seen pupils arrive at school in dirty uniforms and that hygiene poverty is rising. The piece highlights teachers’ personal interventions, including washing uniforms and buying toiletries for families from their own pockets. It notes that the scale of the problem is prompting schools to explore solutions such as Suds in Schools laundrettes. The report reinforces calls for government action within child poverty strategy to ensure children can learn with dignity.
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/04/more-children-expected-to-arrive-at-uk-schools-with-dirty-clothes-and-hair – The Guardian article reports on a 2023 poll by the Hygiene Bank and Smol indicating rising hygiene poverty among UK schoolchildren. It notes 72% of school staff reported increased hygiene poverty over the previous year and 71% expected it to rise further. Observed signs include dirty uniforms and PE kits, unwashed hair and unclean teeth. The piece mentions staff washing clothes and distributing laundry detergent, and features insights from headteachers and ASCL’s Julie McCulloch about the broader deprivation context. It underscores the stigma and learning disruption caused when children cannot maintain personal hygiene at school, and greater government investment urgently.
- https://smol.com/uk/stories/marked-absent – Smol’s Marked Absent campaign uses a London window display to illuminate children experiencing hygiene poverty. Real clothes from affected pupils are showcased, some stained, to illustrate the invisibility of the issue. The project cites impact such as average 6.5 missed school days per year due to lack of clean clothing; notes 88% of teachers say hygiene poverty reduces self-esteem, 83.6% report social isolation, and 91% believe it harms confidence and opportunities. The piece emphasises the stigma and the need for policy attention, while urging people to support poverty initiatives. Campaigns Suds in Schools show steps toward lasting change nationwide.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 6
Notes: 
Earliest similar coverage: late September–early October 2024 (Censuswide poll commissioned by The Hygiene Bank and smol reported by The Telegraph, Sky News, ITV on 30 Sept–1 Oct 2024). (telegraph.co.uk, itv.com, news.sky.com) 
The narrative is not new — it was widely reported >7 days earlier than the Independent piece and is part of an ongoing campaign by smol/The Hygiene Bank (Marked Absent / Suds in Schools). (smol.com) 
Multiple repackagings of the same commissioned research appear across commercial, charity and national outlets (and on smol campaign pages), which suggests recycled campaign material rather than an isolated, fresh scoop. (smol.com, ethicalmarketingnews.com)
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: 
Many quoted lines (e.g. from The Hygiene Bank chief executive Ruth Brock and teachers) appear across coverage of the Censuswide research and smol campaign material, but some quotes (e.g. Victoria Archer speaking to The Independent) appear to be direct interview material unique to the Independent report. (news.sky.com, itv.com, smol.com) 
If identical wording for high-profile quotes appears on earlier 2024 reports, that would indicate reuse from press statements; where the Independent attributes a named teacher (Victoria Archer) this looks like an original interview — no earlier match for that name/quote was found in the quick search. Recommendation: verify the Victoria Archer quotation with the Independent transcript/interview record for confirmation.
Source reliability
Score: 6
Notes: Mixed reliability: the narrative draws on a poll by Censuswide (a recognised market/research firm) commissioned by smol (a commercial laundry brand) and supported by The Hygiene Bank (a charity). (djsresearch.co.uk, smol.com) National broadcasters (Sky, ITV) and national papers (Telegraph) reported the same commissioned poll in Sept/Oct 2024, which supports credibility of the underlying survey figures. (telegraph.co.uk, itv.com, news.sky.com) However, because the research is commissioned by an interested commercial actor (smol) in partnership with a campaigning charity, there is a risk of framing bias and selective emphasis; campaign pages on smol repeat higher magnitude figures (e.g. 3.6 million or ‘1 in 5’) that differ from “almost three million” in the Independent piece — these discrepancies should be reconciled with raw poll data. (smol.com)
Plausability check
Score: 7
Notes: Overall claims are plausible and corroborated by multiple outlets reporting the same Censuswide poll and by smol/The Hygiene Bank campaign materials. (itv.com, news.sky.com, smol.com) Specific numeric inconsistencies: smol campaign pages and some reporting give different headline numbers (e.g. 3.6 million / ‘1 in 5’) versus the Independent’s ‘almost three million’ — this is a substantive discrepancy that should be checked against the original Censuswide poll methodology and weighting. (smol.com) 
Time-sensitive claims about school-days-lost (6.5 days / ~23 million days) appear repeatedly in campaign materials but should be traced back to the poll’s question wording and sample to confirm extrapolation methods. If the narrative lacks clear methodological notes in the text, that reduces evidential strength.
