Supporting Every Family
At Selby High School, we are committed to ensuring that every young person can fully participate in school life, regardless of their family's financial circumstances.
We understand that families can face financial pressures for many different reasons and at different times. Our aim is to remove barriers to learning, reduce stigma and ensure that all students can access the opportunities, support and experiences that help them thrive.
This page outlines the support available both within school and across the local community. If you would like further advice or support, please contact your child's Year Manager or a member of our pastoral team, who will be happy to help in a confidential and supportive manner.
Support in the Community
Local Support Services
Selby Hands of Hope
A local charity supporting families through a community shop offering affordable clothing, furniture, toys and sometimes school uniform. In addition, we identify families within school who we feel would benefit from this.
https://www.selbyhandsofhope.org.uk/
8–9 Market Cross Shopping Centre, Market Lane, Selby, YO8 4JS
Christmas Gift Appeal
We work closely every year with the Selby Hands of Hope Christmas Gift Appeal to ensure that all our young people get to enjoy the festive period. If you are able to donate, or support, please visit https://www.selbyhandsofhope.org.uk/christmas-gift-appeal-2025Food Banks
We regularly support local food banks as part of student civic engagement.
Vouchers are currently available from Community House (near Morrisons). We are working to enable distribution through school in the future.
Selby District foodbank
| Opening times | |
| Mon | 10:00 - 13:00 |
| Tue | Closed |
| Wed | 10:00 - 13:00 |
| Thu | Closed |
| Fri | 10:00 - 13:00 |
| Sat | Closed |
| Sun | Closed |
Address:
Client Food Parcels & Donations:
1811 Building
New Lane
Selby
YO8 4QP
Tel: 01757703426
Cost of Living and Financial Support
North Yorkshire Council Support
Help with food, energy and housing support:
https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/community-and-volunteering/cost-living-support-0
North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF)
In-kind support for residents experiencing financial hardship:
https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/community-and-volunteering/cost-living-support-0/community-and-volunteering/cost-living-support-0/north-yorkshire-local-assistance-fund-nylaf
Citizens Advice
Free, independent support with money, housing, legal and everyday challenges.
https://www.cany.org.uk/
38 Ousegate, Selby, YO8 4NH
Other Local Organisations
Additional Support
Free School Meals (FSM)
From September 2026, eligibility for Free School Meals will expand to all households receiving Universal Credit. Further guidance on application processes will be shared with families.
FEAST Holiday Activities
Free School Meals students can access holiday activity vouchers offering a wide range of experiences during school holidays:
https://northyorkshiretogether.co.uk/feast/
Bed Poverty Support
Support is available for families struggling to afford suitable bedding.
https://zarach.org/
Support in School
Getting Help in School
If you need support, please contact your child’s Year Manager or a member of the pastoral team. All conversations are handled sensitively and confidentially.
Everyday Support
Uniform
- On entry to school, students cross our Purple Line, where they are fully ready to start the day. If anyone does not have the right uniform in a morning, we will lend clean uniform times to them to ensure that this is not a barrier to their learning.
- We work hard to ensure that our uniform is smart but also not a financial barrier for our families. We only require one item of branded clothing within our main uniform (blazer) and pre-loved ones of these are available.
- All uniform expectations for students (including those related to jewellery and footwear) are designed to ensure that when in uniform, no student facing financial challenges stands out from their peers.
Pre-Loved Uniform
We have recently established our pre-loved uniform shop. This is something we have been looking into for some time, to reduce the environmental impact of our school uniform, as well as reduce costs for families. We are delighted to announce that we will be launching this over the coming weeks. This is run by a group of our Y10 students and money raised from this will go towards their prom fundraising for Year 11. If you have any pre-loved uniform items that your child has outgrown that you wish to donate, please leave these with reception.
Equipment
Where students do not have equipment, we will lend them some. This is logged on Arbor and when a child is missing equipment on 3 separate occasions, this is reviewed by the Year Manager. Sometimes there is a consequence, if this is due to them forgetting or damaging equipment, however where financial resources are the barrier, Year Managers source and provide equipment to support students accessing their learning.
Breakfast Provision
All students can access a free bagel each morning to support a positive start to the school day.
Period Products
Free sanitary products are available in all female toilets, with additional supplies available from Year Managers.
Learning and Enrichment
Enrichment
A wide range of extracurricular activities are available at little or no cost, including biking, bowling, gaming and golf.
Homework Club
Daily sessions in the LRC after school provide a quiet space for homework and access to support from staff.
Revision Guides
Each year we launch revision guides in Year 10 as part of a programme of revision skills leading up to their mock exams. For all families, we pass on bulk purchase discounts and allow these to be spread over a number of months, reducing the financial burden on families. For students eligible for Free School Meals, revision guides in core subjects are funded by school but shared in the same way so that students are not identifiable.
Technology and Food
To avoid food waste, and financial waste for families, all ingredients and resources for technology are centrally purchased by school, with families making a contribution towards these at the start of the year (or in instalments). For students eligible for Free School Meals, these are funded by school but shared in the same way so that students are not identifiable.
Trips, Events and Experiences
Trips and Visits
All Free School Meals (FSM) students receive subsidised or fully funded access to trips and visits. The school also works to reduce overall costs through fundraising.
Prom
A selection of dresses and suits is available so all students can attend prom regardless of financial circumstances.
Non-Uniform Days
Any donations are collected discreetly at the school entrance to avoid stigma in classrooms.
Birthdays
All birthdays are celebrated in assembly each week, meaning that all students can celebrate together within the year group but also removing any expectation for students to bring in cake or sweets.
Talk to Us
If you are experiencing financial difficulties, or are worried about the impact that financial pressures may be having on your child, we encourage you to please get in touch with us.
Many families experience periods of financial challenge, and support is available. Conversations will be handled sensitively and confidentially, and our pastoral team can help connect you with support both within school and in the local community.
Please contact your child's Year Manager in the first instance, or speak to a member of our pastoral team. Please refer to our latest staff list for contact details.
