If you left UK school in June/July 1980, how would you answer this question?

[bloopa]

Q: If you finished school after 1980, were you eligible for free school meals at any point during your school year?
A1: Yes
A2: No
A3: Not applicable (finished school before 1980)

This question is on a job application I'm doing. The multi-choice answers don't cater for people who left in 1980.

I understand it is a reference to the 1980 Education Act which was passed on 31st March 1980, 3 months before I left school. It limited free school meals to children on certain benefits. But did the changes come into effect immediately, or in September 1980?

Fwiw, I'll probably just answer "A2: No", but it's a poorly designed question and I'm curious about the detail.

You finished school in 1980, not after so I would answer yes or now. I assume the question is used to measure social mobility.

Just answer yes or no.
They’re not going to check if you got it right!

What a bizarre question to ask on a job application. I would answer "not relevant to this application ".

You didn't finish after 1980, so I'd go with not applicable

It will be to do with social mobility. You might also get questions on the sort of job your higer earning parent had, or whether you got a grant at university. Not sure what changed in 1980 with school meals.

I agree it's bizarre. DD had to answer whether she had free school meals when she applied for a call centre job at a Water firm. We were poor when she was little but were just above benefits help.

I agree that it's poorly written as it doesn't say what happens if you left school in 1980, but I think it's unlikely that it did come into force before you left school because there's usually a few months gap before the laws are published and they come into force.

I can't see when this came into force but there is a comment that this didn't happen fully until 1982 and it's unlikely any of it did before September 1980.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/20/contents

In your case I'd answer no. It's just an indication of social mobility, they're not going to ask you about it in the interview. My employer asks a load of questions about your parents education level and their jobs when you were 'about 14'.

Have they not updated their job application form at some stage in the last 45 years?

You don't have to answer it ...

What a strange question. I was born after 1980, but I wouldn't know if I received free school meals or not. We weren't wealthy by any means, but both my parents worked. It's not something I'd be able to ask them either.