Hungry pupils at Sacred Heart Primary School in Holloway enjoyed a free breakfast ahead of their exams to help with nerves.

The school in Georges Road was one of 250 across the country taking part in breakfast club events organised by Kellogg’s.

Research published this week found that school children in the capital are under so much pressure to perform well in their SATs that more than half skip meals before their exams.

The report asked children who sat tests in 2013 a range of questions and showed that of those who didn’t eat breakfast 67 per cent put it down to pre-exam jitters.

Instead of having a meal before exams, more than a quarter of children admitted they snacked on chocolate bars or sweets.

Head master at Sacred Lane, John Lane, said: “We feel the Breakfast Club during SATS week proves to be highly beneficial to our pupils. We have found that children can concentrate and perform better during exam time if they have eaten breakfast.

“Kellogg’s supply us with a wide range of cereals and we are truly grateful to them for their contribution.”

This is the second year the company has donated free cereals to schools and it is hoped that schools will continue to run the clubs at other times of the year.