School Menus:
Main and a drink meal deal £3
Catering Team Award
Our Catering staff have won the prestigious “Catering Team Excellence Award”.
- Mrs Skryplonek – Catering Manager
- Mrs Broadley – Catering Assistant
- Mrs Kemp – Catering Assistant
- Mrs Wilkinson – Catering Assistant
- Mrs Taylor – Catering Assistant
The award was given by Lancashire County Council for having the highest number of pupils choosing to have a school dinner in Lancashire.
75% of pupils at Bowland choose to have a school meal.
Cashless Pay System
Bowland High operates a fully cashless catering system for all school meal purchases. This system provides a convenient, secure, and efficient service for pupils, parents, and staff, eliminating the need to carry cash in school and improving the overall lunchtime experience.
Key Benefits
- Faster Service: Significantly reduces queue times during break and lunch periods, allowing pupils more time to eat and socialize.
- Enhanced Security: Eliminates the risk of lost or stolen cash on school premises.
- Account Transparency & Control: Enables parents to monitor detailed meal choices, check account balances online, and manage dietary restrictions.
- Anonymity for Free School Meals: Daily allowances are automatically credited to pupils’ accounts without distinction or stigma at the point of sale.
How the System Works
The system identifies pupils at the till points using biometric recognition (a scanned fingerprint image template). Once recognised, the item costs are automatically deducted from the pupil’s prepaid account balance.
Adding Funds
Parents and carers can top up pupil accounts using several convenient methods:
- Online Payments via ParentPay: Add funds securely at any time using a debit or credit card.
- PayPoint Outlets: Top up with cash at local PayPoint retail locations using a barcoded letter issued by the school.
Daily Spend Limits
To assist families in budgeting and ensure balanced spending across the week, a standard daily spend limit is applied to all pupil accounts, this is currently set at £5. If parents wish to set a customized daily spend limit (higher or lower than the default), they can contact the school main office directly to request an adjustment.
Free School Meals
Pupils entitled to Free School Meals have their daily allowance automatically credited to their account each morning before service. The allowance is sufficient to purchase a full two-course balanced meal or meal deal. Please note that unused daily FSM allowances do not roll over to subsequent days. Additional funds can be topped up by parents onto the same account if desired for break time purchases or extras.
Healthy Eating & Dietary Controls
The cashless system supports our commitment to promoting healthy eating habits and safeguarding pupil health:
- Dietary Restrictions & Allergies: Specific medical dietary requirements, food allergies, or religious food preferences can be recorded on the system. Till operators are automatically alerted when an item is scanned if a registered allergy or restriction applies.
- Nutritional Tracking: Parents can view detailed itemised transaction histories online via ParentPay to ensure their child is making healthy food choices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Biometric Recognition & Fingerprint Scans
Is an actual image of my child’s fingerprint stored?
No. The system measures specific features of the fingerprint and converts this data into an encrypted numerical mathematical algorithm. An actual fingerprint image is never recorded or saved, and it cannot be reconstructed from the stored data.
Is consent required for biometric registration?
Yes. Written consent from a parent or legal guardian is required before any pupil’s biometric data is collected. If consent is withheld or withdrawn, an alternative method (such as an individual PIN code or swipe card) will be provided.
Account Balances
What happens if an account runs out of money?
We encourage parents to maintain a positive balance via ParentPay. In emergency situations where an account balance is low or zero, pupils should inform catering staff or pastoral teams so arrangements can be made to ensure they receive a meal.
Free school meals
Free school meals for all children in reception, year one and two
Expanding free school meals eligibility
From September 2026 all households receiving Universal Credit, regardless of household income, will qualify for free school meals.
Who should apply
If you receive Universal Credit and your child is not getting free school meals, apply by filling in our online form.
If you have already applied for free school meals and your child has been confirmed as eligible, you do not need to apply again. We will recheck your claim and tell your child’s school before the start of the new September 2026 term.
Eligibility
Year 3 and above and secondary
Expanded free school meals
Families receiving Universal Credit with earnings above £7,400.
Targeted free school meals
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Universal Credit with yearly household earnings of £7,400 or less.
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- the guarantee element of Pension Credit
Children in this group may also be eligible for other programmes of support.
Nursery (pre-school)
Students over 16
Work experience
Families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
Other programmes of support
If your child is eligible for targeted free school meals, they may also be entitled to:
- free transport to school (if they also meet the age and distance criteria)
- Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) – fun activities during the school holidays
- Pupil Premium funding for the school – extra funding to raise the achievement of some pupils
Apply
Apply online
What happens next
We will confirm whether you are eligible by email.
If you are eligible, we will let the school know that your child can have free school meals.
Apply by post
Download the application form:
- Free school meals form (PDF 939 KB)
If you apply by post we will notify you by email, or post if you do not provide an email address.
Contact us
New applications
If you have recently applied and have not received a confirmation email, please allow 5 working days before contacting us. Remember to also check your spam or junk email folder.
We are currently managing an increase in applications since the government extended the eligibility criteria. We will try to respond to all applications before the start of the autumn term 2026.
Free school meals email addresses by area:
Lancaster, Morecambe, Wyre and Fylde (North) – pupilaccessteam.north@lancashire.gov.uk
Preston, South Ribble, Chorley and West Lancashire (South) fsm.south@lancashire.gov.uk
Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale (East) fsm.east@lancashire.gov.uk
Packed Lunch
Pupils may bring a packed lunch to school with them. All food must be eaten within the main lunch hall and not outside or in classrooms.
Morning Breakfast and Break Time Snack
The school kitchen offers snacks both before school and at break. Pupils may also bring snacks from home. All food must be eaten in the main hall.