Eating at the Academy

All our students can take advantage of freshly cooked, nutritional food which is prepared daily in the academy and served by a committed, enthusiastic and caring catering team in our Food Plant and Pit-stop outlets. We have adopted the Government’s food based and nutrient based standards for the school meals. To ensure compliance we follow recipes prepared by Essex County Council and put on the dishes the students like best in a balanced menu.

The menu changes on a regular basis to give a good variety of meals suiting all tastes, but always including a traditional main meal with vegetables, a vegetarian choice, pasta with sauces and jacket potatoes. There are always sandwiches, rolls and wraps available and a selection of hot Grab and Go items, e.g. pizza slices, bacon rolls and hot wraps.

Free School Meals

Changes to Free School Meal Eligibility from September 2026

Free School Meal Eligibility Changes for the new Academic Year 2026/27 for students currently in years 6 to 10.

Free School Meals eligibility is changing from the start of the new academic year, and you will need to apply if you meet the new criteria. From September 2026, the Government is expanding access to Free School Meals so that all children and young people from households receiving Universal Credit can apply. There will be 2 categories of eligibility:

Eligible Targeted: this covers children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less, as well as those receiving certain other qualifying benefits or with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). These children may also attract additional support for their school, such as pupil premium funding, and access to schemes such as the Holiday Activities and Food programme.

Eligible Expanded: this covers children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400 per year. These children will be entitled to Free School Meals only.

Due to these changes, all families will be required to apply from 1 June 2026. We strongly recommend applying online as early as possible via the link here. Before starting your application, please ensure you have your National Insurance number and details of your benefits to hand.

 Before applying, please ensure you have:

- Your National Insurance number

- Details of your benefits (such as a Universal Credit statement if requested)

Please note that applications during this period may take longer to process due to a high volume of requests. If your child is currently receiving Free School Meals, their eligibility will continue until the end of the current school year regardless of the outcome of your new application. Once your application has been processed, you will receive confirmation of the outcome. If you are eligible, we will confirm the category your child qualifies under and the level of support they will receive. If your child is eligible under the Targeted category, they may also be entitled to additional support for the duration of the academic year. If your child is eligible under the Expanded category, they will receive Free School Meals. If your circumstances change and you believe you may qualify for the Targeted category, you should reapply so your eligibility can be reassessed.