We would like to remind you of the criteria which make students eligible for Free School Meals, and to encourage you to apply if you think your child is eligible, but is not already receiving Free School Meals. As well as ensuring that you receive the benefit to which you are entitled, the school's income is also determined to a significant degree by the number of students claiming Free School Meals. It is therefore beneficial to the whole school community as well as to the individual families concerned if the entitlement is taken up.

Your child might be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.

By registering for Free School Meals, if eligible, you will give your child the option to take up a healthy school meal and at the same time help our school to support them in their learning. The Government provides this additional funding to support students from lower-income families and we use this money to directly support our students. In addition to a healthy meal, we may be able to offer financial support for various activities and resources, including revision materials. A Free School Meals allowance of £1.10 is also available (in addition to the dinner allowance) which can be used to purchase breakfast items before school starts between 8.15am and 8.35am. You will also receive a £10 food voucher per eligible child provided by Kent County Council each week during the school holidays.

It is, however, only made available to schools if children are registered for Free School Meals by their parent(s)/carer(s). If you think your child may be eligible for Free School Meals, please click this link for more information and to register. 

Please be aware that the Government’s transitional protection arrangements for means-tested Free School Meals (FSM) ended on 1 April 2025. Any eligible claims confirmed from this date will no longer be protected. This means any child confirmed as eligible for free school meals from 1 April 2025 will be subject to ongoing checks to confirm continued eligibility. This will not impact any children who are already confirmed as eligible. Those already confirmed as eligible will maintain their eligibility until the end of their current phase of education. At that point, they will be re-assessed for their eligibility status. This will apply to all year 6 moving into year 7 in September 2025. These children will then be subject to ongoing checks to confirm continued eligibility.

Children who are entitled to receive free school meals, can also get free school transport to the nearest grammar school if:

•  they have met the admissions criteria of the school

• they have been offered a place at the school

• it's the nearest grammar school to their home

• the distance from their home and the school

If you think your child is eligible and you have not already applied for this, further details and application forms can be found here: Free school transport - Kent County Council

If you have any queries about this or would like to discuss it further, please contact us at the school.