Free School Meals
Important update for September 2026: Free School Meal eligibility rules are changing nationally.
All students who currently receive Free School Meals, and any family who wishes to apply under the new criteria, will need to have their eligibility checked again before 1 September 2026. This is because national transitional protections are ending and schools must complete new eligibility checks for the 2026/27 academic year.
From September 2026, the Government is expanding Free School Meal eligibility so that students from households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to receive a free school meal, once eligibility has been verified.
There will be two categories of benefits-related Free School Meals:
Targeted Free School Meals
This applies to students from households receiving Universal Credit where annual household earnings are £7,400 or less, and to some other eligible benefit categories. This is the category that continues to be linked to Pupil Premium and some other forms of targeted support.
Expanded Free School Meals
This is a new category for students from households receiving Universal Credit who do not meet the Targeted Free School Meal threshold. Students in this category will be entitled to receive a free school meal, but this does not automatically provide eligibility for Pupil Premium or other support that is linked specifically to Targeted Free School Meals.
If you complete this check before 1st September 2026 and your child is eligible, this eligibility will only start from 1st September 2026 onwards.
Free School Meal Allowance
Eligible students receive a daily Free School Meal allowance of £4.00, which can be used throughout the school day for breaktime and lunch purchases. Any amount spent above the daily allowance must be paid for through your child’s online catering account. The allowance resets each day and unused balances do not carry forward, so students are encouraged to use their entitlement each day.
How to Apply or Recheck Eligibility
All applications are made directly to the school through the Wirral Portal and online application form, which can be found using the link below.
Families should complete the application if they think they may be eligible, including where they receive Universal Credit. The eligibility checking system will confirm whether a student qualifies for Targeted Free School Meals or Expanded Free School Meals.
The system will continue to check eligibility for up to 42 days after your initial application. If your circumstances change during that period, you and the school will receive notification of any change in eligibility, which we will then process.
We encourage families to apply even if their child usually brings a packed lunch, as eligibility for Targeted Free School Meals can provide additional funding and support for the school and eligible students.
Pupil Premium
Pupil Premium funding and some other forms of targeted support will continue to be linked to Targeted Free School Meal eligibility. Expanded Free School Meals provide entitlement to a free meal only and do not automatically provide access to other support that is linked to Targeted Free School Meals.
At WKGS, this means that some forms of additional financial support, including certain travel-related support for students in Years 7 to 11, may continue to be based on Targeted Free School Meal eligibility rather than Expanded Free School Meal eligibility.
Information about our strategy for spending Pupil Premium funding can be found at this link
If you have any concerns or queries, please contact [email protected].