Free School Meals/Catering

Breakfast, Break & Lunchtime Options

All catering within the Academy is provided by Chartwells Caterers, a company which provides services to schools across the United Kingdom. Our caterers have won numerous awards including 2018 – Regional awards for Scotland & North East – Secondary School Catering Team of the Year, as well as Contract Caterers of the Year 2015.

All meat supplied to the Academy is certified Halal and has UHA accreditation. (Certificates below)

IMS of Smithfield 2024 - 2025

 

Chalk poster

The academy runs a free of charge breakfast club every morning from 7:30am for all our students. This is funded through money we receive directly from the government. Cereals, and bagels are offered as well as healthy drinks. We believe breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day! Breakfast Club is run by members of our SRC team, and offers our students the opportunity to indulge in a healthy breakfast in order to start the day! On offer are a variety of social and recreational opportunities including table-table tennis, board games.

In partnership with our caterers Chartwells, we provide students with a range of healthy options at various times during the day, including break and lunchtimes.

Everything is made freshly on the premises, and there is always a varied menu on offer throughout the week. Break-times offer a variety of hot and cold food items, including school compliant drinks, fresh fruit pots, fruit yoghurts, a selection of filled baguettes and sandwiches.

At lunchtimes, rarely will our students be unable to find something to ‘tickle their tastebuds’. We offer a variety of hot meals and desserts, a healthy salad bar, high street favourites, ‘Speedy Italian’, school compliant drinks, fresh fruit pots, fruit yoghurts, cereal bars and tray bakes. ‘Fish & Chip Fridays’ are always popular! Please note that a prepared fruit selection is on offer at every meal serving.

Grab & Go

We minimise the amount of time students spend queuing for lunch, through our cashless catering system, which radically reduces transaction times. We also offer a number of service points. Students have the option of two main hot & cold service points in the refectory, a cold buffet option serving sandwiches and baguettes as well as our new ‘Grab & Go’ kiosk which serves hot & cold items.

Dining tables are set up in the main refectory and cold lunch area, as well as separate shaded seating in the quad for Year 7 students and picnic tables near the Grab & Go kiosk.

Within our comfortable surroundings students can consume a packed lunch from home, or delicious food served within the Academy.

As our students are unable to leave the Academy site at break or lunchtime it is important that they are inspired by the food on offer to them. We therefore hold regular tasting sessions, at which students are able to sample new dishes and snacks; many of which find their way onto the menu at break or lunchtime as a permanent offer.

Find out if you are eligible and make sure your son / daughter benefits from;

  • A great selection of hot & cold lunches
  • Healthy & delicious food
  • Better concentration and improved performance as a result of a nutritious school lunch

Eligibility Criteria

You may qualify if you are in receipt of the following:-

  • Income Support or;
  • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or;
  • Employment & Support Allowance (Income-Related) or;
  • Guarantee Element of the State Pension Credit or;
  • National Asylum Seekers Support (NASS) or;
  • Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit), and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190 AND your son / daughter attends a school full-time.

If you think your son/daughter is eligible for Free School Meals, click here to visit the Luton Borough Council website and apply.

Alternatively to make an appointment to discuss this further, please contact the Academy reception.