Secondary school meal prices in every part of Wales as term starts
Prices for secondary school meals across Wales vary by more than £1 depending on where children live and go to school. Wales Online reported that every Welsh council has a different arrangement for school meals. Wales is the first UK nation to provide universal free school meals to primary school children but the offer does not extend to older children.
Around one in five children in Wales live in families with low enough incomes to qualify for free school meals. For the rest, regardless of their proximity to the lowest incomes, they must pay for their meals. In recent years, school meal prices have increased in some local authority areas due to budget cuts and rising food and energy costs.
Some councils, like Swansea, have frozen prices to support families. Swansea has not raised its secondary school meal prices for five years. The Welsh Government stated that there are no plans to extend the free school meal offer to all secondary-aged children. Free school meals are available to children from low-income households, but it will not be a universal provision.
Different councils in Wales have varied arrangements for secondary school catering, with some using one caterer while others allow schools to employ their own caterers. Prices are set for the main meal of the day, with secondary canteens also offering a range of other choices and snacks at different prices.
Each council in Wales charges different prices for secondary school main meals. For example, Anglesey charges £2.80, Cardiff £3.40, Swansea £2.40, Bridgend £2.80, Caerphilly £2.80, Carmarthenshire £2.80, Powys £2.65, Newport £2.40, Pembrokeshire £2.70, Torfaen £2.60, and so on.
To be eligible for free school meals, children must attend school full-time, including sixth form pupils. Eligibility is assessed based on various criteria such as receiving certain benefits like Income Support or Child Tax Credit. The Welsh Government’s data from July 2024 showed a decline in the number of pupils eligible for free school meals compared to the previous year.
In terms of primary school meals, Wales has successfully rolled out universal free school meals for all primary pupils in maintained schools. This initiative marks a milestone for Wales as the first UK nation to implement this policy, benefitting nearly 30 million meals served and 176,000 newly eligible pupils.
As the new school term commences, families across Wales face varying secondary school meal prices, highlighting the challenges some students and parents encounter in accessing affordable and nutritious meals during the school day.