Catering
Bedford Academy understands the importance of providing students with healthy and nutritious food which enhances levels of concentration and achievement.
Our team of chefs constantly refreshes the menus and provides food of the highest quality in our restaurant on a daily basis. The Academy offers free breakfast during break time, of cereal, fruit, toast and porridge to every student. We provide nutritious and substantial snacks to buy at break as well as providing appetising and satisfying lunches.
Our menus comply with the standards set by the Department for Education to assist our students to make healthy choices in their diet.
The food reflects a variety of tastes and cultures. The menu has been designed so that there is a mixture of vegetarian and vegan dishes options. We are proud to confirm our commitment to sustainability by reducing the menu’s content of red meat to one main dish every three weeks. And where applicable all of our chicken, turkey, beef and lamb is Halal.
We also cater for allergens and intolerances – we are nut free and are proud to offer gluten free alternatives to pasta, pizza and sandwiches. Students who wish to bring a packed lunch from home may do so, eating either in the restaurant or on one of the outside benches.
Our newly refurbished bistro style restaurant and coffee shop provides a modern and relaxed environment in the main atrium at the heart of the school where students can enjoy break and lunch and socialise with their friends. Lunch times are staggered to ensure that queues are minimised. Doors open out onto a designated external dining area for al fresco dining during late spring and summer.
The Academy operates a biometric cashless system for catering. Your child will have an account which can be topped-up online via ParentPay or cash can be brought into school to top up their account via the biometric cash machines. For anyone able to, we now have use of chip and pin.
If your child is entitled to free school meals, a daily credit of £2.65 will be added to their account automatically. This can be used to purchase food to the value of £2.65 throughout the day. Any additional spend over this £2.65 credit and/or any drink purchases must be paid for by the student. Please note that any underspend of the free school meal allowance will not be carried forward.
If you require further information on cashless catering, please contact the Finance office at the Trust.
A free school meal allowance is allocated daily to eligible students. Please click here for more information.
Menu
Price List
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Healthy Eating Policy
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School Packed Lunch Guidance
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Guidance on Preparing food for Fundraising Events
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Free School Meals
A daily free school meal allowance per day will be allocated to eligible students.
Free School Meals (FSM) can be claimed by those students whose parents or carers are in receipt of one of the following benefits:
Income Support
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related)
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
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
Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400* per year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
The guaranteed element of pension credit
*This threshold is provided by the DFE and is subject to change.
If you feel you may be eligible for FSM, you can contact Bedford Borough Council Education Welfare Service and request an application form to be sent to you or apply online via www.bedford.gov.uk
The Academy operates a biometric cashless system for catering, for which all students are allocated an account. If your child is entitled to free school meals, a daily credit of £2.65 will be added to their account automatically, which can be used to purchase food. Any spend over £2.65 and/or the purchase of drinks must be paid for by the student by one of the methods listed in the Cashless Catering section. Please note that any underspend of the free school meal allowance will not be carried forward.
