Restaurant and Free School Meals information
At Meridian High School, our catering service is provided by Aspens, a specialist school catering company committed to offering students nutritious, varied and enjoyable food throughout the school day.
Aspens’ secondary-school food offer, Streateries, takes inspiration from flavours and street food from around the world. The menu has been designed to provide plenty of variety and choice while continuing to offer the familiar favourites students know and enjoy.
What is available?
Students can choose from a wide range of freshly prepared meals, including:
- A daily main meal and vegetarian or vegan alternative
- Global street-food dishes and handheld options
- Traditional school favourites
- Freshly made pizzas and pasta pots
- Burritos, rice bowls, wraps and paninis
- Loaded potatoes and chips
- Fresh sandwiches and salads
- Seasonal vegetables and side dishes
- Fresh fruit, yoghurt pots, home-baked desserts and traditional puddings
The Deli Kitchen also provides convenient grab-and-go choices for students who prefer a lighter meal or need something quick.
A varied three-week menu
The Autumn/Winter menu runs on a three-week rotation, giving students the opportunity to try a wide range of dishes. Choices include chicken satay with coconut rice, Greek souvlaki, chicken curry, pasta dishes, Mexican-inspired meals, fish and chips, roast dinners and a variety of vegetarian options.
Fresh fruit and yoghurt pots are available daily, alongside a selection of vegetables, salads and home-baked items.
Aspens-Streateries-Autumn-Winter-2026-Launch-Menu.pdf
Great value and choice
Aspens aims to provide students with great value and plenty of choice. Meal deals are available, and students who receive free school meals can use their daily allowance to purchase a meal deal.
Catering for allergies and special diets
Aspens caters for a range of dietary requirements so that all students can enjoy a safe and tasty meal.
Ingredient and allergen information is provided for pre-packaged food in line with Natasha’s Law. If your child has a food allergy, intolerance, medical diet or other dietary requirement, please contact the school so that we can work with you and the catering team to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place.
Supporting students and the environment
Aspens is committed to making choices that are good for students and better for the planet. This includes:
- Supporting British farmers and using fresh, seasonal produce where possible
- Working with Klimato to highlight the carbon impact of meals
- Encouraging recycling and reducing food and packaging waste
- Helping students understand how their food choices can affect the environment
Listening to our students
Student feedback is important. Aspens regularly introduces new flavours, themed promotions and food trends while listening to what students enjoy. This helps the catering team to continue developing the service and ensuring there is something for everyone.
Parent-communication-Secondary.pdf
The School’s catering is completely cashless. Parents/Carers can make payments and top up their child’s account via the ParentPay website or in cash at local stores where you see the PayPoint logo.
If you add money to the basket in error, you are able to withdraw this by going to the Parent Account Tab and press the Withdraw button at the bottom of the screen.
To top up your child account, please click on the link below:
Free School Meals
Could your child be entitled to Free School Meals?
From September 2026, Free School Meals (FSM) are available to all children whose household receives Universal Credit, regardless of household earnings.
Families must still complete an eligibility check so that the school can confirm and record their child's entitlement.
Check Free School Meal Eligibility
Why is it important to complete the check?
As well as ensuring that your child receives a free school meal, completing the check helps us identify children who may qualify for additional support.
There are two categories of Free School Meals from September 2026:
Targeted Free School Meals
Children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less are entitled to a free school meal. Their eligibility may also attract Pupil Premium funding for the school. The current Pupil Premium rate for secondary-aged pupils is £1,100 per eligible pupil.
Pupil Premium funding is used by us to improve educational outcomes and provide additional opportunities and support for pupils in receipt of the premium.
Expanded Free School Meals
Children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings above £7,400 are also entitled to a free school meal. However, this expanded entitlement is for the meal only and does not generate Pupil Premium funding.
Children may also qualify under other criteria, including some families receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the guarantee element of Pension Credit, support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and some families with No Recourse to Public Funds.
Important changes from September 2026
The previous transitional protection arrangements for Free School Meals ended at the end of the 2025/26 academic year.
This means that eligibility must now be checked under the new rules. Families whose children previously received Free School Meals should therefore complete a new check, even if their child has received Free School Meals for several years.
Eligibility will also be rechecked each academic year.
Check your child's eligibility
The quickest way to check is through Meridian High School's online eligibility checker:
Check Free School Meal Eligibility
If you believe your child is eligible but experience difficulty completing the online check, please contact the school reception or:
Ms Rebecca Williams
r.williams2@meridianhigh.london
