School meals at Mercia Northridge School are provided by tbc.
Our meals meets all government healthy school food standards and works closely with our School Council to ensure menus are appealing, varied and nutritious, reflecting pupil feedback wherever possible.
What’s on offer
Pupils can choose from a wide range of options each day, including:
- A daily selection of hot meals
- Hot pasta pots with a choice of toppings
- Jacket potatoes with a variety of fillings
- Sandwiches, paninis, baguettes and pasta salad boxes
- A range of hot and cold drinks
Spaces are also available for pupils who prefer to bring a packed lunch.
Cashless catering
Mercia Northridge School operates a cashless catering system. Each pupil has a personal account which parents and carers can top up to pay for food and drinks through ParentPay.
For pupils entitled to free school meals, the daily allowance is automatically credited to their account before lunchtime each day. We encourage families to review the menu together and discuss spending choices across the week.
Biometric payment system
We use a biometric system to allow pupils to pay for food quickly and securely. At Mercia Northridge School, this operates through fingerprint scanning.
Once a fingerprint scan is authenticated, pupils can access their catering account to pay for meals and snacks at break and lunchtime. This removes the need to carry cash and helps keep accounts secure.
Biometrics and data security
We understand that families may have questions about biometric systems. Please be assured that:
Fingerprint images cannot be used by any other organisation for identification
The system converts the fingerprint into a mathematical algorithm and then discards the image
Only numerical data is stored and this cannot be converted back into a fingerprint image
Records remain on the school system only while the pupil is on roll at Mercia Northridge School
Use of fingerprint imaging is entirely voluntary. Pupils who do not wish to use biometrics can use alternative methods to access their catering account.