Free School Meals

All data is submitted to our eligibility checking provider once a week and the results are usually returned to Henley Gate within 48 hours.

We aim to inform parents within two working days of receiving a definite positive or negative result.

We understand that some are concerned that applying for free school meals or receiving vouchers from us affects their benefits status.

Please rest assured that whether or not you apply or receive free school meals has no effect on any other benefit applied for or currently received by any parent or carer.

If you believe that you are eligible for free school meals but have been told that you are not, then further information including copies of any paperwork or digital forms will be required by our eligibility checking provider.

If you wish to query the result of your application, then please email us at info@ipswichacademy.org.uk.

The short answer is nothing!  Since the Universal Credit roll out began in April 2018 no student who was previously confirmed as eligible for free school meals can be removed from this scheme until they leave school and this protection applies until 31st March 2023.

Once Universal Credit is fully rolled out, any existing pupil who no longer meets the eligibility criteria at that point will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education, i.e. primary or secondary.

Please remember that schools are given additional funding by the government for every child that has free school meals which is all used to improve the education of all our students.

You can apply and be confirmed as officially eligible but still refuse the vouchers and the meals. This means that Henley Gate will still receive the funding which is put towards your child’s education.

If you have any other query regarding free school meals then please email us at info@ipswichacademy.org.uk.