Secondary Schools & Cashless systems
Most Secondary schools have cashless systems in place. The system helps to ease queuing, avoids the necessity for pupils to carry cash in school, and protects the identity of pupils on free school meals. Using the card is the only way to pay for food in the school dining halls.
FAQs - Cashless systems in secondary schools
Q. How do new pupils apply for a card?
A. New pupils coming up from primary schools will have their new cards ready for them one the first day of term and time will be set aside that morning so they can get some money onto their card in time for lunch.
Q. How do I put money on the card?
A. Either load cash at one of the cash loaders in the schools, or send a cheque [or bank notes] in the special envelope we provide. Cheques should be made payable to "Gateshead Council".
You can also make an e-payment by contacting Gateshead School Meals on freephone 0800 169 2780 and having your card details handy.
Q. What happens if a pupil loses their card?
A. Notify the catering office straight away and we will stop the card, and the money on the card will be safe. There will be a £2 charge for a new card, and we can issue a new card straight away.
Q. What happens if a pupil forgets the card?
A. The pupil will be asked to go to the school office and collect a temporary card for that day only. They will have to load money onto the card, just enough for them to buy one meal.
Primary Schools & Cashless Systems
The following primary schools have cashless systems:
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Bede;
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Blaydon St Joseph's;
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Blaydon West;
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Chopwell;
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Colegate;
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Dunston Riverside;
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Portobello;
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Ryton Junior;
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St Augustines;
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Wardley;
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Whitemere;
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Whickham St Mary's;
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Windy Nook.
We do not use cards in primary schools. Instead the catering staff learn to recognize each pupil by name and can identify them easily at lunchtime.
Parents pay for meals in advance, usually for a week at a time, but you can pay as far in advance as you would like. Cheques and cash should be placed in the special envelopes we provide, and handed into the school. We accept payments on any day of the week, but we are unable to provide meals unless a pupil has money on their account.
Pupils on free meals cannot be identified, and their lunchtime allowance goes onto the card every day. If it is not used, for example if the child is off sick, the unused allowance is removed from the card at the end of the day.
In primary schools without cashless systems payment for the week’s meals is normally made to the School Secretary on a Monday.