Purpose

The Cabinet Member will consider a review and alignment of Westminster’s local Free School Meal arrangements for secondary-aged pupils to reflect the Government’s decision to extend Free School Meal eligibility to all families in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026.

Decision

Summary of Decision: The Cabinet Member for Children and Education has approved the withdrawal of the Secondary Pupil Meal Offer - a universal free school meal (FSM) offer for Key Stage 3 (KS3) Westminster resident pupils (in Years 7 to 9) attending Westminster Secondary Schools - from September 2026.

Reasons for Decision: This decision will align Westminster’s local meal offer for KS3 pupils with the national FSM criteria, which is expanding from September 2026 to ensure that families identified as in need of financial support will get government-funded FSM, reducing the gap the local offer was originally designed to meet.