At The Buckingham School, we want every child to have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Free School Meals (FSM) and Pupil Premium funding help us provide additional support to pupils who may benefit from it.

New Free School Meals criteria from September 2026

From September 2026, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be eligible for Free School Meals, regardless of household earnings.

There are two categories:

Targeted Free School Meals

Families receiving Universal Credit with annual net earned household income of £7,400 or less will qualify for Targeted Free School Meals.

Pupils who meet the Targeted Free School Meals criteria can also attract Pupil Premium funding for the school. For 2026/27, this is £1,100 per eligible secondary student. 

Expanded Free School Meals

Families receiving Universal Credit with annual net earned household income above £7,400 will qualify for Expanded Free School Meals.

These pupils will receive a free school meal but will not attract Pupil Premium funding.

Who qualifies?

Targeted Free School Meals

Your child may qualify for Targeted Free School Meals if you receive:

• Universal Credit with annual net earned household income of £7,400 or less
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) – please contact the school for information about eligibility and how to apply.

Expanded Free School Meals

• Universal Credit with annual net earned household income above £7,400

Children who receive Universal Credit in their own right are also entitled to Free School Meals.

Why is it important to apply?

Even if your child does not want to have a school meal, please register if you think you may be eligible.

If your child qualifies for Targeted Free School Meals, the school can receive Pupil Premium funding, which we use to support pupils through initiatives such as:

• Academic interventions and additional support
• Educational resources
• Wellbeing and self-esteem programmes

What has changed?

The previous transitional protection arrangements for Free School Meals end in September 2026.

Families will need to meet the new eligibility criteria, and eligibility will be checked regularly.

How do I apply?

If you think your child may be eligible, or you are unsure, please contact: finance@buckinghamschool.org

We encourage all families who may qualify to apply — even if your household income is above £7,400, your child may still be entitled to Expanded Free School Meals.

About Pupil Premium Funding 

To read the Pupil Premium Strategy Plan, please refer to the Policies page which can be found here.