We want to make sure that all students at BOA who are entitled to Free School Meals (FSM) receive them.

The Department for Education (DfE) has issued new guidance on the eligibility criteria for students to receive FSM for the academic year 2026-27. Effective from September 2026, eligibility for FSM has been expanded to include all children from households receiving Universal Credit, regardless of household earnings.

This means that a child may be eligible for FSM if they, or their parent or carer, receive one or more of the following:

• Universal Credit – regardless of household earnings
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• The Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
• Support under the Government’s criteria for families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

From September 2026, there will be two categories of FSM:

• Targeted FSM: covering students from households in receipt of Universal Credit with household earnings of £7,400 or less
• Expanded FSM: covering students who do not qualify for targeted FSM but who are in households receiving Universal Credit.

Eligible students in either category will receive a daily discount at the BOA canteen.

For students at BOA, families can claim FSM for their child through the Online Free School Meals (OFSM) service, which can be accessed here. Information provided to OFSM will be checked securely, and you will be notified of the outcome. 

If you think your child may be eligible, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, and no later than 30 September 2026. Successful applications may also help us to access additional funding to support your child’s education. We realise, however, that household circumstances may change; in this situation, if a late application needs to be made, please contact Dr S May (Assistant Principal): simon.may@boa-academy.co.uk.

Likewise, please contact Dr S May if you encounter any problems with the online application system, or have any questions regarding the application process or your child’s eligibility (including any technical issues with OFSM, or an outcome that you believe to be incorrect).

Important notes:

• If your child is due to join BOA in September 2026 and you believe them to be eligible for FSM, an online application will need to have been made for us to ensure that FSM can be provided from the start of term.
• Under the new guidance from the DfE, a student is only eligible to receive FSM if their claim has been verified since 1 June 2026. If you applied through OFSM before 1 June 2026 and your child was found to be eligible for FSM (specifically at BOA), their eligibility will have been rechecked automatically with a notification sent to you – in this situation, no further action is required. However, if you are unsure and wish to confirm, please contact Dr S May (contact details above).