We are very proud of the quality of the food available to pupils during the school day. We manage our own catering operations and as much fresh, locally produced food as we can, including making much of our own bread on site.
The quality of our food is recognised externally and by staff and pupils. 
We have been awarded the highest level of food hygiene rating in the last four Food Standards Agency inspections. Take up of school meals is significantly above the average for most secondary schools and pupils are actively encouraged to eat school-produced food, which is both appetising and healthy.
We have two food outlets open at morning break and lunchtime: the Main Hall and the Atrium, both of which offer hot food, sandwiches, baguettes, cakes, snacks, fresh fruit and cold drinks.
Menus
Please note that menus may be subject to change at short notice depending on deliveries etc. A typical day’s menu might include the following:
At Morning Break
Pizza slices, sausage rolls, sweet waffles, bread rolls, fresh fruit and cold drinks.
At Lunchtime
Dish of the Day, for example Meat/Vegetarian Lasagne and Fruit Crumble. Also available every day are sandwiches, baguettes, fresh fruit, yoghurts, cakes, and cold drinks.
Smart Cards
Every pupil is issued with a ‘smart card‘ when they join us. This card can be charged with monetary value by parents and then used in both of the catering outlets in school. This makes buying food quicker and easier for the pupils and is very secure – cards are personalised to prevent their use by another child and can be stopped if they are lost or mislaid, to prevent anyone else using them. Parents can be confident that the value placed on the card can only be spent in school and not on the way to school. Our preferred method of putting value onto the smart card is MyChildAtSchool (MCAS), either via the MyChildAtSchool app or website.
Free School Meals
Claiming for Free School Meals – Information for families
Entitlement of our pupils to free school meals is handled by Gloucestershire County Council. Further information can be found on Gloucestershire County Council, Free School Meals which includes details about how to apply, as all parents are encouraged to do so online, via the Gloucestershire County Council Online Portal.
In order to qualify for Free School Meals for your children you must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit – your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
At Cirencester Deer Park School the daily allowance for a free school meal is £3.10, which will be available to spend at lunchtime on hot or cold food via a ‘smart card’. Your child will receive a main course and a dessert. Drinking water is provided, but you will need to pay for any alternative drinks.
Please do not hesitate to contact the School if you require any help in applying or if you have any questions regarding free school meals at Cirencester Deer Park School.
Allergen Information
From October 2021, new labelling regulations mean that food businesses, including schools, need to label ‘pre-packed for direct sale’ (PPDS) food – for example, sandwiches, baguettes, pasta pots – with the name of the food and a full ingredients list, with any of the allergenic ingredients emphasised within the list.
This legislation, aka Natasha’s Law, has been introduced to protect allergy sufferers and give them confidence in the food they buy.
Parents who have questions about our school food ingredients can email our Catering Manager.
The NHS website has advice about food allergies.
Prices
Canteen Small Price Changes from January 2026
We would like to let families know that from January 2026, there will be a small increase in school canteen prices.
This decision has not been taken lightly – it is the first price change in over two years, and even with this adjustment, our meal prices will remain below the rate of inflation.
Over recent years, the costs of food ingredients, packaging and energy have all risen significantly. We have done everything we can to absorb these increases and keep prices steady for families. However, to continue providing healthy, balanced and freshly prepared meals, a small adjustment is now necessary.
These modest increases will ensure that we can:
- Continue using high-quality, nutritious ingredients;
- Maintain fair pay for catering staff;
- Keep offering a varied and appealing menu that students enjoy.
We want to reassure families that value for money remains our priority. Even after these changes, our meals will still represent excellent quality at a lower cost than many similar services. We appreciate your understanding and ongoing support as we work to keep our canteen meals both affordable and nutritious for every student.
If you have any questions, please email enquiries@deerparkschool.net – we are happy to discuss the changes in more detail.
| Meal Item | Price from 1 Jan 2026 |
| Main Meal | £2.80 |
| Meal Deal | £3.25 |
| Pasta & Sauce | £2.80 |
| Pasta Sauce and Cheese | £3.25 |
| Pizza | £1.00 |
| Sausage Roll | £1.15 |
| Waffle | £1.15 |
| Breakfast Item | £0.60 |
| Cheese Twist | £1.15 |
| Pain Au Chocolat | £1.15 |
| Toast | £0.25 |
| Bacon Roll | £1.70 |
| Panini | £2.00 |
| Fizzy Flavoured Water | £0.80 |
| Large Flavoured Water | £1.00 |
| Bottled Water | £0.85 |
| Cheese Filling | £0.90 |
| Tuna Filling | £0.95 |
| Jacket Potato | £1.10 |
| Large Baguette | £2.00 |
| Sandwich | £1.70 |
| Pasta Pot | £1.80 |
| Salad Pot | £1.90 |
| Bread Roll | £0.45 |
| Large Dessert | £0.90 |
| Small Dessert | £0.70 |
| Fresh Fruit | £0.55 |
| Tray Bake, Muffins etc | £0.75-£0.85 |
| Proper Chips | £0.75 |