Lunchtime Arrangements

At Golborne High School we operate an in-house catering service for pupils, staff and visitors. In addition to our lunchtime canteen service, we provide a breakfast and morning break service each day.

Facilities are available at lunchtime for pupils to have a school dinner or a packed lunch. 

Pupils are not allowed to leave school at lunchtime.

Online Payments and Cashless Catering

We operate a cashless canteen system. This means no money passes through the tills.

Pupils can add money to their account in two ways:

1.  Using secure cash payment machines located around the school.
2.  Using the online payment system – whereby parents add money over the internet to their child’s school food account.

Both systems are safe and secure and significantly cut queueing times in the canteen.

There are many benefits to a cashless system including:

• Pupils are not carrying cash around all day and the potential for loss is reduced.
• There is a maximum daily spend limit on each child’s account (currently £6) to ensure that they only spend an appropriate amount each day.
• It provides a considerably quicker service and reduces queues.
• · If your child is entitled to free school meals (FSM), this information will remain confidential. The daily FSM allowance is automatically credited to the pupil’s account, so there is no need for them to identify themselves as receiving FSM.
• The system uses biometrics.  The system involves the capture of Biometric fingerprint data that is securely stored by the school.  A scanner is used on the cash payment machines and also at the cash registers to recognise the pupil’s account. This data is destroyed when your child leaves the school or when you instruct us to do so.

The online payment system is operated through Wisepay. Under this system, a separate username (child’s name) and password is allocated for each child in school.  If you have more than one child in school you can link your accounts in the system and also change your password and username. 

You can access WisePay to make online payments by debit or credit card. The system will be updated approximately every 15 minutes to show new payments. Your online account also has the benefit of allowing you to view the account balance and the selection and cost of food and drink purchased each day. 

Wisepay

School meals cash payment machines are available in school for parents not wishing to make payments online.

Free School Meals

Free School Meals (FSM) are available to eligible pupils to help ensure that every child has access to a nutritious meal during the school day, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

From September 2026, eligibility for Free School Meals has been expanded. Children living in households receiving Universal Credit are now eligible for Free School Meals, regardless of household earnings. Eligibility may also apply to families receiving certain other qualifying benefits.

If you think your child may be eligible for Free School Meals, we encourage you to apply. Applying is straightforward and can be access using the link below.

How to apply

Applications are made through Wigan Council. You can check your eligibility and apply online using the link below:

Eligibility CheckerRegister online

Register through telephone