Renfrewshire Council, which was forced to stop using sheriff officers to pursue parents for school meal debts, spent £9,488 on free lunches for school staff during the 2025-26 term, a freedom of information request has revealed.
The council had previously used debt collectors to chase families for arrears, a practice exposed by the Sunday Mail. Staff, including those earning up to £98,973, receive a meal if they carry out pupil supervision duties over lunchtime, despite most secondary pupils not getting lunch paid for.
Staff meals amid financial pressures
A source said: “How can they be spending nearly £10k in free meals for school-based staff in a year? That includes providing staff on a salary of £98,973 a free school meal. This is all while other services are cut to the bone and the lowest paid staff are charged for parking at the council HQ. This is the council that was using debt collectors to chase parents for debts. It really is unbelievable.”
Figures obtained by the Sunday Mail showed Johnstone High School had the biggest bill at £3,514. The school, with about 940 pupils, provided 10 times the value of free meals to staff as Paisley Grammar, which has a roll of about 1,400 and a spend of £337.
School-by-school spending
Gryffe High School spent £1,549, Renfrew High School £1,407, and Park Mains High School £1,365. Castlehead High School paid £878, Trinity High School £377, and Mary Russell School £57.
Renfrewshire Council faces significant financial pressures. External auditors have issued a “yellow” rating for financial sustainability, warning the local authority faces a £38 million funding gap over the medium term up to 2031-2032. The council ended its school meal debt collection policy in 2024 after the Sunday Mail story sparked fury at Holyrood.
Political reaction and government pilot
Tory MSP Meghan Gallacher called it “an outrageous misuse of taxpayers’ money and exposes a serious failure of priorities”. West of Scotland Labour MSP Neil Bibby added: “The council needs to ensure the right policies are in place so kids are getting the support and supervision they need during school hours, including breaks and lunchtime.”
The Scottish Government launched a £3 million pilot in August 2025 to provide free meals to S1-S3 pupils in 60 postcodes whose families receive the Scottish Child Payment. The pilot, which came after a Sunday Mail campaign highlighting children attending classes hungry, ended at the end of the last term and awaits evaluation.
Renfrewshire Council said: “Where staff carry out additional pupil supervision duties during lunchtime, they may receive a school meal. Children always receive a school meal regardless of the balance on their meal account.” The Scottish Government said: “Local authorities are responsible for educational services, including school meals, and should make efficient use of budgets.”
