Kilmarnock Academy pupils welcomed East Ayrshire councillors to the William McIlvanney Campus to try the £1.25 lunch deal
It is now available to secondary school pupils who pay for their meals.
Sophie, Oliver, Carmen, Arran and Lauren were joined by head of campus David Rose as they welcomed the visitors. The councillors queued alongside pupils to choose their lunch and spoke to them and catering staff about how the service works day to day.
The £1.25 deal includes a main meal, a piece of fruit, a snack and a 250ml carton of water. Snack options include soup, yoghurt, a cookie or a second piece of fruit.
Councillor Elaine Cowan, East Ayrshire Council’s spokesperson for education, children and young people, was joined by councillors Graham Barton, Neal Ingram, Barry Douglas and Neill Watts, along with food services manager Chris Walker.
Councillor Cowan said: “We received a really warm welcome from everyone at the William McIlvanney Campus. It was great to be invited not just to enjoy a school meal but also to have the opportunity to speak to the young people and the Catering Team, so that we can hear their thoughts and experiences at lunchtime first-hand.”
Councillor Barton said the new noodle bars were a popular choice with pupils and an example of how catering staff were introducing dishes young people would enjoy.
All primary school pupils in East Ayrshire can also get a free school meal. The council committed two years of funding from August 2025 through its Early Intervention and Prevention Fund
Councillor Ingram said tackling food poverty was a key part of the £40 million, ten-year fund, which the council launched in 2024 to address inequality and child poverty. He said access to affordable meals also supported pupils’ learning and attainment.