School to fingerprint pupils for new school dinner payment system

Joe Shute
Halifax Courier
Saturday October 13, 2007

IT will be food for fingerprints for pupils in Todmorden after a controversial new method to pay for school dinners was adopted.
The system, introduced at Todmorden High School, takes details of children's fingerprints and allows them to pay for their dinner by touching their thumb on a screen.

The biometric method is still in its infancy and has sparked nationwide controversy. It was recently introduced at Morley High School, Leeds, prompting parent protest about putting children's identities at risk.

But several Calderdale schools have expressed an interest and Patrick O'Connor, headmaster of Todmorden High School, said: "It is working really well. I never had any doubts about this system.

"We are the first in Calderdale to introduce the scheme but it doesn't scare us at all. We are very proud and excited to be in that position."

The biometric system was first introduced by Tony Mulgrew, catering manager at the school, in summer. And after a successful probation period it was fully implemented this term.

Mr Mulgrew said: "It's working well. Queues are down, it stops any bullying and over the last four weeks we've had a 13 per cent rise in children taking up free school meals allowances they were embarrassed about before."

Parent Rebecca Frost, of Portsmouth, Todmorden, has a son, James, 13, at the school. she said: "The first I heard of it was when James came home and told me about it. It seems to work but I prefer the old system."

Todmorden Town councillor Sandra Townley said: "There is a question of civil liberty and perhaps it would be better to tackle the roots of bullying."

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