School dinners at a Rayleigh school are about to go high-tech and healthy.

A new swipe card system to be introduced in the new year at the Sweyne Park School in Cheapside West, will not only let pupils use it to pay for meals but will also monitor their eating habits.

A prize of a CD player is even on offer for the pupil who turns out to be the healthiest eater.

Senior teacher Sue Donovan said: "We are ready to go live with the system on January 8. We are about to send a letter home to parents to tell them that we are about to have a cashless lunchtime system.

"Our pupils will each have a blue plastic card with their photograph on it, name and date of birth. They will also be able to use the vending machines around the school so they can use the cards at breaktime or lunchtime."

Pupils at the school, aged 11 to 16, will able to stack up credits on their card in a special machine in the school and even if meals are paid for by cheque, the information on what they choose will be added to the database of eating habits.

Mrs Donovan said: "The system will show what food is popular with pupils and what isn't, so the caterers will be able to monitor pupil demand.

"Hopefully the lunchtime queues will go through quicker than they do now and it will speed up the whole lunchtime."

But far from feeling that the cards are a step closer to a "Big Brother" identity card system, pupils are pleased with the new system.

Mrs Donovan said: "One or two of the pupils are quite pleased that their date of birth is on the card as they are sometimes asked about it and it will be a benefit outside school as well."

By Alistair Walton

Reporter's e-mail: alistair.walton@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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