Forget your school dinner money? Not a problem at Chiswick School where students have been given a new cashless way to pay for food in their canteen.

The school's new caterers Innovate have opted for a biometric system where students have their finger scanned to take money from their accounts.

"The new biometric system at Chiswick means the queues are now much faster and more students get to eat what they want. Students are also coming into eat breakfast at 8 in the morning and meet up with their friends. The new bright dining hall means the students behave even better too. Overall it’s been a great success," says Martina Scanlon, London Regional Manager of Innovate.

Angie Lee, parent of a year 10 student said;"My daughter never used the old canteen as the selection of food for vegetarians was poor and she described the atmosphere as being very institutional. Innovate have improved it considerably. Now she has registered and uses the finger system daily."

Alisha Quashie, (13) said ; Its good because the variety of food is much better and its bright and colourful. I like the finger system because you do not have to worry about losing your card and no one else can get hold of it'

The school deputy-head James Whiting commented; "The finger system is certainly working well. Before with cards, students lost them or borrowed each others. The new payment  which can be topped up online, is much better and there are no problems with loss. It also prevents any kind of bullying or theft taking place. Not that we had a problem with these issues. The scanner does not take the whole fingerprint, just three points, and the database is not accessible to anyone else in school let alone another organisation".

October 26, 2012