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ParentPay Group New Hall School

Simplifying meal ordering and enhancing service with Cashless POS

Product type

  • Catering management

Topics

  • Cashless payments School meals

User types

  • Independent schools Primary schools Secondary schools
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Overview

New Hall School is a co-educational independent boarding and day school in Chelmsford, Essex, serving students from ages 1 to 18. With a strong emphasis on community, wellbeing and pastoral care, the school provides a high-quality catering service that supports healthy eating and daily routines.

In 2023, New Hall partnered with BlueRunner, part of the ParentPay Group, to modernise its catering operations through a cashless point-of-sale (POS) system and digital meal ordering. The goal was to simplify ordering, reduce queue times and give students greater visibility and control over their food choices.

We spoke with the Catering Manager at New Hall School to explore how BlueRunner has helped streamline catering workflows and improve the dining experience for students and staff.

Challenge

Before implementing BlueRunner, New Hall’s catering team faced challenges around manual ordering, queue management and visibility of meal uptake. Students had limited time to eat, and staff lacked the data needed to forecast demand or manage stock effectively.

We wanted to simplify the ordering process and reduce queues. We also needed better visibility of what was being selected and served.
— Catering Manager, New Hall School

The school needed a solution that could integrate seamlessly with its existing systems, support both pre-ordering and cashless transactions, and provide accurate reporting to inform planning and reduce waste.

Solution

New Hall School implemented BlueRunner’s digital meal ordering and cashless POS platform, enabling students to select meals in advance and pay securely without cash. Each student is issued a unique QR code, which they scan at the till to access their account and complete transactions instantly.

The QR code system is simple and effective. It’s made the whole process quicker and easier for everyone.
— Catering Manager, New Hall School

The platform also supports allergen tracking, menu visibility and real-time reporting. Catering staff can view uptake trends, plan portions more accurately and reduce overproduction. Parents can support meal selection and stay informed about food options and nutritional content.

Impact

Since adopting BlueRunner, New Hall School has seen measurable improvements across its catering operations.

  • Faster service and reduced queues: Students move through the tills quickly, giving them more time to enjoy their meals.
  • QR code integration: Instant scanning at the point of sale has improved flow and reduced transaction errors.
  • Streamlined operations and error reduction: Staff spend less time on manual reconciliation and more time on food quality and service.
  • Enhanced reporting and reliability: Real-time data supports better forecasting, stock control and compliance.
  • Improved student experience: Students feel more in control of their choices and less rushed during lunch.
  • Parental engagement: Families can view menus and support healthy decision-making.

It’s made a real difference to how we operate. We’re faster, more accurate and better informed.
— Catering Manager, New Hall School

Conclusion

New Hall School has transformed its catering service with BlueRunner’s digital meal ordering and cashless POS platform. The system delivers speed, visibility and control—helping the school provide a calm, efficient and student-friendly dining experience.

BlueRunner | Cashless POS

Simple and reliable lunchtime payments

Streamline payments with fast, secure, and flexible cashless solutions. From multiple recognition methods to real-time sales reporting, our system reduces debt, speeds up service, and gives parents control, while supporting smooth operations for caterers and schools.

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