School canteen profit

Summary

The requester asked for annual profit figures for St Ninians High School and Bemahague canteens over the last five academic years. The Department of Education disclosed that no profit was made, providing specific net loss figures for the combined 'St Ninians School Meals' cost centre.

Key Facts

• The Department does not hold separate data for St Ninians High School and Bemahague; figures are combined under 'St Ninians School Meals'.
• The provided figures represent income and expenses allocated to school meals but exclude centrally held overheads like building maintenance and electricity.
• No profit was made in any of the five academic years requested; all years recorded a net loss.
• The largest recorded loss occurred in the 2023-24 academic year.
• The request was clarified on 19 January 2026 to specify the schools, definition of profit, and timeframe.

Data Disclosed

• 2020-21: -£139,910
• 2021-22: -£106,600
• 2022-23: -£145,941
• 2023-24: -£210,918
• 2024-25: -£150,575
• 2026-01-09
• 2026-01-19
• 2026-02-06
• 5217741

Original Request

I would like to see how much profit secondary school canteens make on an annual basis.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS

Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im

Our ref: 5217741 6 February 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 9 January 2026, which states:

"I would like to see how much profit secondary school canteens make on an annual basis."

A further clarification was sent to you on the 19th January 2026 which states:
“In order to identify and locate the information that you have asked for we need some further information from you. In particular, it would be helpful to know:
1. Scope of Schools - Are you requesting information for specific school/s? 2. Definition of 'Profit': o Net surplus after all costs? o Or gross income from canteen sales? 3. Timeframe - Do you require figures for a particular year?”

A response was received on the 19th January 2026 which states:
“St.Ninians High School and Bemahague . Net . Last 5 term years (Sept to July)”

Our response to your request is as follows:

Academic Year
Total
2020-21 -£139,910 2021-22 -£106,600 2022-23 -£145,941 2023-24 -£210,918 2024-25 -£150,575

By way of advice and assistance, the Department do not hold separate data for St Ninians High School and Bemahague. All school meals income and expenses for these sites fall under the general heading of St Ninains School Meals.

The figures show that there was no profit made. The figures provided represent an income and expenses allocated to the School Meals cost centres however they do not include all overheads. For example, centrally held budgets such as buildings maintenance, electricity, rates, insurance etc.

Please quote the reference number 5217741 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely