The price of meals in schools across Wolverhampton is set to rise by 10p from September 1 it was revealed today.

A council report recommends that lunches in primary and special schools increase from £1.90 up to £2, a rise of 5.2 per cent.

The cost of meals served up in secondary schools are also set to go up by the same amount, from £2 to £2.10, says the report to the council’s resources panel. Wolverhampton’s secondary and primary school meals will remain the most expensive in the Black Country.

However, the cost of a meal in Wolverhampton is cheaper than in Staffordshire, where younger pupils pay £2.10 and older youngsters are charged 2.20.

The city council has blamed higher prices imposed by suppliers for the increase. A decision will be made by the cabinet resources panel on Tuesday.

The Government’s school lunch grant, which is currently used to contribute around 11p towards the cost of a school meal, will also end in its current format this year.

Councillor Phil Page, cabinet member for schools, said today: “The cost of meals is going up because the amount charged by the suppliers has gone up.”

The council report also recommends the cost of milk for children under the age of eight remains at £10 each term. This follows a £2 increase during 2010/2011.

The charge for milk increased in Wolverhampton in 2010/11 to £10 from £8 per term.

Prior to 2008/2009, milk charges had not been increased since 2001, when they rose from £3 to £4.

During 2010/2011, the council saved £125,000 by changing milk suppliers.

Free school meals, which are given to 12,000 children in Wolverhampton, will remain unaffected.

In Dudley the cost of a meal in both primary and secondary schools will cost £1.80 from April, while Sandwell Council charges £1.80 in primary and £1.85 in secondary schools.The price of a meal in Walsall’s primary schools is £1.85 and £1.90 in secondary schools.