When my daughter was at school several years ago, they rolled-out biometric fingerprint scanning for school meal payment. I steadfastly refused to let her be enrolled as I didn't feel that a child could give informed consent on their unique biometrics being stored and shared.

She ended up having to use a NFC smart card instead, and wasn't the only pupil to do so (although it was in single-digits in a 1,000 pupil strong school).

This is the most baffling part for me too. Why can't they simply use a pre-paid card that they can scan to pay for their lunch. It's a simply problem with an even simpler solution.

This reeks of a scummy consulting firm overselling the school.

Because cards doesn't spy on people? England is a China level surveillance state, the spying is a feature and not a problem.

https://www.usnews.com/news/cities/articles/2020-08-14/the-t...

Someone at the facial recognition company persuaded someone at the school that it would help cut bullying as smart cards can be stolen, faces cannot (so easily).

The people who opt out get a smart card. The pitch will be something like smart cards can be lost or stolen, faces can't.