Can you serve a whole year group in one break time?

With planning, usually yes. Prepaid tokens, a short menu and forms arriving in turn make a big difference to speed. Tell us the year group size and the length of the break, and we will advise on the best way to structure service, including whether to use lunch instead.

Can students pay at the van?

They can, but most schools prefer tokens for speed and to avoid cash on site. If it is a fundraiser, the student council or PTA can sell tokens beforehand. If you would like students to pay at the van, tell us and we will plan for card and cash.

Can you come for a Year 11 or Year 13 last day?

Yes. Leavers' days are a popular booking in late spring and early summer. The dates often clash with other schools, so book early. We can serve leavers on their own or extend service to staff as a thank-you. Some schools time it for the moment leavers sign shirts, which makes for a good finish.

Ice cream van hire · London & Home Counties

Ice cream van hire for secondary schools and sixth forms

Serve a whole year group at break or lunch with prepaid tokens and a battery-powered van that is quiet and fume-free while serving.

Get a quote 020 8088 5431

Secondary schools tend to book an ice cream van with a purpose: a reward for a year group after exams, a celebration on the last day for Year 11 or Year 13, a charity fundraiser run by the student council, or a treat for the whole school during a heatwave. The challenge is scale and timing. A break time is short, and a few hundred teenagers can arrive at the hatch in a matter of minutes.

We plan for that with the school in advance. Prepaid tokens handed out by tutors mean students are not fumbling for change, a short menu keeps decisions quick, and staggering forms or year groups stops the queue swamping the playground. Our vans serve on battery power, so while we serve there is no exhaust near students and no engine noise outside exam halls or classrooms still in session.

We hold £5M public liability insurance, a 5 Star Food Hygiene rating, a COSHH assessment and a Health and Safety policy, and we send documents to the school office before the day. On site, we stay at the van and follow the school's own safeguarding procedures. Tell us the name of our contact on the day, where to sign in and where the van should park, and we will take it from there.

Why our vans suit it

Fits into a break or lunchWe arrive, set up and are ready before the bell. With tokens and a short menu, a year group can be served within the time you have.
Quiet near examsNo engine running while we serve means the van will not disturb classrooms or exam rooms nearby. That matters in May and June when exams fill the timetable.
Good for fundraisingStudent councils and charity committees can sell tokens in advance, which makes the van an easy fundraising event to organise.

Planning ice cream for secondary schoolsPractical tips

Stagger the year groups

If more than one year is being served, give each its own window, or split a year by form. It keeps the queue manageable and keeps students where staff expect them to be.

Use prepaid tokens

Tutors hand tokens out during registration. Students swap a token for an ice cream at the hatch, which is much faster than cash and keeps money out of the playground.

Mind the exam timetable

Check which halls and rooms are in use for exams. We will park well away, and the van makes very little noise while serving in any case.

Choose crowd-friendly items

Classic cones, lollies and slush are quickest to serve. Teenagers often want the Oreo or Lotus Biscoff Crumble Cones, so consider including one premium option.

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Questions people ask

Can you serve a whole year group in one break time?: With planning, usually yes. Prepaid tokens, a short menu and forms arriving in turn make a big difference to speed. Tell us the year group size and the length of the break, and we will advise on the best way to structure service, including whether to use lunch instead.
Can students pay at the van?: They can, but most schools prefer tokens for speed and to avoid cash on site. If it is a fundraiser, the student council or PTA can sell tokens beforehand. If you would like students to pay at the van, tell us and we will plan for card and cash.
Can you come for a Year 11 or Year 13 last day?: Yes. Leavers' days are a popular booking in late spring and early summer. The dates often clash with other schools, so book early. We can serve leavers on their own or extend service to staff as a thank-you. Some schools time it for the moment leavers sign shirts, which makes for a good finish.

Read before you book

Other occasions

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Book a van for secondary schools

Get your free quote in minutes and secure your date with London's premier eco-friendly ice cream service.

Get your free quote 020 8088 5431

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Limited dates available, book early to avoid disappointment.