why are schools always asking for money!

Smashing

I don't get the parental obsession with school photo's - overpriced, forced smiles in front of poorly painted backdrops of books in a naff cardboard frame.

A class photo when they start and leave, perhaps, otherwise take a photo of them in their school uniform when they're being themselves, not having their head placed perpendicular to their big toe by someones whose camera cost more than your car.

Flashdaisy

I have to admit we are very lucky with my eldest DD's Junior school, the only thing they really ask for money for is school trips, and the cost of these generally seems to be reasonable and never excessive. They also paid a pound each to wear non-uniform on Red Nose day, but other than that I can't think of many occasions we've been asked for money.

The infant school she attended previously however, was a completely different story, and we were constantly being asked for money for trips, visits from violinists and singers, collections for staff members, craft work, glue sticks, etc etc. I don't mind paying out for things but we're not well off and there does come a point in most households where the money does literally run out. Some of the trips we were asked to pay for were £16 each, one of those per term and it does eat into the budget a bit. The school is in an affluent area so I guess they assume that most families will be able to afford to pay, however for those that do struggle financially it is hard, and sometimes humiliating, if you cannot afford to pay.

Filey

I seem to remember reading somewhere that activities done in school hours should be paid for by the school/council/ government.

My grand daughter's school sends out notes asking for a 'voluntary contribution of £7.50' or whatever but if the 'voluntary contribution' isn't sent then a note comes reminding her Mum about it. A chat with other mums reveals that some just send a fiver or some other sum which they feel they can afford and I don't think there has been any follow-up.

Janepig

Filey wrote: »

I seem to remember reading somewhere that activities done in school hours should be paid for by the school/council/ government.

My grand daughter's school sends out notes asking for a 'voluntary contribution of £7.50' or whatever but if the 'voluntary contribution' isn't sent then a note comes reminding her Mum about it. A chat with other mums reveals that some just send a fiver or some other sum which they feel they can afford and I don't think there has been any follow-up.

It may be that they should be paid for by the school/council/government, in an ideal world, but I doubt that's the law.

DD's school don't ask for "voluntary" contributions, you get a letter home with the cost and that's it. I've always paid so I don't know what happens if you don't - it's the sort of school that's very approachable and I'm sure if you had financial problems then you could speak to them on the qt about it.

It's going to get more expensive for me in September because I've got DS starting school, but the way I see it is that I chose to have children and nobody ever said they were going to be cheap!!! And the more children you have, the more expensive it gets! Plus however much the school ask for is going to be nothing compared to the £374 per month I currently pay for day nursery!!

Jxx

Flashdaisy

I think that there are rules in place that say a school cannot exclude a child from a trip because of lack of a "voluntary contribution".

However, at both schools my eldest has been to it has always been a case of if you don't pay, you don't get to go. Like I said though, trips are always a reasonable cost at the school she is at now, so it's no problem to pay for them.

mandragora_2

Page three of this document explains the legal position for schools:
http://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/downloads/Charging_for_School_Activities_DfES_Guidance.pdf

Basically, if its a necessary part of their education under the National Curriculum, parents cannot be required to pay; where a contribution is sought, parents should only pay the 'per capita' cost for their child, not subsidise others; a charge can be made for the board and lodging for a pupil on a residential trip; parents in receipt of benefits must be clearly told that they will be exempt from paying the cost of board and lodging while on a residential trip:

'When a school informs parents about a forthcoming trip, they should make it clear that parents who can prove they are in receipt of the following benefits will be exempt from paying the cost of board and lodging:

• Income Support;
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance;
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
• Child Tax Credit, provided that Working Tax Credit is not also received
and the family’s income (as assessed by the Inland Revenue) does not

exceed £13,480 (FY 04/05).'

However, if the school provides an alternative educational opportunity at school, making the trip or event an 'optional extra' then charges can be made, including for the cost of transport - it all gets a bit murky here!

Basically, the school can't make a profit out of it; if its a required part of the curriculum, you can't be required to pay anything at all towards it, if the school doesn't provide an alternative opportunity for your child. The reality is that schools have got to balance their budgets, and if lots of parents don't pay, these kind of trips and events simply don't run. In my opinion that's a shame, though at the same time I do feel it is encumbant on schools to bear in mind that these things can put a strain on families, and to make sure that what they are offering is:

outstanding value for money
not too often in the school year
outweighed by many fantastic things on offer at no cost within school.


And THAT'S why I'd outlaw all but one 'charity' fundraiser a year, too!

bonty44

Filey wrote: »

I seem to remember reading somewhere that activities done in school hours should be paid for by the school/council/ government.

My grand daughter's school sends out notes asking for a 'voluntary contribution of £7.50' or whatever but if the 'voluntary contribution' isn't sent then a note comes reminding her Mum about it. A chat with other mums reveals that some just send a fiver or some other sum which they feel they can afford and I don't think there has been any follow-up.

Yes, the contributions should be voluntary and this needs to be made clear; however, if not enough people pay then there is also likely to be a sentence in the letter saying that the trip or event can't go ahead.

For example, I organised a theatre visit for my classes, and the cost of the performance divided by the number of children rounded up to £1.50 - I was making no profit at all on that. The school gave me no funds to support the event, so when a couple of children couldn't pay, the contributions just about covered two children and I personally forked out for other two; I'd rather have done that then leave two children behind.

Had it been a bigger event, then obviously I couldn't have done that. :eek:

mandragora_2

bonty44 wrote: »

. I personally forked out for other two; I'd rather have done that then leave two children behind.

Had it been a bigger event, then obviously I couldn't have done that. :eek:

You shouldn't have. Make sure you put in a claim next time - the school will have funds for that - it's the head's discretion - and if he/she really cannot find £3 from a budget of hundreds of thousands -or in the case of secondary schools, millions - then why on earth should you? I'd go so far as to say you should put in a claim this time, anyway. If you don't want the hassle of arguing the toss with them over it, then claim for something you wouldn't normally bother with, like a travel claim for a short school journey you've undertaken; printer ink you've used at home, phone calls you've made from home etc etc.

pipkin71

mandragora wrote: »

The request for charitable donations is one that I think isn't appropriate. I don't think that schools should send children home with sponsor forms/collection envelopes or anything else related to charity fundraising.

I don't know if it's the same at all schools, but when DDs were at school, the school kept a percentage of any donations raised for charity and that was what made them worth doing for the school.

Personally, I think it's good that children are aware that charities exist to help people worse off than they are, but I don't agree with the way some schools often go about collecting the sponsorship money.

DaisyFlower

Schools simply dont get enough funding to provide the extras so have to fundraise via the PTA. At the end of the day its for the childrens benefit so I am surprised to see so many people moaning over it.

I'm not on the PTA committee but I know they give their own time freely to set up events etc to raise funds. Nobody forces them and its the children that would miss out if nobody volunteered in this way. Its hard enough to get people to man a stall for half an hour at the fair regardless of anything else.

Our mufti days always co-oncide with the summer and xmas fair and so its easy enough to stock up with items for these days. Its usually bring a bottle or item for the tombolla or a roll of xmas wrap rather than money.

Trips are ran once or twice a year but are reasonable and not ran at a profit, its a small school so if people dont pay the trip doesnt go ahead.

We have had the odd charity request, you dont have to give if you choose not too. Children should learn about charity and others worse off/sick etc at school as not all parents do this at home.

The book fairs raise a good percentage in profit and help the school replace books with new stories and to replace damaged books etc. Nobody has to buy the books and its ran after school so parents dont even have to attend if they choose not too.

Our children have benefitted this year from several new items for the classroom, an easter disco and egg hunt, ice lollies on sports day and once enough funds are raised they hopefully will have a large wooden play centre for the playground.

I never begrudge time or money to the school, they are trying their best to provide the best possible place for the children to be educated and make it enjoyable at the same time.