School Fees!!

andrew129

Does every-one pay school fund contributions? - daughters grammar school has requested a £90 Voluntary contribution. Hearing whispers that not many actually pay it.

I can afford to pay (Just) and know its all put to good use.

Probably will pay, but just curious what other folks think about it

quintwins

wow thats abit high, if it's voluntary could you not make a smaller donation, my kids is £6 per term and also any leftovers from snack money goes in i don't mind at that you'd be picking me up off the floor if they asked for £90

steveymp

£120 'Voluntary' fee asked by my sons grammar school :eek: on top of a £15 capital fee to pay off existing building debt:o they very kindly take it every term by sending an invoice to your home. Unfortunately it is the way of the world these days.

The headmaster has been very upfront about the fee, it was used in the past to fund after school activities etc... but the past few years he has admitted the fund has been used to pay wages, I have paid it this term as I am new to the school, but it is interesting to hear how many other parents have not and will not pay.

I suppose being in a situation where £10 a month won't bankrupt me I will stump it up, but it makes me wonder what my taxes are for:o I totally understand those who cannot afford this fee not paying it, the invoice sent home never mentioned the fact that the fee is Voluntary, this should be addressed by the school.

Mistral001

It is a voluntary contribution, so why pay it. Is the headmaster going to pick on the pupils if their parents do not pay it? Are the parents going to be given the bad seats at prize-giving day?

englandsno7_2

My daughters school ask for £160 per year. £80 of which is voluntary. Every year they say it goes towards a new school mini bus, but they are still using the same one since she was in 1st year (she's now in lower 6th). Last year she forgot to give them the cheque and i got a letter saying the committee has discussed my "account" and unless i paid within so many days, i'd have to attend a meeting at the school. Talk about feeling bullied. I'm a single parent and the new term has already cost in excess of £300 (inc £145 for a single bus journey of 2 miles a day, because she has to pay an adult fare!)

sheerdelight

I have paid over £400 per year each for two boys. I wouldn't consider not paying.

Flower-power22

andrew129 wrote: »

Does every-one pay school fund contributions? - daughters grammar school has requested a £90 Voluntary contribution. Hearing whispers that not many actually pay it.

I can afford to pay (Just) and know its all put to good use.

Probably will pay, but just curious what other folks think about it

That's cheap compared to a local grammer close to me .....£180??
I think thats one of the negatives about the grammer schools, but on the other hand you choose to select it instead of your local secondary school

FrankZap

My Kids Grammer is in the region of £170 Capitation Fee (you have to pay)

And about £190 Voluntary Fee.

I have paid the compulsary fee, but not the voluntary fee, since they joined the school (3 years ago), and nothing has been said to me

niceday999

Been paying these for years,at primary school - never dreamt of not paying them.

Bribrian_2

I've never payed my daughters voluntary grammar school fees... :money:

Golden_Anemone

A close friend is a VP in a grammar school and he said that regardless of what the school tell you both the Capitation fee and any additional Voluntary fee are actually voluntary payments and entirely unenforceable in law.

Having said that I always paid my child's grammar school capitation fee but I did not pay a voluntary fee when requested by the primary school as I was a single parent and couldn't afford it.