School Fees!!

babyblooz

Crikey my kids schools have never asked for any kind of 'contribution' apart from money to pay for trips, residentials etc.

Pink.

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

How I would love to pay £90!

I recieved an invoice in the post this morning for my elder son:

School Fee Autumn Term...£407.00
Personal Insurance...........£20.00
Stationary.......................£55.00
6th Form Levy..................£4.00
Total Fees Less Credits.....£486.00

We have two children at the school so that amount will be doubled and is only for this term. There will be four more similar invoices to come for the spring and summer terms.

We also have to pay for bus passes as the school is outside our local catchment area. £370 p.a. for the youngest child and over £700 for the elder boy. Although he is still a school boy, travelling to school, Translink consider him to be an adult therfore he has to pay an adult fare....but that's an argument for another thread.

On saying that, we did choose to allow them to go to this particular school and knew what we had to pay before they started. We don't regret sending them there for a second, they have thrived in the school and are loving every minute of their school days. However, we do find the fees for both of them hard going sometimes, particularly in the economic climate we are all living in at the moment.

Pink

forever_skint

School Fee Autumn Term...£407.00
Personal Insurance...........£20.00
Stationary.......................£55.00
6th Form Levy..................£4.00
Total Fees Less Credits.....£486.00

Crikey private schools are not much more were I live!!!!!

Robothell

I must say I'm shocked with this - is access to education not supposed to be free? Am I just being naive?

I can see the point of charging for stationery (if they supply all consumables needed) but the rest just sounds like they're chancing their arms. Unless this is a fee for a private place in the school or for other "extras" like meals or trips or something I wouldn't pay it.

Polly

I paid £75 last week for my son in Year 12 and a further £75 is payable in November for his brother in Year 10. I've always paid up when asked but I lost my job last month and this is now a lot of money to me. Having said that, it's an excellent school and they're both doing well there so I'll just have to find the money and won't complain.

pepper75

:)i remember being at grammar school and i think they asked for £60 approx vol fees my mum always paid but i do rememeber a boy called stuart got his name called out every day and asked for the fee, i would have been mortified but i dont think it bothered him and i dont think he ever paid.
actually now i think about it he probably just spent the money himself.

caz2703

I've no idea how my parents afforded to send me to the grammar school I attended. I've no idea how I'll afford to hopefully send my two to the best school(s) possible but I know it will be worth every penny.

Just had a look at my old schools website and found a link for their new sports uniform. When I went there we did cross country in gym knickers and an aertex top. These days they have nice polo shirts and skorts (yes, that's not a typo)! No more baggy green gym knickers showing under your hockey skirt :eek:

vax2002

Find out what the Head Teachers get paid.. you will drop off your chair, if they are that hard up they could take a pay cut.

jadedson

I don't pay. I would if I was able to comfortably but right now I've other priorities and the fee is supposed to be 'voluntary'. If I found myself in a more stable financial situation I would pay the fee gladly.

DesG

Friends Lisburn:

For this TERM
Voluntary : £66
Captial Fee: £47
Materials: £10
Locker: £5

So thats £128 per term.

Cheers, Des.