School seem to think we have a money tree at the bottom of the garden!

jellyhead

Spendless wrote: »

:eek: I'm waaayyyyy out of touch then. I thought it'd be like when I was at school., when you sat an English exam, A maths exam and so on. I only recall foreign languages having more than 1 exam (spoken and paper). Who pays if school wants the student to resit to see if they can get a better grade, you or school?

It varies by school, exam board etc.

They have modular exams here, with 3 or 4 modules. They start taking the exams in year 10 (some schools start in year 9). They are told what to revise, for example he knew in advance that he would be tested on the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, so he didn't have to revise the whole book.

EDIT - but some of the exams are at the end of year 11, he still has 1 exam left in everything except maths.

VJsmum

nickj wrote: »

as for school trips , i can see the educational benifit in taking kids to , like the school my daughters go to , the world war graves , but i fail to see how skiing trips etc can amount to anything else but a jolly

I disagree. For a start they are participating in a fairly full on physical activity. But more than that they are learning to be independant and away from mum and dad. Additionally, unlike most trips, kids from all years go on the skiing trips so they learn to integrate with those older and younger than them. I would say this, I suppose, as my DS (13) is going in the easter holidays. It is the first trip he has ever shown any interest in going on.

My DD has recently been to Poland - auschwitz, salt mines etc. It was probably the most expensive trip ever - given the price and the number of days she went. But she said it was the most worthwhile trip ever. I don't resent paying for the teachers - I know that it is no holiday as I have taken University students on study visits and it's blo0dy hard work.

In fact I have just finished some preparation for a study visit I am part of to Sweden next week. I work part time, the visit is thursday, friday, sat, sun, and mon. Of those the only day I get paid for is THursday so the rest will be in my own time. Can I claim the time back - yes in theory. In reality :rotfl:

I also don't agree with the post above about not paying if their child can't go at the last minute. That ticket will have been bought and paid for by the school long before the visit takes place - who will subsidise it if your child doesn't go? I am surprised they allow it.

borderlakland

not the whole class but a good proprtion that were way below their predicted target (expected good b or a but got d.e) the module exam was at the end of yr10 . turned out their teacher taught them all the work for yr 11 before yr 10. obviously all the exam was based on yr 10 work. i still think as the school and teacher was at fault they should have paid for the resit.
she has done a resit in a maths module but then was entered into 2 different maths gcse's. most of her year (across the lea) are taking the newer version but some are being offered teh chance to take both (guess its similar to being entered for o'level and cse for those old enough to remember)

silvercar

We've been advised to pay for remarks. If the grade goes up the remark fee is refunded by the exam board, if the grade stays the same (even if the mark goes up) ther is no refund.

So if the school reckons your child should have got a higher grade and recommends you go for a remark the cost is at your own risk. We had 3 GCSE papers remarked, one went up a grade, one went up some marks but not a full grade and one was unchanged. So buy 3 get 1.

xxlouisexx56

Yes schools do always ask for money but at the end of the day it benefits YOUR children!

Our school PTA is fantastic and they work really hard to make the school look good and do lots of things for the children.

We have strong community links too and the local businesses always help out by donating goods to raffles or offering services. Last year they had the school recarpeted and the the local shop gave them free fitting, which in 20 classrooms took a long time!

School isn't just about learning, it's about having fun. My dd loves dress up days and Easter raffles

peaceandfreedom

VJsmum wrote: »

I disagree. For a start they are participating in a fairly full on physical activity. But more than that they are learning to be independant and away from mum and dad. Additionally, unlike most trips, kids from all years go on the skiing trips so they learn to integrate with those older and younger than them. I would say this, I suppose, as my DS (13) is going in the easter holidays. It is the first trip he has ever shown any interest in going on.

Ski trips are not considered educational which is why they usually happen in the school holidays rather than during a regular school week. All your points are valid but the kids won't learn anything that can be directly applied to a school subject. In our school the ski trips are done for one year group at a time, are hugely expensive and are openly accepted to be a jolly. That's not to say there's anything wrong with that - if you are going to spend a lot of money on a trip, you might as well enjoy it.

My DD is also not long back from Poland - sounds like a similar trip to your DD - she loved it but thought the food was 'disgusting'.

VJsmum

I do accept what you say. For us the fact is that we wouldn't be taking him on a ski trip anyway - I would always choose sunshine over snow. But he has always wanted to go and this way he gets to do that - and we don't have to!

Result :T

split_second

i was at primary school mostly in the 80s and high school early-mid 90s

this sort of thing was still going on but not as much, my parents didnt have the money and to be honest i was a quiet rebel, if the school wanted to scrounge, they could whistle for it.

non uniform day i liked, so the letter went home for that one, but there would usually be 2 school fetes per year, so donation requests and attendance requests, no way, plus it meant going to school on a saturday- hahahahaha yeah right.

there were school holidays but it meant my parents spending £200+ (which they didnt have) and it was basically a holiday with teachers and nerds (no cool kid went on these), even my parents were cooler than the teachers and holidays were NOT for learning, well not the boring type of learning that school sanctioned.

my parents still thought the school held the hand out for scrounging a lot but to be honest they didnt know the half of it (and how many letters sat at the bottom of the bag)

Ex-Spendaholic

Interesting thread, heres my tuppence worth.

3 school age kids - 1 in nursery at school, 1 at primary, 1 at grammar.

Nursery child - compulsory £13.50 a week to pay for school dinners and a morning snack. I am happy with this.

Other 2 kids - £11 each per week for school dinners. Not compulsory. They like to go and I'm happy to pay it, plus it saves faffing about.

Primary School

No breakfast clubs available. I have nagged for years. After school clubs - choice of 2 days and only last 45 minutes and are free.

Ask for "voluntary school fund" twice per year of £10 per family.

Collect charity money one day per week - voluntary

School photos once a year - cheapest £10

£10 worth of ballots twice per year - voluntary

Puffin and Scholastic Book Clubs - every term - voluntary

School Disco - once per year £5 - voluntary

School fair - once per year - usually spend £20 - voluntary

Sponsored activity in summer term - each family expected to raise a minimum of £10 - voluntary but compulsory :rotfl: :rotfl:

In my mind I believed the school are always asking for money but now I write it down it isnt bad.

I contribute to school fairs by giving them unwanted gifts, prizes and the like but I no longer contribute to the buns. I got tired of buying £2 worth for them to sell at 20p :rotfl:

Grammar School

£40 per child per year school fund. Compulsory. Can be paid in full in September or half September, half February.

March - they do something for charity where kids can have non uniform days, non homework days costing £1 each. There is no obligation but DS is sure to buy the fivers worth. :rotfl:

Drama production - They do one or 2 a year. Tickets are £2 each but held in the evening and not compulsory.

Cookery ingredients - maybe 3 or 4 times per year.

DS did go on a ski trip but that was choice and there was no pressure. It was £830 and we had a year nearly to pay for it. He absolutely loved it. Yeah sure it had no academic value but the experience for him was priceless.

Seriously people, when my kids are in school its a good thing. Its when they arent there and I have to look after them myself that they cost a fortune. :rotfl:

Annieuk75

I was amused last week when I went shopping to town. There was a young boy playing the violin, and was collecting money in the case. The note attached explained that his school was going on a trip to France and the money raised would enable him to go! Not sure what other people think, but I kept my money in my purse to use for my own children's school trips.