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

Mupette

Janepig wrote: »

I don't really get the moaning either - my cousin's partner has just been on a fishing trip to the Gambia and as part of the trip they all went to a local school laden with stationery and other school equipment we take for granted as they have absolutely nothing.

IMO you can't complain about paying for school dinners, that's a given, and if you want to do it cheaper then give them sandwiches. That's what I've started doing as £80 per month was getting a bit silly. Most of the other stuff is optional, and believe me, in our school there are plenty of parents who don't pay and there's certainly no name and shame policy. And why wouldn't you want to give of your time if you can - I work, so there's little I can do, and in fairness there's hundreds of LSA's there so parents don't have to come in and do reading, but I do what I can, there are others who do alot more in terms of PTA, etc...., and the school rely heavily on fundraising.

Another option is to send your child to school in a "deprived" area - cue huge budget for the school and less likelihood of you being asked for money. One of my friends has children in a primary school in one area, and her brother's children go to another primary not far away, but in a "deprived" area. He never gets asked to pay for anything at the school (other than dinners), everything is subsidised. My friend on the other hand has to cough up for everything, and it turns out following a recent inspection, that their school has the lowest budget in that LEA. Despite this, they had a glowing inspection, as good as it could possibly be. So I guess it's a trade off.

Jx

I lived in a deprived area, and the schools still ask for the same money. You say it's subsidised, try allowing your child to go, and telling the teacher you can't afford it, you are told that if once all the children who are paying have paid, if there is a space for your child to go on they might be able to go, teachers are of course working for the school and will always opt for the 'paying' parent for such activities.

There really wasn't a choice of school for primary, it was the one he went to or a church school.

I'm glad he went to a deprived area school, his friends were all from different backgrounds, there was no racism, because every creed was there.

I think it is a bit unfair to compare our supposed 'free education' to that of an Gambian school, They rely on tourists to bring money in. We pay tax here that goes into the education system, they have a worse corrupt government than we do. totally different.

Buttonmoons

Well I can see why the school would opt for the paying parents, as they aren't having to dip into their limited funds.

I also live in a deprived area, breakfast club *IS* free (I will be using this when I go to college later in the year) after school club, is a few pounds I think - Not 100% but not expensive.

DD's school isn't too bad, there is always letters, but 9/10 times they aren't asking for money, just PTA things or uniform reminders etc etc, the other day they were giving away free football tickets (It's Aberdeen football club....nobody buys them )

Last time I paid money was £2 towards the bus hire, for the kids to go see a play of little red riding hood. Im not aware they will pay for kids to go if the parents are on a low income, I am, and have never had a letter stating such and the only discounts I've seen is on a few trip letters, saying it's £8, but if you have 2 children at the school then it was will be £12 and £15 for 3 children, so it's discounted if you have a few, but not if you are just poor I don't think....

liney

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

Just a vent really!

Last week school wanted 3 weeks dinner money in advance so they could bank the money. I ignored it and just sent the one week. Pay for lunches or take a pack up. Not a valid moan.

Sport relief - I am quite happy to donate the £1 each required (I don't agree with where the money goes, but that's a subject for another day!) , but the subject of what to wear is causing arguments, so I'm quite happy to put my foot down and make them wear school uniform. I'm certainly not shelling out for anything new! Don't they already own sports wear, or a PE kit?

School fayre tomorrow - I will have to give DD's some money each to buy whatever tat takes their fancy! Luckily I'm at work tomorrow and will miss it, that's a shame! I have already had to donate stuff for this. Your choice...

Hard boiled egg decorating - the juniors are encouraged to decorate a hard boiled egg which I will have to go and buy stuff for, which I don't want to do, plus it's muggins here who will end up doing the work, so I've decided we're not participating.
I can't believe you are complaining about colouring in a hard boiled egg!

DD's have also bought tickets for the Easter raffle (Again, your choice) not to mention I will have to pay the school club up to date next week when they break up. Clubs aren't compulsory attendance, and if it's wrap- around childcare you need, then that's hardly the school's fault. Onsite at school is usually cheaper than a private nursery too.

If you are sending money in for everything under the guise of 'charity' but begruding it, then your good deed is cancelled out i'm afraid.

dibuzz

misfire wrote: »

What gets me is the sponsorship where 'If you raise XYZ pounds you get' my sons primary school always did these, last one was like £15 was a cap, £30 was a tshirt and £50 was a football - so all the kids wanted to raise £50 in sponsorship - my son was very upset he didn't get enough sponsorship for a branded item (yep a football from sports direct was not an acceptable alternative!). I am all for giving to charities of my choice -but this kind of bribery is wrong on so many levels.

That's one that always annoyed me.
With 4 kids, no aunties and uncles, ex and his mum who didn't care and only myself and my mum to sponsor them it was hard.
We used to put all their names down on each other's forms for a very small amount just to get names on it or they were ridiculed. Even the teachers sometimes had nasty remarks and favoured the kids who were lucky enough to be able to bring in £100s

pogofish

Just wait till you get to the final year "Prom" that has become the thing in recent years - That IME requires the biggest splash of cash of the entire school career! :eek:

seafarers_wife

And yet another reason why I'm only having 1 child. I got to go on all the trips I wanted so did DH, so to ensure B will have the same opportunities he will be an only child.

Ok he won't be going on all the trips, but he will have the opportunity to go on at least one residential trip.

newmum2007

VfM4meplse wrote: »

It may seem extortionate, but don't forget that includes the cost of [STRIKE] subsidising the teachers in attendence [/STRIKE] ensuring you children are "supervised" during the trip.

Would you prefer they went "unsupervised"?

Birdy12

happy35 wrote: »

I suggested asking parents to make a donation to the school each term on the understanding that they wouldn't keep going out with rubbish reasons for donations.

I would have quite happily donated rather than have to buy the raffle tickets, bake a cake or donate for the tombola etc and then have to shell out to buy more rubbish at the school fayre.

This has been mentioned to me before and I, personally, think it's a good idea. What's really annoying about having to supply the £1 here or 50p there is that you never have enough change, or only have a £10 note, when it's needed (or maybe that's just me ).

plumpmouse wrote: »

You quote above was in response to free school meals and after school club. Do you really believe that this should be included in free education?

I don't believe these should be free. Most of the time, a contractor is brought in to supply school meals or supervision for the before/after school clubs. To my knowledge, a school budget will not take these into consideration.

Let's face it, the vast amount of things for payment that have been mentioned on here are voluntary/optional payments. You don't have to pay for school dinners, books at the book fayre, £1 for mufti day. You don't have to donate bottles or toys to the school fayre. You don't have to go to the school fayre. You don't have to send your child on the school trips (although can be tough if child is desperate to go).

Someone on here did mention the cost of school uniform. Admittedly, come secondary school, as the majority is logo'd then it does work out more expensive. However, I'm all in favour of a strict uniform policy so think the extra amount is worth it.

PS. - plumpmouse - loathe the dressing up days too! (I have zero imagination anyway so it doesn't help )

picnmix

Whilst I only have 1 in primary and 1 in pre-school and agree that we have a stream of letters home asking for this and that, as other posters have said it is optional.

I have no problem with the £1 here and there for non-uniform days, and have no issue with paying towards school trips, the school my DD goes to a school which has a really good community feel and a really well supported PTA and yes they do ask for things regularly, but we only have to look around the school and grounds to see the benefits for the kiddies. They don't name and shame those parents who either cannot afford it, or choose not to pay. IMO my DD goes to a lovely school, they look after the kiddies well and care about them so asking for the odd couple of quid here and there doesn't bother me.

As far as requesting parents time, I don't see why this is an issue, I work so am unable to volunteer, but know quite a few mums who do, they are able to give their free time, which benefits the school and they enjoy it or they wouldn't do it.

balletshoes

wannabe_sybil wrote: »

My son is in Reception, and in the first term it cost @ £115 in 'asks'. That's non uniform day, designing and buying Christmas cards, school photos, sponsorship, harvest festival, nativity play tickets etc and not including milk money, school dinners or uniform.

He had been there three days only when he was asked to design/buy Christmas cards - that is, in the beginning of September. I know it will get worse - and I am keeping a track - if only to shame the school!

£115 :eek:? I don't buy the school photos unless they have actually taken a good picture - if its rubbish, I don't buy it (because I wouldn't be displaying it). non uniform day now at DD's school is for weekly class perfect attendance, so is free. For Sports Relief day etc, its a 50p donation and dress up if you like. we don't have sponsorship at all, which is a relief because I remember bringing home sponsor forms on a very regular basis from my primary school (and there were 5 of us from the same family there at the same time). DD's school is not church-affiliated so no harvest festival, and the school PTA would probably get laughed out of the grounds if they tried to get the parents to buy "designer" christmas cards . We do have to pay for tickets for the christmas productions, its the only time of year we pay to see our children perform (we are invited to weekly assemblies if we wish to attend, for free), and its £1 per ticket.

Other things we do pay for (but none of which are compulsory at all) - any trips out in the school day including transport, so usually a donation of no more than £5 towards it. School fayre donations (items not money, again voluntary) and the yearly school disco (£1 a ticket). The school organises a yearly family day trip out to a local attraction, but again, its not compulsory, and we're not going this year.

My DD is in year 6 now, last year at primary school. There are 4 primary schools in the same "education zone" in the city, 2 of them have been in special measures in the last 5 years, so all of the schools benefit from the zone budget - this means that although my DD goes to a good school with good results and good teaching management, they get a share of the pot, so don't need a lot of financial input from the parents.

I am completely dreading high school and all the expenses that come with that :eek:.