Do School Trip Fees subsidise non-payers?

JimmyTheWig

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

The Pupil Premium paid to the school in respect of those children who qualify from free school meals subsidises your children's education, as it is used for the benefit of all pupils.

Technically there is a responsibility on the school to show that the Pupil Premium is being used to improve the outcomes of the children who attract it, rather than all children in the school.

Mojisola

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Technically there is a responsibility on the school to show that the Pupil Premium is being used to improve the outcomes of the children who attract it, rather than all children in the school.

But it does usually have a knock-on effect for all the children.

JimmyTheWig

Mojisola wrote: »

But it does usually have a knock-on effect for all the children.

I agree, which is why I used the word "technically".

nodiscount

piglet25 wrote: »

I would happily pay extra so that none of the children missed out on the trip if their family couldn't afford to send them, and should I ever be in the position that my child had to miss a trip because I couldn't afford to send them, I would be grateful to those who paid a pound or two more so that my child could go.
Life is short, pay the eight quid and move on.

You are assuming the parents who don't pay are struggling or are unable to afford it. I beg to differ.
When I was at school in the late 90s it was the free school meals kids who had the latest trainers, latest coats etc. I doubt much has changed.

balletshoes

sorry if I've missed this OP - but have you asked the school what the £8 is for? I mean, have you asked them for a breakdown of the costs?

I agree with lots of others here - if they're travelling by private hired coach, £8 isn't a lot, and probably doesn't even cover the full cost of travel for your child.

suejb2

peachyprice wrote: »

Way to go, punish the child because their parents are poor or useless.

Thanks for your response peachyprice.
You're waiting in the queue when the cashier asks for you to pay extra on your shopping because somebody else didn't want to volunteer their total of the bill,would you?

Person_one

suejb2 wrote: »

Thanks for your response peachyprice.
You're waiting in the queue when the cashier asks for you to pay extra on your shopping because somebody else didn't want to volunteer their total of the bill,would you?

False analogy.

In this country, we believe (or I thought we did) that every child deserves a shot at a decent education no matter how poor or uninterested or generally crap their parents are.

We all pay taxes, often for services we'll never use. Its about the common good.

OrkneyStar

Soleil_lune wrote: »

I think we all know the kind who won't pay: and that is the type of person who thinks the country owes them a living, and take take takes everything they can at every available opportunity, the ones most likely to respond to the no-win, no fee ads, the ones who resent people who work hard having nice cars and nice holidays, the ones who smoke 40 a day but don't pay their rent, the ones who have everything given to them and still want more.

These are the ones who won't pay.

My friend went on a trip to Cadburyworld last year and was allocated another girl to look after, along with her own daughter, because the girl's mother apparently couldn't make the trip, even though she didn't work.

She sent the girl with no lunch and no money, so my friend had to give 'her' lunch to her, and what bit of money she had to spend on her daughter, she had to share with this girl because she had none, and on the journey, the girl said 'can i sit next to you?' meaning her own daughter couldn't sit next to her own mother.

She spent ten pounds on this girl as well as her own daughter, buying her ice creams and gifts, as well as giving her her sandwiches, and when the mother met the girl at the coach, she said 'where's all the free f**cking chocolate you're supposed to get? Not a thank you for my friend looking after her or buying her gifts or anything.

THIS is the type of person that will not pay towards school trips!

I'd would have shared my lunch (I always bring more than I need) but I would not have spent money on her- that I would have raised with whoever was in charge. As for sitting with her, I might have suggested she and your daughter sit together, and you behind or near.

SingleSue

Lotus-eater wrote: »

This is interesting as my daughter is going on a trip to a local museum, also free to get in and the cost is £13.

As others said it said on the form that it was totally voluntary, but then the form made it clear, it wasn't voluntary at all, free school dinner children get theirs paid and there was a local charity that helped others. But all others are basically expected to pay.

The trip is from 9.15 to 3.00 and if you work out the coach costs about £500 (decent above average) the cost is £10 per pupil for a 50 person coach, with a couple of teachers thrown in for a 52 person coach.

So £8 to me seems cheap.

It is annoying, when I see the kids on FSD's parents get this sort of thing free as well, but what can you do.

I wouldn't mind if the parents really were struggling, but they have more disposable income than us it seems. I know, I know, picking on people that are down.

Add together all the free/discounted stuff they get though and we are royally rogered as being just over the threshold.

I don't know the answer, I am going to be asking the school for a breakdown of the costs of the trip though.
Does anyone know if they have to answer this sort of question?

Despite my boys receiving FSD, I have always, always paid for their trips etc at the requested voluntary amount, the same as everyone else. I am a proud person and to have to ask for help in that way would be mortifying plus I have always thought it unfair anyway to expect other parents to subsidise things. No matter how tight money is, I will always find a way to pay for it.

For the more expensive school organised holidays, they do not go.

carryonjulie

I think £8 is pretty good. One day into the new term I received a letter asking for £40 for one night at PGL. £1650 for skiing (that's a no), and £400 for an iPad4 (that's a no choice)
I'm a single mum but always make sure I pay for trips. No pay, no go!