School demanded parent pay voluntary contribution

[bluefootedpenguin]

Just wondered what others may do.

Today, another mum told me that a parent was brought to tears by the head who demanded she pay for her son's pantomime ticket. The parent was embarassed, explained she couldn't afford to and school said she could pay 50p weekly as the Head would have to explain to governors!


I taught secondary til recently. Am I wrong in thinking that school can't demand a contribution?

What makes it worse is I would say they have chosen to tackle this parent and not others. Also, the xmas fair raised nearly £1000 on Friday. School is v.tiny so we are all expected to contribute prizes, time and purchase raffle tickets. Said parent contributes as much as she can, works 2 part time jobs and often struggles to make ends meet.

I am really disappointed with the Head and the school and I'm tempted to write a letter of complaint.

What would you do?

[rollonthesummer]

Was this for a panto that took place during school hours?

Get your facts very clear before you write any sort of complaint. You're going on what one mum has told you about another parent's situation.

[BratFarrarsPony]

it's just gossip.
Do nothing.
If it happens to you, then complain.

[Heratnumber7]

I got fed up of being reminded to make "voluntary" payments when DDs were in school.

The reality is, schools are not allowed to charge for educationsl trips, but can't afford to run them if parents don't pay.

The school will probably have a hardship fund though, so worth asking if you're eligible.

[Janey50]

Puzzled as to how someone can 'demand' a 'voluntary contribution'. The sentence is an oxymoron.

[bluefootedpenguin]

The parent in question was very upset and has told our mutual friend.
I have heard some unprofessional comments from the staff regarding this mum and have no reason to not believe her, although I appreciate I have only heard her side.
The trip is in school time. School subsidise the travel to the panto.

I think I'm most annoyed by the different way school treats particular parents. I don't believe the head would have demanded money from me if I hadn't paid.

[bluefootedpenguin]

The school can afford to run it and frankly I would rather they cancel it if it's a problem. While they probably can' t make her pay, they were willing to embarrass her and upset her for £10 and effectively shame her into paying.

[howlowcanugo]

Puzzled as to how someone can 'demand' a 'voluntary contribution'. The sentence is an oxymoron.

It happens all the time. e.g. www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-34129659

[Hassled]

But I don't understand what would be the school's motivation in deliberately targetting this one particular mother. It does seem very odd.

[AmeliaJack]

In those circumstances I'd go to the Head and pointedly quietly offer to pay the £10.

[ladyvimes]

The school has not broken any rules as contributions are only voluntary for 'curriculum' based trips. As a pantomime is an extra activity they can demand payment or children do not attend (schools should provide another activity elsewhere).
Not saying it's right but the school are not breaking any rules.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

Hassled I imagine the majority of parents could pay, and those that couldn't would both be the ones struggling to pay, and also not particularly able to complain effectively themselves.

I do agree it's gossip, but I don't think you should do nothing, it's easy for some people to be bullied, and standing aside and waiting until you're bullied is not a good option. Find out more.

[howlowcanugo]

Trips in school time should only attract voluntary contributions, though schools can make it clear they may have to cancel if not enough parents contribute.

No parent should be pressurised into contributing - or even questioned about why they didn't contribute.

In the school where I'm a governor, children on free school meals would automatically have their costs covered for trips in school time, and be subsidised for trips outside of school time.

[bluefootedpenguin]

Thanks for the replies.

Howlowcanugo this was my opinion also, and I'm sure the gov website says students should not be excluded, I don't think this was threatened.

I help at school, and feel that some personal opinions of staff may have led to this.

In the end, the parent borrowed £10 from a family member, which I know she will struggle to repay. I will speak to her and try and find out exactly what happened and then see if I can support her in anyway.

Thanks.

[ValaMalDoran]

How a school treats it's most disadvantaged pupils tells you a lot about the school imo.

Our school covers all trips for any child who gets pupil premium. It makes a massive difference to those parents. They also help out others who need it. My DDs teacher told me they never chase and she advises people who can't afford it to not send the cash in.

The odd parent takes the piss but 99% don't. We are not a rich school at all btw they just prioritise things like this. In doing so the parents who can give generously because they see how well the school treats these kids and their parents. You never see this stuff btw but parents talk.

[admission]

This is going to become a more and more frequent experience as schools feel the pinch financially. Regrettably in too many schools there is a lack of appreciation of how stretched parents of pupils are financially because most teaching staff have seen some level of pay increase over the last few years.
There is only one answer and that is that more and more parents resist the call for voluntary donations, such that activities are cancelled. Maybe then staff will understand the underlying issue.

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

Regrettably in too many schools there is a lack of appreciation of how stretched parents of pupils are financially because most teaching staff have seen some level of pay increase over the last few years.

Tbf there is also a lack of appreciation of how school finances are being squeezed more and more by parents.

There will be fewer trips etc as neither parents nor the school will pay.

[Starlight2345]

Our pantomime trips are not voluntary contribution so if you don't pay you don't go.. This does not apply to other trips..I know the last one our school did a few children did not want to go..

I can only assume by now all tickets will have been bought so head is trying to claw back money but not ok.. Should of planned it better.

[ellanutella8]

What a load of bull. admission. Anyone who reads the news knows that public sector pay has decreased in real terms. Teachers are well aware of financial pressures. Not least because they have to account for every glue stick and whiteboard pen in their class.

[happymumof4crazykids]

Personally I think all trips should be paid for or the child doesn't go. I've always paid for mine to go on trips and regularly helped out on trips, more often than not it's the bloody parents with money who don't pay and the Ones without scrape the money together out of pride at our school.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Starlight they are if state school and in school time.

[NiceFalafels]

It's not the teachers fault. It's the head who's being a dick. Our head wouldn't behave like this. We might get a general notice, a well written reminder that voulunary conrtributions are still owed and please pay - for the school to run x event, we will need enough funds. But it's never threatening or forceful or in person. The parent has the final decision about how much they give vouluntarily.

[admission]

ellanutella8 reading the news is not always the best place to gain facts. My facts come from being a governor in 3 schools including chairing one, being on LA financial committees who are responsible for the funding schools and also at a national level, so I know that my facts are right. There have been pay rises though I accept that they have not kept up with inflation in real terms, but it is still better than most in the UK.

[MidniteScribbler]

There's some parents who take 'voluntary contribution' as meaning they don't have to pay anything. But always have the latest iPhone. Or the ones that claim they can't afford it whilst standing there puffing on a cigarette. These are the ones that are causing the schools to pull back on offering trips.

The one's that quietly come to the teacher and say that they can only afford 50 cents per week, but will pay it off aren't the reason trips are beig cancelled.

[SheldonCRules]

Panto is usually a treat trip so not a voluntary contribution, therefore if parents don't pay they don't get to go.

Lots opt out of paying yet still want their children to take part, unfair on those that pay and unfair on the school who have to subsidise from already over stretched budgets.

If parents are struggling they can agree a payment plan with the school so that it's all sorted.