Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Schools requesting money - what is 'reasonable'

36 replies

Northernlurkerisbackatwork · 11/09/2012 13:04

Dd1 is now in Yr 10 and dd2 has started in Yr 7. They have been back at school since last Wednesday. So far we have had requests for:

£3 for sketchbook (dd1)
£5 for food tech ingredients - only some of what's needed. The rest (the expensive bit - fruit, meat etc) we will need to send in. (dd2)
£6.75 for fabric and a zip for dd1's first textiles project.
£5 for other textiles equipment
£2 per revision guide for science for dd1 - 3 guides = £6

So that's £25.75 all in.

When both girls started in Yr 7 we were asked for a voluntary contribution of £5 to the school fund and were told that was the only time they would ask for money. Ha! Hmm
We are happy to pay whatever is needed of course and fortunately have the resources to do so. It does seem to me though that this is pushing it a bit. Or is this typical?

OP posts:
SecretSquirrels · 11/09/2012 13:57

At secondary there were a few GCSE revision guides in year 10 but not much else. DS1 just started 6th form though and that's another story. All his books, stationery, folders etc. Lab coat, some text books and apparently a calculator which costs £60 Hmm.

Startailoforangeandgold · 11/09/2012 13:54

I don't get paying for sketch books, you don't pay for exercise books in any other subject.

Lancelottie · 11/09/2012 13:43

Going by last night's experience -- the whole chequebook full.

Honestly, I sat there and wrote cheques/filled in forms for an hour. School trip, lunch money, sketchbook, coursebook, drama show, dance thongs (don't ask!), random 'materials'...

Neolara, good point about the £70 a day. Mind you, on that principle I'd be better off until this time next week!

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 11/09/2012 13:18

It's another reason that I am grateful that dd is an only child.

In my skint days it was manageable, however I know it would have been a lot harder to fork out for trips and sundries if I had had more than one chikld.

Original poster
Northernlurkerisbackatwork · 11/09/2012 13:16

See I think the bigger costs are fine - you can either pay it or you can't. It's the small drip drip demands for £5 here and there that get on my nerves. For parents living on very limited incomes it's surely a bit of a nightmare.

OP posts:
neolara · 11/09/2012 13:14

Unfortunately school budgets have been cut, sometimes significantly. I imagine schools are looking at ways to ensure they can continue to provide the same level of education and support to kids as they have done in previous years.

I sometimes find it useful to reflect that if I sent one child to private school it would cost me something like £70 a day. In that context, the occasional demands for voluntary contributions seem like excellent value for 190 days of education over a school year.

Sparklingbrook · 11/09/2012 13:11

I am waiting for the 'big trip' letter for next summer wherever that may be with the 'pay in instalments' form.

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 11/09/2012 13:11

i think it is about par for the course tbh.

Mind you dd has just started 6th form and been asked to contribute - so far - nothing.

HOWEVER

She is studying photography so had to fork out for a SLR camera. She paid half but my share was still 70 quid.

And she has come home with letters for a residential in London (200 quid) and a field trip to Iceland (a grand).

Sparklingbrook · 11/09/2012 13:10

It was a bit of a bargain Northern. £14 for the whole of his time at the school, and I get it back when he leaves.

Original poster
Northernlurkerisbackatwork · 11/09/2012 13:08

Oh yes I forgot about the locker! That was something too.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 11/09/2012 13:06

DS1 just gone into Year 8 and have so far paid £14 for his locker. I await letters home with interest for the next week or so.

Swipe left for the next trending thread