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Original poster

Can academies charge for equipment?

33 replies

UncleMatthewsEntrenchingTool · 09/09/2020 19:51

There was a very helpful thread a few days ago with contributions by @prh47bridge about compulsory charges for secondary school equipment.

Do the same rules apply for academies? Three days in and we have had the first request for £10 for the purchase of an art pack.

Does the education act apply in the same way to academies as they are not ‘maintained’ schools?

OP posts:
Decorhate · 09/09/2020 21:17

It’s interesting that in countries where parents have to contribute more (outside their taxes) that education is valued more & pupils often stay in education for longer & do better. Maybe because it’s perceived as totally free in the UK it’s not valued as much.

Sunshineandsparkle · 09/09/2020 20:59

@Decorhate

Yes I am getting very Hmm at all these posters lately moaning about buying stuff for their kids education. If you are genuinely hard up, talk to the school. They will probably have a hardship fund. If you can afford to pay (and by afford I include by giving up a night out or a takeaway or new clothes) then don’t be an arse and cough up. Save your outrage & write to your MP about school funding. Your child’s education should be your top priority after their health & wellbeing.
This!! I don’t know why people complain so much about small contributions to their children’s education. There’s another post with people complaining about having to send their children to school with pens and pencils. The schools have had their funding cut massively and can’t afford all of the extras needed to give YOUR children the varied, well-rounded and interesting education that YOU (quite rightly) would expect them to. If you’re genuinely hard up then speak to the school. My guess though is that this isn’t the case and you’d rather spend your money on a video game or new trainers for them.
noblegiraffe · 09/09/2020 20:58

Are you not wanting to pay because you can’t afford it (in which case contact the school) or because you’re an arse?

Decorhate · 09/09/2020 20:53

Yes I am getting very Hmm at all these posters lately moaning about buying stuff for their kids education. If you are genuinely hard up, talk to the school. They will probably have a hardship fund. If you can afford to pay (and by afford I include by giving up a night out or a takeaway or new clothes) then don’t be an arse and cough up. Save your outrage & write to your MP about school funding. Your child’s education should be your top priority after their health & wellbeing.

ineedaholidaynow · 09/09/2020 20:46

You do realise schools have very little money

Decorhate · 09/09/2020 20:44

If the art pack is for your child to take home (to use for homework also) and to ultimately keep, then yes schools can charge. If your child is Pupil Premium they may be given one for free. It’s no different to you providing a pencil case with pens and pencils or a geometry set for maths.

Original poster
UncleMatthewsEntrenchingTool · 09/09/2020 20:10

It was this one

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/4015410-6th-form-compulsory-charges-is-it-legal

DD is also at a selective grammar and the bit of reading I have done suggests that they can’t charge for these things.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/706830/Charging_for_school_activities.pdf

But it would be nice to have confirmation before I go back to them...

OP posts:
Hothammock · 09/09/2020 20:01

Can you link to that thread please? Our grammar school charges for a few things, calculators and books and headphones and asks for contributions toward d and t materials... It's a selective academy. Now I think about it they present it all as recommended and preferred rather than saying its compulsory.