Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Private companies running classes in state schools, DD can't go because we are poor, AIBU to complain??

748 replies

PollyPeppa · 15/09/2011 10:26

We are below the poverty line as we have 3 DC's and DH and I are full time uni students. We worked in low paid jobs and decided enough was enough and are now hoping to get better ones after university.

DD's school had just started up after school Spanish club. We sent her along to the trial session and she loved it. We had foolishly assumed there would be a concessionary rate (as there usually is with after school clubs) but there is not as it is run by a private company so we can't afford for her to go again.

I feel this is very unfair to offer this as only children whose parents can afford to send them can go, I think it creates a divide in the 'state' system.

OP posts:
porcamiseria · 15/09/2011 11:00

yabu, its after school, sorry! we all want stuff wee cant afford for our kids, c'est la vie

kat2504 · 15/09/2011 11:00

Kids do have to learn that money doesn't grow on trees and you can't pay for everything they want. Nothing wrong with telling them straight that you can't afford it. It is a fact of life that they would do well to learn earlier.

The music lessons do take place in school hours normally and I do object to the ridiculous charges for some of them.

harassedandherbug · 15/09/2011 11:00

They are private companies providing a service, and as such can charge what they like. I'm also not keen on the idea that you should get a concessionary rate because you chose to go to uni. I'd love to go to uni, but can't afford to give up my (hated!) job. There are lots of things that dd would love to do, but we just can't afford.

On the other hand: dd (yr1) came home with a clutch of leaflets and letters last night. Football, drama & dance classes held at school after school, and also local leisure centre & Stagecoach leaflets. The school clubs are really reasonable, I was very surprised. The dance class I've hopefully signed her up for was £20 for 10 45min sesssions. The downside is that it's only one class and very limited numbers. We were there very early this morning as it's done a first come first served basis!

LaurieFairyCake · 15/09/2011 11:00

Also remember there is a demand for it and that's the way capitalist society works.

For people that find it difficult to get to school for 3.30 it's a godsend as it's as cheap if not cheaper than childcare. And the children don't have to go offsite so it feels much safer.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 15/09/2011 11:02

So you would be fine about DD not being able to go if the lesson was held say in the local church hall.

Sadly schools need to rent their premises out to make some badly needed money...no doubt they put this money to good use so they can offer better facilities for the school but some people just love to moan so they are damned if they do and damned if they dont.

GrimmaTheNome · 15/09/2011 11:02

Running these clubs on school property means they are cheaper to run and easily accessible to more people than otherwise.

that's what I was going to say. Sorry OP but you're being a bit of a dog in the manger.

Insomnia11 · 15/09/2011 11:05

If it was in school time, you'd have a point, but out of school, not really. YABU

magso · 15/09/2011 11:06

YABU to expect a lower fee from a private firm but YANBU to want a way to allow all children to attend. Is there a local charity or business who could help with fees perhaps? Anyone have any ideas?

SheCutOffTheirTails · 15/09/2011 11:06

If running the clubs on school property makes them cheaper to run, then the companies can subsidise poorer students.

Otherwise they are just pocketing public money, which is surely not on if you are a red-blooded capitalist?

MumblingRagDoll · 15/09/2011 11:07

YAB totaly Unreasonable. Do you think the school should not offer classes which could benefit some children because some others cannot afford them? This is the real world...some kids have more than others do....it's life.

MuddlingMackem · 15/09/2011 11:08

YABU.

However, if the school wants to make the private offerings more accessible they could offer the hall for free on the condition that the organisers charge less. For example, there is an after school karate club at my son's school. It's £2 per child because the school don't charge the club for the hall hire. The same person runs a number of sessions elsewhere but, because he is charged room hire for those, they all cost £2.50 per session.

Cretaceous · 15/09/2011 11:11

I doubt the organiser is making much money, particularly when you figure in prep time and travel time. I bet she's a mum trying to get some pin money. At least that's the case in our school.

LtEveDallas · 15/09/2011 11:11

..I also dont think the 'devisive' argument comes into it. Children should NOT grow up thinking that everyone is equal, everyone has the same money etc. They should grow up fully aware of what can be afforded, what has to be worked for, what is totally out of their price-range.

We are by no means hard up, DD goes to ballet and tap. Recently she has said she wants to start going to Gymnastics and Streetdance. She has been told to choose which she wants most because we wont pay for them all - 2 classes is the limit. When she moaned ('because XXX does them all mum') she was reminded that her friend YYY doesnt go to any classes because her mum cant afford any, and how lucky she is that we can afford 2 of them. She soon stopped moaning (and chose Ballet and Gym)

chill1243 · 15/09/2011 11:13

Its a new one on me. Is it a product of Cameron/Blair/Clegg?

FAIRNESS is not a word which is in their political dictionary.

I am pleased to see we have a mixture of rich and poor people on mumsnet.

It truly represents our country/

Whatmeworry · 15/09/2011 11:16

If running the clubs on school property makes them cheaper to run, then the companies can subsidise poorer students

They can only do that by putting up the fees for the kids who are paying full fees, and that means fewer can go without subsidy, so to cover those costs up go the fees again, down goes the number again, until the service closes down as no one can afford it. Much fairer, don't you think?

Ormirian · 15/09/2011 11:17

I've never heard of this before. It seems quite strange. All the activities on the school premises at the 2 schools my DC attend are run by the school and most are subsidised - quite a lot are free. I think it's a shame that the only Spanish one is private and therefore too expensive. It wouldn't be so bad if there was a school club as well. Presumably there is an advantage to the school in encouraging their pupils to attend a club to promote understanding of and enthusiasm about a subject they are teaching.

utah - I only hope you don't find yourself on your uppers one on of these days. It happens to the best of us. And I also hope no-one comes along to moralise at you.

SheCutOffTheirTails · 15/09/2011 11:18

Children absolutely should grow up knowing that everyone is equal.

Because despite the ugly pushiness in evidence on this thread, all people are of equal worth, even if some can buy advantages for their children that others can't afford.

They can learn that some things can't be afforded without the lesson that their classmates are better than them because their parents have more money.

I've never come across private classes being given to children during school hours. How awful.

StewieGriffinsMom · 15/09/2011 11:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chill1243 · 15/09/2011 11:19

On reflection, it reminds me a bit of selling police officers to business and then having less on the streets Is that still going on? Perhaps we have an off-duty police officer mumsnetting?

CogitoErgoSometimes · 15/09/2011 11:21

If you can't add anything intelligent to the discussion Gabbyloggon... go away, there's a dear.

porcamiseria · 15/09/2011 11:22

polly
my son is doing football at a local school on saturdays, this means the school gets the revenue which to me is a good thing. it IS expensive, ergo he is only doing 6 weeks

I think you have a sense of entitlement TBH

Original poster
PollyPeppa · 15/09/2011 11:22

LtEveDallas - I actually felt physically sick reading your post

OP posts:
Cretaceous · 15/09/2011 11:23

I assume, though, it's like the Spanish club at our primary school. Spanish isn't taught at the school - someone has just seen the niche, and most parents that send their children there do it more as babysitting, rather than learning the language.

My DD wanted to go, but I vetoed it due to the cost. But I don't think she's missing out educationally. From what I've seen, they do Spanish songs and so on, but we just do (free) fun things after school.

If it were something essential to school, that would be different.

MumblingRagDoll · 15/09/2011 11:24

why polly ? Why dd you feel sick at that post? Confused

CogitoErgoSometimes · 15/09/2011 11:26

Whilst the idea that you'll get better jobs long-term by going back to school are understandable... didn't you ever stop to think that it would plunge you into poverty and therefore make it harder to give your children lots of treats and extras? Extra-curricular Spanish classes are no more essential than football coaching or learning a musical instrument. Not everyone can afford to do them and surely that's the decision you made when you decided to give up paid employment?

Swipe left for the next trending thread