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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be surprised at the cost of school swimming lessons?

39 replies

EndoplasmicReticulum · 20/04/2012 14:14

£3.50 per session.

They go about seven times per half term. So that's about 42 sessions per year.

£147.

They go for three years - in years 2, 3 and 4.

£147 x 3 = £441.

I have two children at the school.

So, over the next three years I am going to be spending £882 on swimming lessons, assuming that the price stays the same.

State primary, in case you're wondering. And we can afford it. But it still made me Shock when I worked out the total cost!

OP posts:
NickNacks · 20/04/2012 14:18

Ours start in reception through to yr 4. I can't really afford (I have two in primary and another toddler) but its so very worthwhile that it's right up there in our 'must pay' bills.

Sunscorch · 20/04/2012 14:18

Depends on the quality of the teaching, the length of the lesson, and the size of the classes.

But you're not really paying for the lessons.
I believe the school can only ask for contributions towards the cost of travel, anyway, so that ought to be what this money is going on.
And those contributions should be voluntary.

sparkle12mar08 · 20/04/2012 14:18

But that's stil v v cheap compared to private lessons. £7-£8 for 30min group lessons round here and £19 for one-to-one!

SingingSands · 20/04/2012 14:19

Ours are free!

faintpinkline · 20/04/2012 14:20

Take them and be glad £102 for 11 half hour essons here (not school but private small group)

Original poster
EndoplasmicReticulum · 20/04/2012 14:20

I realise it's still cheaper than private lessons. I'm also very impressed that they have managed to teach boy 1 to swim, which is more than they could do in the group lessons he used to go to.

But - if like poster above you are genuinely struggling to pay this - what happens?

OP posts:
SingingSands · 20/04/2012 14:21

Oops posted too soon, meant to say that I wasn't aware of any schools round here charging for swimming lessons. I'm in north Leeds.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/04/2012 14:21

I took my 2 DC to swimming lessons at a school (about 6 miles away) . IIRC the price was about the same, for 30 minutes lesson.

So, my choice to take them, it took about 1 1/2 hours with travelling, changing and the lesson.

I suppose the difference is if swimming lessons are compulsary .Mine do in Yr 5 but the school don't charge.

Is there a choice if your DC go? They are having their lessons at a much younger age, and it's going on much longer.

hanaka88 · 20/04/2012 14:21

Mines in special school £2 per lesson bur voluntary contribution (obviously I pay) I think it's important and used to spend £10 a lesson and have to get in the pool with him because of his needs and he was totally ignored because I was there. So I'll happily pay.

Original poster
EndoplasmicReticulum · 20/04/2012 14:22

Singing I'm in North Yorkshire.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 20/04/2012 14:24

The swimming lessons are free the school are charging for something else, it maybe they are charging for a coach to get all the children to the swimming pool

BUT the swimming lessons and pool hire are supposed to be free every town every school

lynniep · 20/04/2012 14:31

Gosh we dont pay for DS's swimming, but we are asked to volunteer a tenner towards the bus, which works out at £2 per session. I don't mind. If I couldnt afford it I would pay less contribution. But you shouldnt have to pay, surely?

lifesalongsong · 20/04/2012 14:35

I paid about the same, I think they are only in the water for about 20mins so it works out about the same as private lesson.

I didn't need school lessons but if your child doesn't go you have to take them away from the school as there's no one to look after them so the price of a lesson is cheaper than half a day off work.

afaik the really struggling don't have to pay the full amount.

lifesalongsong · 20/04/2012 14:37

ivykaty, I don't think my local pool is free for children. I think it was initially then as it was too expensive they stopped it. I'll check.

ivykaty44 · 20/04/2012 18:12

Free swimming for children has now stopped in municipal pools - but that is different from the government forcing schools to give swimming lessons - schools have to put on swimming lessons in junior school - and swimming has to be free. But as I said the school can charge for the transport, which is often needed for time and distance to pool.

It is basicly the school charging for P.E lessons

lifesalongsong · 20/04/2012 18:19

ivykaty - I don't think you're right, this suggests that schools can ask for money for any activity, there's no exception for swimmng as far as I can see.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/SchoolLife/DG_179512

My DC's school has told parents in the past that the swimming cost includes transport and the pool costs and I'm pretty sure the HT wouldn't charge unless she was sure it was OK.

ivykaty44 · 20/04/2012 18:41

I shall say sorry - I am out of date and wrong Smile thanks for putting me right lifesalong

Hopandaskip · 20/04/2012 18:43

Would you still have to pay this if your child can already swim???

piratecat · 20/04/2012 18:46

blimey. ours go for a term each year and the cost is £2 a session. so prob about 12 quid

hanaka88 · 20/04/2012 19:00

I don't pay the transport that's all funded by the variety club the school has a variety bus. The money I pay for swimming is just for swimming. If there was free swimming the school my son goes to wouldn't charge.

FuckTheFuckOff · 20/04/2012 19:07

Ours is £4 a session, they do it all the way from reception to year 6, they do it 3 terms a year, and I have 2 DC in primary.

WorraLiberty · 20/04/2012 19:09

Ours a free

I had no idea people had to pay for school swimming lessons Shock

Is it not a Council pool?

Bunbaker · 20/04/2012 19:10

We didn't have to pay either. It was part of the national curriculum. (South Yorkshire state school)

Original poster
EndoplasmicReticulum · 20/04/2012 19:11

Worra - yes it is a council pool, but as someone has said I think the cost is for the coach to get them there.

FuckThe - that'll be over £2000 by the time yours finish primary then! Eeek!

OP posts:
margoandjerry · 20/04/2012 19:13

Sounds a bargain to me! No school swimming where we are (despite school being literally 2 mins from municipal pool) so weare at the mercy of the mafia Swimming Nature who have a monopoly round here. Think your annual expenditure per term!

I do sympathise though. Normal people are being priced out of all the opportunities that used to be available to everyone.