to be getting a bit fed up with these days at school.

[martini84]

Ok so I currently have 2 dc at primary school. They tend to have one or two school day trip out per year sometime more. Cost normally in the region of £!8 to £25. Yes I understand coaches cost etc and it generally is a great day out. (unless you have already been) All good
However, the school also seem to do at least one themed day per term where an organisation comes into school to work with dc. These tend to cost between £8 to £11. Plus children are also expected to dress up most of the time.
Now I am sure the children enjoy these days but AIBU to get a bit fed up with the expense. Plus feel a little sad that outside organisations are effectively profiting from parents who are or feel obligated to pay for these days.
Plus often these are sprung on us without much notice.

Rather than writing on here, you should be talking to the class teacher or head. I think what you say sounds way too expensive. As a class teacher I try to make our trips less than £10 each but some parents feel that is too much. Anything in school should not cost more than £3 or £4 in my opinion. If the school are not told that parents don't like it then it won't change. Get a few friends together and speak about it. Nicely rather than demanding that t stop. You are far more likely to be listened to that way!

Mel

Anything in school should be free.

The school can ASK for voluntary contributions but if it's in school time you are not obliged to pay. :)

The trouble is though that if you don't pay they keep on sending reminders and on one occasion actually rang a parent and used the "you wouldn't want little Harry to miss out etc etc"
Fortunately we now have a sensible parent Governor who feels the same. Hopefully they might listen.

I feel the same, it's bad enough when you have 1 child but when you have several it gets out of hand. Demands for craft materials, swimming lessons, trips, curriculum enrichment week activities and everything else, on top of uniforms. I find that over the year I end up paying out in the region of £1000 in total.

If we don't pay - the child's name is put on a whiteboard as you walk into the classroom, so everyone can see it

Yes these days/trips etc do get very expensive, YANBU to be getting upset about it.

I do agree, but I'm warning you it gets worse in secondary, currently one of mine is wanting to go on a Geography field trip to Sicily £615 for 4 days, and the other on a language trip to Spain £450 for a week, and as neither of them have passports (because we can't afford foreign holidays) that is another £75 each on top! - I'm going to have to say no to both and be the mean mum 'cos all their friends are going etc etc