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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to have no intention of paying this?

44 replies

marshmallowhuntingseason · 04/09/2013 15:27

DS school has asked for a voluntary contribution of £15 per child for the 'school fund', to be paid at the start of each term.

AIBU to think this is a bit cheeky and I won't be giving it?

I know times are tough and school budgets are being cut right left and centre, but can't help feeling this is unnecessary. The old headteacher (over 20 years at the school) never asked for more money than one would expect & apparently worked well within the budget. However the new one has increased the price of school trips, stopped all after schools activities, increased the price of the after schools wrap around care & has also tried to end the practice of sending notes home, instead suggesting that parents pay a fiver each for a text service that will send necessary announcements etc to their phones.

The headteacher is not very popular- hardly ever there, apparently he has been going on American evangelical courses about 'bringing God back into our schools" (it's not a faith school by the way) and apparently has run the school budget down due to paying out for constant subs.

The school has also recently been awarded a large sum of money to build another few classrooms and nursery unit, it's a good school with a strong PTA and a good mix of pupils from all backgrounds.

We are a low income family and I have just forked out £18 milk and fruit money for this term, & that was hard enough to scrape from our budget.

So, AIBU to ignore the note asking me for money?

OP posts:
CaptainCapybara · 04/09/2013 15:30

If it's voluntary and you will struggle to afford it then don't pay it.

LaurieFairyCake · 04/09/2013 15:33

I don't understand the bit 'run the school budget down paying for subs' Confused

Definitely shouldn't pay it if you can't afford it, it's voluntary

GoldenGytha · 04/09/2013 15:37

I wouldn't be paying this if I was asked,

If you can't afford it, then you can't afford it,

My youngest child has just left school, and I've had that text messages thing for years and never been asked to pay anything towards it, neither has anyone else as far as I'm aware.

StanleyLambchop · 04/09/2013 15:41

Our text messaging service is free- I have never heard of any parents being charged to find out what's going on at school!! If it is voluntary and you are struggling then YANBU to refuse to pay!

noblegiraffe · 04/09/2013 15:44

While the head sounds like he is spending money on weird stuff, the fact is the old head probably had a bigger budget than the new head. School budgets are being cut to the bone, that's why so many are converting to academies.

QueenofallIsee · 04/09/2013 15:55

We don't get charged for texts and to ask for a DD to the school is common here but entirely voluntary. Don't pay if if yo ucan't afford it! By the way, my kids are not on free school meals or anything but our milk and fruit is free as well

friday16 · 04/09/2013 15:59

" apparently he has been going on American evangelical courses about 'bringing God back into our schools""

Primary schools have the problem that the governors are usually an extended PTA and do nothing but act as the headmaster's cheerleaders. The great thing about having children at secondary schools is that there's some semblance of governance, and the head can't just behave like Captain Queeg. But even in the "oh, Mr Headmaster, you're so handsome" world of primary governance, surely this ought to cause some concern?

StraightJacket · 04/09/2013 16:28

DS's school has never charged for the text service, nor has my sisters school charged my mother for it. In fact, this is the first time I have heard of a school charging for it! I find this rather odd myself.

As for the £15 charge, it is cheeky imo but voluntary so if you can't afford it and/or don't want to pay it, then don't.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 04/09/2013 16:33

We have a text service, free fruit/veg at snack time - why are you paying for these things??

The school asks for a voluntary contribution at the start of the year for each child which goes to pay for some special curriculum enhancement things that take place throughout the year. The school asks for £10 per child for the year, or whatever people would like to give.

I would be having a word with the head of governors about your concerns, and possibly with the LA if you don't get any luck there.

TeamEdward · 04/09/2013 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DuckToWater · 04/09/2013 16:41

I don't pay ours, because they don't publish the accounts for it. Once they do, I will.

20wkbaby · 04/09/2013 16:55

Ours is voluntary but sdme parents not paying means there are less trips for all the children. I am all for less well off families getting a break but in DD's school I am sure the majority of parents can afford £10 a term.

We have never had to pay for texts or fruit either but all school correspondence is emailed round and available on the internet too. Texts are for snow closures and other last minute reminders.

If you are genuinely in financial difficulty then by all means don't pay.

State school is not cheap! We have so many fund-raising events throughout the year in all guises - some for charity and some to benefit the school but I would prefer it to be done on this basis than a lump sum and at least for a cake sale it is voluntary and you don't have to go to the school fete. Still I am happy DD is at a good school and feel glad I can support it in this way. I think it is cheap in real terms for the education she is getting.

friday16 · 04/09/2013 17:05

" Many Governors work very hard, in an extremely responsible position, for no recompense."

I didn't, you'll note, say that they didn't put in the work. The issue is how much they fulfil the role of critical friends. My observation (having been a governor, my partner having been a governor, having been up close with governance issues in several other schools and so on) is that primary school boards of governors spend a lot of time being supportive and understanding of the head and coming up with schemes to help the budget. Which is lovely. But if the head's losing their grip, or becoming obsessed, or becoming an egomaniac in their last year before retirement, actually providing challenge is hard. And seems much, much more likely in the larger, better structured, less collegiate governance of a decent sized secondary.

FamilarSting · 04/09/2013 17:57

I was really shocked when I read your suggested donation amount as £15 per term, but DD's old nursery class - attached to the school, and now reception class, ask for a £1 donation per week - I have never been happy about this but usually pay it, but for some reason thinking of it as £1 per week rather than what it adds up to per term makes it sound less shocking. At least with our school we don't have to pay every week if we 'forget', so can pay less overall.

YANB. It's cheeky to ask for so much, and if it'd make things hard for you to pay it then you shouldn't feel guilted into paying it.

PrincessFlirtyPants · 04/09/2013 18:04

I remember when I was at school it was £300 per term (not a private school) that the parents were asked to pay. Sometimes ££ was a bit tight and my mum couldn't afford it. It was really embarassing as the head teacher would hold back everyone who hadn't paid it to tell them to "remind their parents of the importance of the school fund" it was horrible

I think if its going to put you or your DC in financial difficultly YANBU, don't pay.

Winterwardrobetime · 04/09/2013 18:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pooka · 04/09/2013 18:07

£15 per year per family here.

cooeeyonlyme · 04/09/2013 18:12

Don't pay it.

Harrin · 04/09/2013 18:18

I've never heard of this 'school fund' before. Don't pay it!

noisytoys · 04/09/2013 18:29

DDs school don't ask for a contribution for anything other than trips she went on one £13 trip for the whole of last year.

BrokenSunglasses · 04/09/2013 18:33

If you can't afford it, then don't pay, but I don't think it's wrong of schools to ask.

They will be spending it on resources that benefit your children, not the staff Christmas do.

Tinlegs · 04/09/2013 18:35

I think this is probably against the law in Scotland. Certainly never heard of it up here.

complexnumber · 04/09/2013 18:38

I think the key word here is 'voluntary'.

If you can't pay... then don't

Schools are crying out for money to give our kids the best educational experiences possible.

However they also understand that not all parents will be able to afford these prices.

mimitwo · 04/09/2013 18:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Viviennemary · 04/09/2013 18:43

It's voluntary. So don't pay it. Lot's of people don't. Even those who can well afford it I found out. So you certainly shouldn't.