£5 donation for head teacher to sign passport applications etc...

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Thoughts on this?

The money goes to the school fund. It says a donation, not a voluntary donation.

Does this seem reasonable or unreasonable?

When I taught for a living I must have signed about ten passport applications each year for my students. I didn't charge, but I used to point out that had they asked their GP to do this, they would have had to pay a fee. My school had an active connection with a school in Zimbabwe and we used to do fund raisers for them, so I used to rattle a tin at the parents and ask them to give something. No-one ever refused.

Great idea. As a lawyer I get asked a few times a year (often people who would never give you the time of day otherwise) and I find it stressful. I have to dig out my own passport then I worry about filling it all in correctly and with children you have to ensure you fill in the right boxes. i think this is a great way of raising money personally and commend the person who thought of it

the airline, holiday company don't give you their service for free, why should a doctor/teacher etc, unless you already see them as free goods

Beautifully put

I'm a teacher and keep a picture of my passport info on my phone so if someone asks I can do it with no extra hassle. It's pretty quick and stress free if you've done a few. I don't charge but have been given wine or flowers as a thank you. Not all teachers at my school have valid passports so they can't all do it. I see it as a nice thing to do for people if you can.

I'm a nurse and have signed many passport photos for friends and colleagues, however where I work we're not allowed to sign for our long-term patient's due to risk of identity theft as you're giving out your passport number.

I was asked to sign passport applications so many times as a sixth form tutor that I took to carrying my own passport around with me.
Requests for this invariably came at the busiest times of year, and it's quite time consuming. Was always happy to do it but quite see why HTs ask for donations.

School is under charging. Doctors round here want £35.

"Heads know who can't afford it and won't ask." Did make me laugh. Child needs a passport, but paretns can;t afford a £5 donation to school?

Our head doesn't do any. We're an infant school which means many of our children are getting their first passport. It was becoming, actually, a really time consuming part of her job.

Volunteer parents, who have become friends of the staff would be asking their friends, not the school, to do the paperwork OP

"if they take on the task for a small fee, there seems an expectation that the money will be given to the school, rather than staying with the person who's done the work" because they'll have done it in school time, on school premises, in their capacity as head of the school. and it's work/money they only got because they were head of the school. It would be outrageous and probably misconduct if they pocketed the fee themselves Puzzled.

Although in law firms if someone comes in off the street to swear statements in front of a solicitor the firms usually have an arrangement the solicitor can keep the fee personally.(although I refuse everyone who calls me as a solicitor wanting things done like that as I don't like the hassle).

If those on a low income are excused, seems a simple and fair fundraising proposal.

Why would a family on a low income who can't afford £5 need a passport?!

Local councillor can do it for free. My new Irish passport didn't ask my councillor for his passport number and he said it was much easier and quicker than the UK ones he is asked to do.

Totally reasonable and if you can afford a holiday abroad, you can afford £5 for a passport signature.

I've missed a trick here .I've done loads over the years.

Laughing at the fact that the "poor" should be let off the £5 fee. If they need a passport then they aren't poor as they cost £80 alone without the holiday!!! Not really a definition of poor.

If you are worried about other children in the class not having anyone to sign then volunteer yourself. I know most of the parents in my dcs classes from the years of parties, playdates etc to sign. I would only sign for the parent / child that I knew from the playground but I would do it even if they weren't my dc's best buddies. It does though seem like a good solution for those who don't know/ don't want to hassle other people.

You're not poor if you are buying a passport and travelling abroad.

perfectly reasonable request.

Why would a family on a low income who can't afford £5 need a passport?!

Because agencies nothing to do with travel demand passports as ID - letting agencies, banks and even employers.

It's increasingly a problem that organisations in this country demand photo ID as if we are a country with ID cards, when we're not. I no longer have an in-date passport and I've never had a driving licence. I've had no end of problems, to the point that friends keep suggesting I fork out for a new passport (never to be used for travelling) just to act as an ID card.

I don't know what proportion of the people asking the OP's school to countersign are in that situation, but these days it's unlikely that everyone seeking a passport intends to travel on it.

NB I agree that £5 is a reasonable amount for the headteacher to charge.

The demanding of passports by all and sundry is a different question.