Schools Demanding Money from Parents.

[caringcarer]

AIBU to think this primary school is going too far in expecting parents to cough up money. DS's special primary school has asked parents for £1.50 every week additional contribution, since January they have had 5 separate sponsored events which were carried out in school time so compulsory to participate even if child not sponsored, a singing assembly every child had to pay £2 to listen, an indoor fete, 5 coffee mornings with child, 2 book fairs, children had to pay to take part in Easter bonnet parade and World Book Day dressing up as character and to top it all 6, yes 6 separate non-uniform days where instead of sending in a pound they wanted a toy or a bottle and a Valentine Disco. I have probably missed some things there are just too many to keep track of. Oh yes and 4 trips away including 3 day residential. AIBU to think this school is asking parents for too much money to be sent in to school. It is hard to say no you won't sponsor child or let them dress up or they can't wear no school uniform. We can afford it but I know many families are really struggling. Are other schools asking for this many handouts by parents or is new head B bloody U?

Well Spanieleyes if DC parents do not pay in his school the trip goes ahead without child who has not paid. Very mean in my opinion but that is what happens.

I don't think that legally schools can do that. If the money doesn't cover the trip its cancelled. This has happened at DDs primary for just this reason.

It is asking a lot of some families. I imagine that in afluent areas most will pay in poorer ones maybe fewer so making funding differences worse.

Unfortunately I don't think we can stuff this back in the box and is here to stay.

Dragon yes correct.

The horrible reality is that schools in affluent areas will have plenty of resources and parents to donate and organise fund raising. And poorer areas won't.

The end result being that those who need it least get the most support.

And the rest can go hang.

My DD goes to a "voluntary aided" school, AKA religious school. When you apply for a place you are aware that it is "voluntary aided" which means that parents voluntarily aid the school. We are asked to contribute £1.50 a week, although some parents pay more and some dont pay.

The reason for this is that as a religious school, they own all of their school buildings and facilities. The state pays for the running of the school, teachers, lunches for infants etc, but the school has to pay towards any facilities they buy with parents money as the state wont foot the whole bill.

To be honest I dont have a problem with this, I'm happy to contribute, especially because the money is hypothecated for facilities, equipment, buildings etc and not just frittered on day to day things.

"I'm frankly shocked that as a teacher you don't seem to realise the funding pressure schools are under."

"All will be sold for £5 each. Children encouraged to chose which one they wanted to buy at Easter Fair. Once we arrived to collect DC teacher said oh good parents of DC we have saved the one DC wanted."

I think OP has a point that this school is a bit too pushy.

I do think that its got to be indicative of serious funding issues. Staff at my school (which is not one of the worst funded) carry around our own stashes of paper. We photocopy mock exams in small print to save money. Things are getting damned tight.

About 10% of children at the school get FSM, so I assume their parents don't pay...

"I don't think that legally schools can do that. If the money doesn't cover the trip its cancelled."

Depends on the trip. All students must have an equal opportunity at learning, i.e. can't do it for trips essential to the course, for most others some other learning opportunity can be found.

Common practice for ski trips and theme parks. Schools often subsidise the non payers for other trips.

About 10% of children at the school get FSM, so I assume their parents don't pay

And? What point are you trying to make.

That is way below average FSMs.

Any kids who did not pay gets put into another class for duration of trip. My DS has come home crying before because one of his best friends could not go.To my knowledge money raised by all of these activities does not seem to go to subsidies trips except for residential and then we got letter each Year 6 child was being subsidised by £30 each. So even then subsidy not kept for children of poorer parents but spread equally and some have free school meals. Because special school children come form quite large catchment area it definitely covers some poorer areas.

*And? What point are you trying to make.

That is way below average FSMs.*

Not really "way below average" -- average is 14%.

Ds's school always forget to tell us that the requests are "voluntary donations". That said I just found a letter the other day for one I had genuinely forgotten and thefe have been no reminders.

They did start to do the termly donation thing but I think there must have been complaints (or no one paid) because the idea was dropped after one term.

Some schools are worse off than others. Blame the government not the school.

schools get funding according to their decile level - which is based on the average income of families living nearby

This has just happened in Scotland. It's called Pupil Equity Funding and is very welcome to our school budget. It depends on areas here though and on children who receive free school meals.

that really doesn't sound like a fair system at all.

The problem with this is that it will lead to an even greater divide in schools. Those in the very middle class naice areas will be more than happy to pay more and more whilst those in poorer areas will not be able to pay and therefore the schools and children will suffer. Thus the divide will widen even more.

HicDraconis - you are obviously in NZ (or maybe Oz). The system of decile rating in NZ does seem, on the surface quite fair. However dig beneath the surface and you will find that many parents don't pay (for various reasons). I would also add that whilst in this seems like a good idea on paper the poorer areas have children going to school unfed, with no shoes and no school lunch. No system is perfect.

It's a shame because this is an opportunity for parents to stand up as one and say 'no more'. The reality is that people will pay up and once they do it will be expected and once it's established it will increase year and year and become the norm.

Unfortunately the Tories have slashed school budgets within an inch of their lives, they have nothing, nada, your kid gets free education, think of all those poor kids in Africa that would love to have a free education.

Yes they are putting a lot of pressure on parents.
Yes that's not how it's suppose to work. Education is supposed to be free. And clearly you are in a wealthy area (where I am PA rent wouldn't be able to afford that amount of money in such a short time).

But then that's also what you get with 'austerity' and with magic money trees that only produces money when it's for the DUP....

Tbh if you are taht unhappy about it, I would shout it. Not to the school that is doing the best they can. By through social media. Local papers etc... to raise the issue as an important one.
Contact your MP about it.
In effect, dont just talk about it on MN and then do nothing else.

My daughters high school sent a letter out saying please give us a tenner for classroom equipment. We will send it. The letter was direct and clear that the school needed it.

They also asked those who can afford it to donate more.

Sign of the times with the school budgets being cut to the bone.

My biggest concern is that the poorer schools will not be able to ask for the money and I am worried that the amount might keep rising to a much higher amount over time, like university fees.

Well, that's what people voted for.

Why are you annoyed at the school OP? They didn't cut their own budget. Get angry at your government.

I know teachers who have to cough up themselves for the workbooks and pens/ felt tips etc... ridiculous

It's only going to get worse. As others have said it's what people voted for. The tories now have to make even more savings just so they can stay in power.

It's not the schools fault.

Is it all money for the school coffers? We are constantly having to cough up for various charities (I only resent contributing to those that spend millions on chuggers, PR and first-class plane tickets for their execs).

I think they are being unreasonable to be so pushy when clearly some parents really can't afford so many cash contributions. As far as I am aware all pay £1.50 per week + many other things too. Do all primary schools expect so many contributions on such a regular basis? We had three separate sponsored events three months running. We sponsored him £1 each event but did not ask others. He came home saying his teacher told class they are supposed to get lots of people to sponsor them. A few families have two children in this special school in different classes so they are expected to contribute twice. It has definitely been stepped up since new head arrived in Jan.

I don't think its that uncommon. DDs primary is running 6 different fund raising events before the end of term. That sounds like even more than on offer at your school!

JustCallMeKate
This has just happened in Scotland. It's called Pupil Equity Funding and is very welcome to our school budget. It depends on areas here though and on children who receive free school meals

This is interesting, I didn't know this

Have just checked my dc's school, which is 28k, what is this meant to pay for?