to think schools are making too many demands on parents

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...for time and money. I've had three texts this week about concerts, assembly and two demands for donations towards a beach area in the playground. I'm feeling totally overwhelmed by the weekly events during the day which you're texted about and chased by the Class rep to attend I work from full time form home so I have some flexibility but it's too much. The fundraising is another issue as they are always asking but it's not for essential things like books - an outdoor beach play area is the latest. How do you cope? One Mum said she doesn't engage with it at all but I struggle with the guilt.

Just file the emails and texts, give what you can if you want to, and go to the events you can attend.

It always feels a bit crazy towards the end of term, but very little is compulsory.

I help at GC school. I know most mums are working so this week I have done reading and transporting a car load to an event. I do enjoy it and will miss them all when they move on next year, don't imagine senior school will want granny coming in.

Yes, user, how dare teachers have pension payments for their future retirement when they should be saving up for it entirely from their massive salaries ... oh wait ... another 1% increase this year, they're still in the hole versus inflation for the past 10 years.

Fuck off.

The Tory Government is annihilating schools with the pathetic level of funding they're providing. I despise Tory voters.

Other countries expect their pupils to buy their own supplies, books included. I don't understand why parents don't buy their kids books and expect everything to be paid for frankly. (maybe some schools do, but so far my own kids haven't had to pay for anything here).

I don't think schools are unreasonable at all to ask when there's not enough budget to cover enough TA and teachers are begging for pens and paper. It's not fair everything has to come out of their own pockets.

I am truly sorry some parents struggle with day and residential trips, but I do see them as essential. It's not fair to expect kids to be stuck in a classroom all year round, they already have such short summer holiday here (many posters already have their kids home).

Schools are trying to involve parents and make things interesting. If you can't make a concert, just don't go. I am trying to make most of them, can't say it's the highlight of my year or even my week, but the kids are proud and I love that they are shown of the various things they can do, not just basic "studies" in the classroom.

As above, financially things will only get worst, look at the budget cut predicted by 2019.

Just do what you can, if you want to. I work with schools and their budgets are really getting stretched but the good news is that you are being asked for donations for extra things rather than the necessities (when a school can't afford to pay for books or staff then they will be in trouble...).

regarding concerts etc, that's up to you as well and personally would always gauge whether my child will want me there (if they have a part, probably yes, if they aren't involved they probably won't mind so much!)

They are just trying to enrich your child's time and environment. They could just go through the motions and do the bare minimum, then you'd have another parent on here, rightly complaining.

It's the time of year for lots of events isn't it? We have loads this month, but hardly any for ages.

Re donations - send your child to a school in a poorer area - we don't get any of this pressure!

I'm a class Rep for my school, I absolutely don't expect all parents to contribute financially or to be available to attend everything, but I do reach out and contact everyone pretty frequently because you have to spread a wide net to get any donations and I can see how much our school is struggling to make ends meet. If you can't spare the time or the cash then just don't go. If you feel guilty and want to contribute then consider repping or helping to organise some of the fundraising events instead. Class reps are volunteers who are trying to make the school better for everyone's kids and many, including me, work full time.
I do hear complaints from parents about raising funds for things outside of books but actually the way the system works is that schools can apply for grants and funding for specific things, books and learning supplies are much easier to get covered than things like playgrounds, gardens and benches. Outside space is important and forward planning for the next generation of kids who will attend is important so if playgrounds are starting to get run down they do need to replace them.
And yes, blame the government.

whatpardon seriously? Most of your list is optional and surely you expected to cloth your child when you had them? I get that no one wants to say no to their child but that list would be beyond most people i know so they'd be saying no to some/most of it.

IT is a restively new thing as I don't remember my mother darkening the door of my school much.
I also don't think it adds much to education, but it does give parents an opportunity to keep themselves busy.
It's is like class reps: all lovely and helpful but not entirely necessary.

I do find this sort of thing mildly annoying OP, although I understand why it's necessary what with the cuts etc.

However, you do sound a bit overly dramatic.

I've had three texts this week about concerts, assembly and two demands for donations towards a beach area in the playground.

How was the 'demand' worded?

It's like they're your kids or something.

1/3 of teachers who qualified in the last 5 years have already left the profession

School budgets have fallen behind inflation every year for the last 5 years

Sussex schools are looking at moving to a 4 day week

Its a bummer
but at least you do not pay fees as well

I think it gets a bit excessive at times when it becomes debatable how much educational value kids get out of the various activities.

One of my close friends was complaining about it earlier this year: mufti day, followed by pyjama day, followed by world book day, followed by parents' assembly morning, followed by a parents' "special action" science day. It had got to the point at her DS's primary where there was an event requiring extra parental involvement nearly every week, and you had to ask why the school was arranging events during the school day that parents who worked would struggle to attend. My friend noticed it had all started with the introduction of a new Head, who possibly didn't realise just exactly what he was asking of the parents of children at the school.

Speaking as an ex-teacher, albeit secondary, I have my reservations about such things because it always seemed to me that these events disrupted lessons and the natural running of a school (and screwed up my term lesson plans to boot).

Other cintrées like France ask people to buy their supplies incl books.
They also have system to buy them second hands, supplies at a cost much lowervthat what you find here and some help givento about half of the families of cope with the cost.
They do NOT have a uniform (Ive will have some t more than £300 on inform fo for two dcs in secondary) and they don't expect two pair of shoes for pe etc etc..
All in all, I'm not sure that parents here pay much less than in France....

I am struggling with the financial demands at the moment, non uniform days, donations for school fete, £2 for this, £5 for that, Attending the school fete, school disco. It all adds up.

none of it is compulsory and its all good for the school. I love that they can do extras with the kids, after all we want them to love school and have a love of learning.
Its just end of term is expensive. i normally squirrel a bit extra away for this time of year but its been eaten up with unexpected moving costs. So whilst on one hand YANBU by the same token its for the benefit of your kids so YABU!

I think we need to remember that the magic money tree is a CHOICE as proven how easy it was to find £1.5 billions when they wanted it.
Proven also by the fact most other Europeans countries CAN find the money for education and the NHS.
The lack of money is a choice. A political choice to ensure that some of the population will find it even harder to be healthy and educated.

I agree, OP.

this week I got texts, emails and paper return slips to - all for various things (assembly, donations, non uniform day, sport's day (cancelled and rearranged for 2 children on different day).

I work all week.I am not really on top anymore and ignore most.

I agree, although I only have this problem with primary school, not secondary. DD secondary school use parentpay which I find much easier as I can just quickly transfer money around -DS primary only do cash, which involves me driving to the nearest cash point (miles away as we are in a village) and then changing the notes to coins as the requests are always random amounts like £4.20. They ALWAYS ask last minute and expect parents to just produce £20 from thin air the next day for a trip. We have had in the past three weeks: money for coach to the theatre x 2 (rehearsals), money for performance of play (£20 for family), outfit for play, raffle tickets to sell, raffle prize contribution, non uniform day charge, bring in a platter of fruit to make fruit skewers, school trip £20 plus spending money, school fete entrance at £3 each plus money for bouncy castle etc, sponsored run money....it is just endless. I genuinely appreciate all the thought and effort that goes into these ideas and don't blame teachers but I do have moments when yet another letter comes home in the bookbag! Our school are also very quick to ring parents if no money is immediately forthcoming or if parents opt out of the "voluntary" contributions.

Its a bit hectic this time of year, but then it all stops and you wish someone would organise something...it is less stressful at secondary stage. BUT I do agree with other posters, more and more I realise it is amazing that all these other people put themselves out to organise amazing experiences for my children - so thank you to the TAs, the teachers, the Guide leaders and helpers, the football coaches, the choir leaders, the gymnastics coaches, the dance teachers, the after school clubs, the music teachers and to everyone else who goes above and beyond ❤️

well, we do have the possibility to buy second hand uniforms here! I much prefer uniforms, I would have to buy clothes anyway and in my local schools you are free to buy skirts, dresses trousers and tops without logo, so can find them dirt cheap.

I know that in France it's mandatory to have insurance for your kids, we should have the same here.

I am not really comparing the 2 countries, just stating that with the state of our finances and school budgets, parents will have to pay more soon, the current system is not sustainable. My kids would love to have a 4 days school week, but it will be a huge financial stretch for us if that happens, they're not going to watch tv all day!

I always had the impression that the social system in France was better than in the UK, but when you see how desperate immigrants are to cross the channel to come here, I am proven wrong when I look into it a bit deeper.

They ALWAYS ask last minute and expect parents to just produce £20 from thin air the next day for a trip.

I am really supportive of the schools and all efforts involved, however I would be so very grateful if we could have at least a weekend between a request and the day it's due. PLEASE!