That if something is compulsory on the National Curriculum, parents should not be asked to pay?

[TattyDevine]

Our school is asking for £25 to cover the cost of the coach to take them to swimming lessons, which are compulsory under the national curriculum.

This is a state school btw.

I asked whether my child could opt out, as she is already a very competent swimmer who has private swimming lessons at great expense already. The answer was no, it's compulsory.

I get that education cuts put schools in a tricky position trying to balance the books and that coaches cost money but it's not like a school trip where if you can't pay you can not go..

What next, paying for maths class?
Child is in the first year of KS2.

AIBU?

Cheap uniforms? I wish.

Cheap uniforms? I wish.

My kids primary uniform is very cheap. But when the eldest goes to secondary next year I'll be surprised if I have much change from £500 by the time the uniform and sports kit has been paid for.

Cheap uniforms? I wish

Comparitively, yes. Did you spend €500 on one childs compulsory uniform? I doubt it!

What's the exchange rate?

But yes, many posters on here will have paid approximately that amount.

I'd expect to spend about £300 on uniform and about £200 on compulsory sports uniform and equipment (hockey sticks and the like) for one secondary age child. That certainly seems to be roughly what my friends are paying.

I haven't read the full thread, just the first few pages, so apologies if someone had said this, but they are actually on pretty dodgy ground.

You cannot charge for education. You can charge for optional extras, but this sounds compulsory. And you can ask for voluntary contributions, but again that doesn't sound like what you've got here.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/514619/Charging_for_school_activities.pdf

Not that I blame the school - budgets are utterly fucked. I left England rather than be a head in a country that won't fund education properly.