To not contribute to a private school's fundraising group

[Mcakes]

My nephew goes to a small private school which regularly has fundraising activities (cake sales, fetes, barbecues etc) all coordinated voluntarily by a small group of parents. Other parents are expected to contribute (bake cakes, run stalls etc).
I had assumed all money raised was going to charity but apparently it all goes into a fund to 'enrich the children's education'. In the past, the fund has paid towards a new minibus and replacement windows on the school building.
Am I unreasonable to thing that these are normal running expenses that should already be covered by the school fees???
Flummoxed why the parents would willingly give their time and money to help a private education business that they already pay ££££ to.
I live nearby and sometimes pick DN up from school so am occasionally asked to contribute, which makes me uncomfortable. DN's parents can't see anything amiss. Is it just me?

I agree with you.

I went to a private junior (also had a private scene or attached). They were doing fund raising for the Y9 South Africa netball tour! Like, are you fucking kidding me? You want children who have no opportunity to go (too young) to pay for other children's sports holiday??

Many, if not most, UK independent schools are struggling financially at the moment. The fact that the state sector is so vastly better than it used to be has a lot to answer for there, and oh, how my heart bleeds...

Ours was the opposite- raise huge amounts for charity but went without some types of equipment that could be useful for class snd extra curricular because the school said parents would expect the school to fund these. I'd have liked half and half perhaps.

Ours does half and half, the children on the school charity pick a charity each year that means something to them and they fundraise for that, we also do children in need, Macmillan coffee morning etc. The school is tiny so financially not really well off, they don't charge extortionate fees in comparison to other schools so I really don't mind. They are very transparent about what the funds raised are used for and they are generally events which the children benefit from anyway. The funds are used for replacing music equipment, DofE equipment that sort of thing. The school usually match whatever the PTA puts towards these things.

The fundraisers are quite nice as get everyone together, it's a lovely community school.

Many private schools offer scholarships to less financially fortunate individuals. I worked at an extremely prestigious private girls school and over 1/3rd of pupils were FSM recipients Someone has to pay for the scholarships. The days of wealthy 18thC and 19thC benefactors are long gone.

However, on principle I refuse to bow to any school, state or private that incessantly sends out sponsorship and begging letters .

When you add up the teacher salaries, the books, equipment, trips, food, general maintenance and cleaning, etc there actually isn't an enormous amount left from the fees.
I think a minibus is an excellent use of those funds.

Agree that the netball tour is a bit much though!!!

But fees cannot pay for absolutely everything. Fees are a fixed amount, and there will be many deductibles. What is left will pay for many additional things. Clearly the minibus has not been considered a priority. If parents want it, then they can help raise funds to pay for it.

Absolutely! I would go one step further and raise this as a discussion within the group. 'Enrich the children's education'!!??? It's what you pay an annual fee for. It should be enriched as a bi-product of forking out for a private school (and if it's not, the question 'WHY' needs to be asked
DON'T FEEL BAD love x

I don't have a problem with it. Our private school PTA raises money for similar things to a state school so playground equipment, kindles for the library all the nice to haves which aren't covered by school fees. The majority of private schools have charitable status and therefore don't make a profit and cover their costs. I'd rather give a couple of quid here and there and see where my money goes than to have fees raised and it to disappear into goodness knows where. There are also the usual non uniform days, Red Nose Day etc where the children bring a £1 for the schools chosen charities

Because as a parent, you want the school to thrive and flourish. You want them to be able to offer better facilities. You want the school to be as successful as it can be. All schools have PTAs to raise money for things outside the curriculum and classroom, this is no different from that aspect.

If you don't want to contribute, then don't, no one is holding your arm up your back while shaking your purse out.

I think it would be OK for the school to have fund raisers where only the families of the pupils are expected to contribute. Quite another thing though if they are trying to raise funds from the general public in order to "enrich their children's education"

An independent school near us has occasionally had a "bag pack" at the supermarket in order to raise funds for one of their sport's teams to go on tour to South Africa. I don't think so!

Years ago, I got asked by supermarket back packers from a local posh school to fund their trip to the Sydney Olympics. Yeah, that would be a no.

Yanbu to not want to donate but yabu to say they shouldn't fundraise

As long as they're upfront about what they're raising money for and how it's split if there's a split between school and charity I think it's fine to fundraise. It's not something I'd personally give money to, but neither are lots of other charities.

I'd rather that fundraising activities were held so that those who want to contribute can, as opposed to raising school fees so that everyone has to pay more.

Many fundraising events are also fun activities that help cement a sense of school community

Most likely the school is a registered charity.

Really interesting answers with perspectives I hadn't thought of - thanks all!
It is v small school and, having read some of these replies, I wouldn't be surprised if it is not running a profit so the fundraising makes a bit more sense now. Still prefer to give my money to more needy causes but at least I don't feel as indignant at being asked now 😁

YANBU.

DS goes to a private school and the pta fund raising goes to the family foundation which pays for children to stay at the school if a parent dies or loses their job. In the first circumstance then fine I suppose, but no one has ever been able to give me any clear criteria on how its awarded and for how long. Also if they don't get the funding then the local schools are pretty good so its not like it would be the worst thing in the world.

I therefore prefer not to raise money for it, although i will help out at the fair as DS enjoys going. There are lots of more worthy causes so YANBU.

More worthy causes than not upheaving a child out of their school and away from their friends after the death of a parent? I'm sure there are plenty but this seems pretty high up there.

Why don't you see a minibus or fixing windows on the school building as a good cause? Surely it's obviously the fees won't cover every single little thing which is why the parents give the time they can to cake sales and so on.

Fair enough if you don't want to donate but yabu to think they shouldn't fund raise and it's all paid for with the fees

More worthy causes than not upheaving a child out of their school and away from their friends after the death of a parent?

DH was one of these children. When his parent died they lost their income and house, had to move country, and his other parent was crippled with grief. Being able to stay at his boarding school was pretty much the only thing that kept him going in an appalling time.

The fundraising gives money for things like climbing frames, common room stuff, showjumps, new piano, etc. It's for things to benefit the pupils that aren't academic. I think it's great and the fundraising events are always fun! Think balls, BBQs, quiz nights, etc.

BUT - elder dd private school sent an email out recently asking straight out for money. Just donations. There was also the suggestion that provision could be made for the school in your WILL. I was at that. This is a £10,000/term school!!

If you were paying said fees you might be happy to help with bits and pieces to allow them to keep fees down.

You don't need to contribute to the fund though.

Totally agree. Why should you subsidise a business. And if it isn't making money, then like all businesses, it needs to close. Ridiculous.

Did you post this before?

Having worked in a private school , about a third were on FSM. They were scholarship pupils. The money for the disadvantaged has to come from somewhere.