Are we unreasonable, or is the school?

[Naiceprosecco]

Name changed.

I am involved with fundraising in the PTA at my daughter’s school. It’s a primary in an area which isn’t deprived by any means but isn’t particularly affluent either and we struggle with parental support.

We are a new PTA and funds have been very tight. We are finally in a position to provide learning materials requested by the head as our last event of the year has put us ‘in the black’.

However there has been uproar because we couldn’t afford to buy the leavers a t-shirt each and instead suggested the parents pay for them if we organised them (purely optional). We have given a donation to their prom but it was either buy t-shirts for one leaving class or put the books requested in each classroom, not both. To me and others (including other parents) it was a no-brainer, we should provide enrichment before providing frivolous things.

The problem is - the head is now using school funds to pay for these t-shirts.

So am I being unreasonable for thinking school funds or funds raised for the school should not be spent on expensive, exclusive items such as that (around £20 per pupil, 32 students in the class)?

Have leavers T-shirts been provided in previous years by either the school or the PTA?

I think it's a shame that schools go with something so expensive and much prefer the idea of getting a PE shirt signed. But if it has been a tradition at the school and it wasn't known they wouldn't be provided at the start of the year I can see why the head might decide it was worth it. Kids feel a strong sense of righteousness around being left out of something that others have got before them.

If this was just a new idea though, then I think the head could have done some serious rethinking and it would make me reluctant to make voluntary donations if I was a parent at a school that spent its budget like that.

Does your PTA have a constitution?

That should set out the broad categories of what the PTA will pay for.

Ours will pay for things which benefit the whole school (e.g. it funded about £1000 of forest school kit to give it a boost), and class teachers can apply for funds for specific things.

It will pay for certain things which are available for each year in turn, e.g. the coach to the cathedral for the leavers' mass.

It won't pay for school trips, or things that should be core budget items.

Our year 6 fund raise to cover extras. They do things like run a healthy tuck shop for 1 week each term, or sell ice creams on summer Fridays.

I think if you check, modify or create a constitution it will really help set expectations and limits.

Morning everyone!

T-shirts are not a long standing tradition. Last year was the first year it happened and this was before (for reasons outside of our control - certainly not overspending on our part) we had no money.

Historically the PTA has held and paid for a leavers prom (minimal outlay) but last year the parents organised their own (hence the t-shirts). This year parents are also organising a prom but the children also asked for a trip which we are paying for.

Our constitution

Posted too soon - our constitution is a bit vague but does suggest we are there to raise money primarily for learning and enrichment.

You can definitely go and make a fuss about this, but if other parents wanted school funds to be spent on this, I don't see why your view trumps theirs.

@monty27 I agree! At my school (I'm a teacher) in a deprived area the year 6 leavers just bring in some pens and get their t-shirt signed. There's no leaving gifts and no "prom" either. Is this what I've got to come when my little one gets older?!

What a waste of school funds.

I think this is a mad idea for any primary aged children....just a waste of money. Not only will they outgrow it but they will also think it is naff within a year or so. Have your school shirt scribbled on on the last day.....that is fun and an ages old tradition. They will still not be worn but could hang on a wall or go in a memory box and does not cost a penny unless you are planning to hand the shirt down to next child!

Really interesting seeing the different views. like I said they are still worn for a couple of years here as people tend to buy big and the kids don't think they are naff at all. The pta pay £10 contribution and children that don't want a hoody (I think there's only been 2 occasions this has happened) get a £10 book token instead as a leaving gift.

This has happened from day 1 though so all parents know they will have this opportunity when their child gets to Y6.

They are ordered so they can wear them for the last half term of school too so they get wear then (which many parents are grateful for as they've grown out of other uniform).

If funds had been tight though this would never have started and in your situation we would go for books!