Secondary School - 'Donations'

[smithyssister]

Have namechanged for this. DD is off to secondary school in September - a state school but an all girls grammar if that makes a difference.

We've received a welcome pack that asks us to contribute at least £15 a month, by standing order (!), to the school fund. In return we get a 'free' scientific calculator and dictionary. DD's friend is also going and her mum said to me this morning they'll be giving £50 a month Keeping up with the Jones' starts here..?!

WIBU to tell them it's not free if it costs me £180 a year?!

So we pay 200 a month per child, and I can see what a big difference these donations make to the school - they fund music and art lessons, and my kids benefit. I am lucky to live in an area when most parents can afford to contribute something. They don’t ask for that much, (suggest 20) but make it clear that the more you give, the bigger the benefits. This is our charitable giving entirely, we can’t afford to give for anything else! I think it’s worth it, I probably pay that much again for piano, swimming and sports classes outside of school but this way everyone benefits.

Also my kids are in a regular school but I went to a catholic girls school, and my mum was encouraged to make monthly payments, and that in the early 80s.

It's about time the parents are made to contribute more directly than through tax,

In many countries, parents supply books and stationery. I don't understand why we still expect to have everything "for free"

Surely we need to improve school funding via the government. If parents contribute in this way then there is no motivation from the government to do anything about it is there? Your paying on their behalf when we already pay taxes.

If these donations made a real impact on resources for the school then I would pay it. People should just pay what they can afford, it doesn't need to be a competition. You don't need to be made to feel guilty about people boasting they are paying X amount over the suggested donation.

to be honest, if this is instead of the constant demand for raffle prizes or sponsored this or that for funds. Or attending fetes and buying cakes etc etc then I'd rather just pay that by DD and it's done. I appreciate that's probably a bit antisocial and also I can afford to do it as well which might not be the case for everyone.

I wouldn’t pay it, I couldn’t afford it, if others want to pay it then that’s up to them. I’m always happy to help with fundraising for schools but I can’t afford to give a set amount each month. I already pay for my daughter to swim with the school (£35 a term) and money for ingredients to cook each week, I couldn’t afford any more.

I always thought, even at my DCs small primary, that if all or at least most, parents paid even a £1 a month then that would be £200 a month to spend on extras which would make a significant difference for no real outlay. I know some people are on really tight budgets, but that would be manageable for most.

I have heard of schools doing this in lieu of endless fundraisers in the form of bake sales, spring fair, xmas fair, summer fete, etc and would willingly pay this to avoid these.

All schools need to raise extra cash from parents, even in the private sector.

If the school is in Trafford then it is actually owned by an academy trust so there shouldn’t be any need for you to fund it.

I disagree with this on principal. You know that staff will know which families contribute more and will that have an effect on your child's opportunities? I bet it does.

waxon many parents don;t even want to pay for school trips!

And this simply entrenches and increases inequality

Unpaid school trips, breakfast club fees etc etc are commonplace.

The government spends an average of over £6000 per year per pupil in secondary school. Whilst that is (in real terms) less than it was 5 years ago it is still a lot of money, particularly when you compare it to how much tax an average worker pays and how much other stuff income tax has to cover.

I personally (as someone without kids) think that we should be funding education at a higher rate than we currently are. But, until we get a government which is prepared to do that, I think you should donate what you can afford to the school. I like the idea of a suggested amount so people can make an informed choice. If you had no idea how much they needed you might be massively over or under contributing simply because you didn't know.

We were asked to do this two years ago and totally happy to donate £15 a month to the school towards books etc. Didn't get a freebie though. It's voluntary. Don't have to do it. We can at the moment so we've signed up for it.

Link to source for the £6000 figure:

www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/publications/comms/R150.pdf

Our school asks for donations for sports equipment, leasing of iPads (compulsory for class and homework) we had to purchase a specific branded pencil case & contents (inc scientific calculator etc) for £15. It all adds up. BUT the quality of education is bloody amazing! I don’t begrudge them a penny of it all. You can see where it has been spent on equipment and supplies (design/technology, music room, sports etc) and the iPads are mini classrooms they carry about with them.

I know “it’s the principle” of the thing but with all the cuts being made, if you CAN afford it why wouldn’t you? My DD is in their SENS unit and achieving so much more than she did in primary, which also asked for contributions and had big fundraisers every term but the money went on curtains, a rubbish televisions in class system, and a few crappy wooden things in the playground that splintered and were dangerous when wet. I do think it depends HOW the money is spent that makes a difference in whether I’d pay up or not.

I refuse to do this. Both my children's schools constantly send letters asking for regular voluntary contributions. I am sympathetic to schools and funding and I know my children's schools are not adequatley funded, but I would urge anyone to lobby their MPs and join the 'Fair funding' campaign rather than pay. It takes the onus of responsibility from the government and will heighten our two-tier education system of the 'haves and have nots'. It doesn't take a genius to see a school with affluent parents will end up donating more money than those that don't. Even without these regular donations that will be the case, but it will certainly be enhanced.

We wouldn't accept being asked for regular donations by our GP surgery or local library and we shouldn't expect any less from schools. The government should fund all schools fairly.

YABU

Schools are in financial crisis. There was a BBC news report about this just last night.

My dds are at (2 different) state schools, one asks for £40/month and the other £50/month. We can luckily afford it so pay it.

If you can afford it then pay it. If you can't, pay a smaller amount rather than nothing.

If it was a private school, I would be annoyed, but it's a state funded grammar school. You are basically getting a private school education for your daughter for free. I would pay it.

And 'keeping up with the Joneses' is your prerogative of course.

Secondary schools have to do this because the PTAs tend to be less active in fundraising than at primary, as there’s a less engaged parent population. The fact that children walk themselves to school etc so less parents at school gates means that the endless bake sales and such like don’t raise as much nor do the PTAs have the help.

I’m on the PTA at a small primary and we fund outdoor and indoor equipment, author visits, art workshops, Y6 leaver activities and much more - all the the things the school can’t afford to fund. Plus we make up the shortfall for school trips because not all parents can or will pay (we’re a pretty affluent area). We get help from a small loyal core of supporters, but there are plenty of parents (some with 3 kids in the school) who enjoy the benefits but never help, attend or even contribute.

In the end it’s voluntary - some can’t afford to pay, some refuse to pay, but others will pay and some that can afford it will probably pay more than the £15/month. It’s all extra funding that will benefit the children.

Some schools get less than £4000 per pupil.

Of course, and it varies wildly. I was trying to make a broader point though. Those with children in the state sector, especially those at good secondaries, aren't necessarily getting a bad deal. They are likely to be net beneficiaries of the tax system in the UK.