School constantly asking for money

[abitofpeace]

Just wondering how it is in other people’s primary schools. Ours is constantly asking for money. Usually raffle tickets, etc but more recently some of the parents are selling stuff through the school and giving the profits to the school. It feels like everyday they ask for something!

There is also a monthly (optional) direct debit if parents want to pay regular. Are finances so bad that thee government need such a large boost?

I always thought the autumn term was the worse one for random donation requests. Learned to ignore some, but it's hard to ignore when it's for something your kid wants to join in with.

Couple of years ago the deputy head, who was acting as head (who was off sick) decided to start asking for a regular termly amount in lieu of all the other smaller donations. Strangely it only lasted that term as when the head came back they stopped it.

Schools are struggling with funding that, year on year, fails to keep up with pay rises fixed by statute and inflation in general.
Also schools are currently having to find extra money to fund Covid security (sanitiser, antibac wipes/cleaning materials and extra cleaning hours) as well as ensure that children have access to a device for online home learning when required.
None of this comes cheap I'm afraid, but don't be afraid to ask the schools why so much extra money is needed. They have an obligation to inform you.

I’m a school Governor and I see the budgets. Enormous Central Government cuts since 2010 have had a devastating effect, and have seriously degraded our children’s educational experience. For the last 8 or so years our children’s education has long depended on the good will and professionalism of teachers, teaching assistants and support staff. I’m delighted to contribute anything I can because it benefits my children.

Yes, many schools are in dire situations financially. Are all the classes full (30 kids) or are many classes running below capacity?
Schools are funded by the amount of children they have. If a school isn't full then they struggle more. You outgoings are virtually the same if you have 20 or 30 kids in a class but your income would be massively affected.

@TheVamoosh

My children's school has an amazon wishlist with stuff like pencils and paperclips on it. They've also successfully fundraised for a new classroom which has been paid for by the parents. Parents are also encouraged to donate a yearly amount on top of everything else.

I find this quote shocking. It's not like we have really low taxes or anything!

Actually while rates may seem high when you have to pay them, the U.K. has lower than average tax rates compared to many other developed countries. This is part of the challenge, people don’t want tax to go up but want the government to continue to provide endless services for free, NHS, schools, dentists etc

Yes I get what you mean about “donations” when we still lived in the UK and overseas territory we were constantly asked for donations to x,y and z. In addition to expensive school trips where the prices were likely over inflated. We even lost a couple of hundred in deposit one year because the trip fell through (I don’t think there were enough people wanting to go). Also my dd did entrepreneurial business scheme with the school she was at. The profit they made was kept by the school!
It does get a bit much. We don’t have this problem now as kids are at an international school abroad however we provide every single item of equipment they need as the schools don’t provide it. We’re lucky if they provide textbooks so it works out the same in the end. Schools must be underfunded in general I’m guessing.

@willsa

I can't stand it when schools ask for money, I have no belief whatsoever that it doesn't line someone's pockets. My son has attended two primary schools - one money grabbing CoE school (the worst offenders imo) and now another state school that has asked for maybe £2 this year. Huge contrast! And £2 I'm happy to donate. To be fair, I ignore all requests if it becomes excessive.

You what now?? Lining whose pockets? Do you seriously think schools steal money? Are you insane or just deeply unpleasant?

I work as a school bursar in an undersubscribed primary school and can (unhappily) confirm that these requests are for the bare essentials. School funding is incredibly tight and much is based on pupil numbers. Unless you are near full then covering fixed costs alone (e.g. premises and staff) is near impossible. With Covid we have been unable to continue our other income generators such as breakfast clubs and lettings and charity grants are more difficult to obtain as there are so many different groups in need.
I concur that donations are always voluntary and whether a parent could afford to donate would never influence how a child was treated; in fact our Head would never even ask for a breakdown of donations by child.

@willsa schools aren't lining their pockets from parent's donations. What a ridiculous comment

DSs school hasn’t done any big fundraising this year, not have they asked for much, but I work in an organisation that does online fundraising for schools and we know how bad it is out there. The government has chronically underfunded public services for decades. Schools and charities across the country are seeing their donations plummet due to Covid because they can’t do their normal fundraising activities.

But I think planned activities instead of constantly asking for donations is a better way to go about it.

When I was teaching I used to spend at least £500 a year from my own pocket just to buy stuff for the classroom- mainly books, art supplies, pens, pencils and glue sticks. Most teachers do. That’s £500 before counting the little prizes and gifts you buy for the class. It’s expected, and hard to teach without them.

@loutypips

My dd school is constantly asking for money saying they can't afford pencils and the like. But if you go to the teachers loo and see all the fancy fixtures and fittings it does make you wonder... they have also brought a minibus - which seems to only be used by teachers, have all "fancy" play equipment fitted ( not in the playground where the kids can actually use it, but facing the street, meaning kids can't play on it as there's no gates or anything around it. It's also constantly breaking. They should be spending money on things that the kids will actually benefit from, not stuff that's there for show.

The very idea that Teachers should have a modern, clean and welcoming toilet. How very dare they ! Know your place Teachers !!! Sometimes it feels like people like to put psychologically torture Teachers.

It’s nothing new. When I started school in the 1960s, each pupil had to pay 6d a week for “school funds”. There were never any of these constant fairs, quiz nights, book stalls, bingo evenings, barbecues, mufti days etc etc.

Schools need to raise money, not just for charities like children in need, but also to fund things for your kids... Eg. School discos, end of year trips, class parties, events such as school fares where they hire things.... If you join the school pta meetings you will understand more about why they need to raise money. Usually they make this money by asking for 1.00 donations to to themed days come to school as a superhero, or ask for 2.00 for school disco. Some of the money also goes to bigger projects that benefit your school.
The only thing that we are asked for is 10.00 per term which is 30.00 for the year. Thus goes towards extra things like baking with your child, snacks in class like fruit and some do breakfast in class.

My children go to a large 3 form per year oversubscribed primary. We are able to give monthly or one off donations that are tax deductible as they have set it up as a charity. Through regular monthly donations and one off donations at end of the year from generous parents who want to give back, the school have just filled their 60k shortfall. The staff work so hard that I think if parents can donate, they do. There is no pressure and I think that while this government is stripping schools of proper funding it's the right thing to do if possible.

Damn are you at my school?!
I’m the PTA chair and we’re trying to cover a fairly essential IT program that the school isn’t budgeted for. All I will say is it’s voluntary to buy raffle tickets and things. But also we spent nearly £500 this term giving the kids virtual pantos, Christmas parties, chocolates. We give the teachers £100 a class for crafty essentials like paper, glue, paints. Have you asked the school what they spend it on? You’d be horrified/surprised

We’ve bought the school printer ink before. It’s pretty appalling.

They give us a quarterly updates and most of the money is being used to pay for staffing that was cut two years ago: 2 X LSA support for KS1 classes as well as maintenance of the building/playground. They also fundraise through raffles, dress up days etc. I find it depressing that state school funding has been so ravaged that they critically need these funds to provide the bare minimum. This government has a lot to answer for....

Can I echo a previous poster, and ask that anybody who thinks they may be entitled to free school meals applies.

If your child prefers pack up, please still apply. There’s no demand on you to use the meal, but the funding is vital.

The school gets additional money. Their budgets are decided on these numbers.

If you live in an area where all KS1 pupils get a free lunch, lease still apply. The paperwork will make no difference to you, but for the school it could be a massive help.

Yanbu

I understand the reasons for it, but for me it was more the relentless task list that drive me mad.

Most parents are short of either time or money, and neither one lends itself to the constant stream of micro requests.

I'm on a secondary PTA and we work very hard trying to support the school. Fundraising is for things the school ask for and sadly over the years it has moved from nice to have to essential.
We regularly ask parents for money but we wouldn't ever identify anyone who couldn't or wouldn't donate. It wouldn't be kind and it wouldn't make sense as it would alienate potential future donations.
Give if you can. Don't if you can't. Or give your time if you can. Don't if you can't. All I know is that our school are incredibly grateful for the money we raise to support them and we are incredibly grateful for them doing their best in educating our kids.

Don't mind donating from time to time but the £1 for this £1 for that really annoys me and I never have change or my young DC loses it before giving it to teacher.

I think a small online payment (£15 a term?) would be the ideal. Instead of coins here and there.

I always spend a fair bit on top at the xmas / summer fair but that's different.

Ours is exactly the same. Some of the money is for charity, another time it was for the church towards their stain glaze window repair (very involved with the church), the school itself, or local community reasons.

I agree its always for the best. They generally mean well, but its hard going when you have several children.

Your kids unlike some countries get a free education so win my mid you should be grateful to only be parting with a couple of quid. You can also say no.

@threatmatrix - we don't get a free education - it is part of the social contract - we pay through our taxation.