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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Schooling asking for money

108 replies

The90sKid · 14/06/2021 11:28

Maybe I am being unreasonable but I would love to hear other people’s view.

My child is in reception in a government funded academy. School organised an event during school hours on school premises. It was run by a business (for profit) which brought bugs into the school for the children to see, touch etc.

School then sent out a letter saying said activity took place and parents should now pay £3 something.

If relevant, my child enjoyed looking at the bugs and school did work around it. They wrote about the bugs etc.

It’s not a question of money but I feel that education should be free. If school partner with businesses, surely they need to secure the funding.

AIBU?

OP posts:
PicaK · 14/06/2021 12:51

OK so the school can't charge you for an activity held in school time. They can request a donation.
If you look on your website you should see the school's Charging and Remissions Policy.
The Head will have operational control over picking suppliers.
If you want to complain about funding in schools then go political.

fashionablefennel · 14/06/2021 12:51

Jaxhog
Ah, but it ISN'T free. It's paid for by us through taxes, not some magic government money tree!

well yes... don't get me started on that Grin

I only meant that you are not sent a bill to cover the teachers salaries and all the cost.

Technically, if you can't be arsed to work and to pay tax, your kids have the same access to education than the kids of a high tax payer.

fashionablefennel · 14/06/2021 12:52

I just thinking going round the class on the first day working out which kids need a school notebook and pencil would be like making the free lunch kids wear a Feed Me badge aka recipe for bullying

we could look at how other countries manage. Parents HAVE to supply everything in other state schools, that seems to work.

noblegiraffe · 14/06/2021 12:53

I can almost predict the increase in threads in the next few years complaining about out of date reading books, leaking buildings and lack of equipment.

Well I’ve just read a thread where the class was sent home because they didn’t have a teacher and there was another one at the weekend asking if it was legal for a class to be taught by a TA instead of a teacher (yes).

It’s not just glue that schools can’t afford.

Allington · 14/06/2021 12:53

The reality is individual children (or their parents) don't opt in or out for trips/activities that are part of the curriculum. Because that would disadvantage the children from families who can't (or won't) pay.

Either the school has enough money from parental contributions plus their other funds, in which case it goes ahead for everyone, or they don't and the activity doesn't happen.

SleepingStandingUp · 14/06/2021 12:54

It's not right to expect teachers to pay for the kids, it's up to the parents. Teachers really don't earn that much. Tbf I don't see anyone saying teachers should have to buy them, at most people are saying school finding should cover costs. Our school aims to raise £100 a month on out of uniform, as well as Summer and Christmas fayres where they ask each school year to being a particular type of item. A straight out request for cash on September 1st would probably suit many people better than buying donations

AnneElliott · 14/06/2021 12:58

They should have asked in advance - but if you can pay it I would.

I do have to counter the many responses about schools funding. The school I was a governer at had plenty of money - and the way they spent some of it was well questionable.

I'm sure there are schools struggling (just like some local authorities are) but I don't agree with the blanket assumption that it's all of them.

Bluntness100 · 14/06/2021 13:00

Suspect a letter went astray op or you missed a communication.

Beautiful3 · 14/06/2021 13:02

My children's school does this too, pre coving. I don't mind, it's just a couple of quid here and there. It means they have to have a bit of fun. If we all said no, we're not paying it, then it would stop.

PiccalilliChilli · 14/06/2021 13:04

My DD is in Y9 and we've paid out lots of money on things over the years.

On her ParentPay account is a request for £40 to support the school. We haven't paid it because we simply cannot afford it. I think it's sad that they have to ask. We have also had to contribute towards arts materials. When I went to secondary school everything we used in school was free. Now we have to pay. I find that incredibly sad, and infuriating.

GreenCrayon · 14/06/2021 13:06

@Bluntness100

Suspect a letter went astray op or you missed a communication.
I'm inclined to agree. I don't know any schools that wouldn't ask until after the event.
Checkingout811 · 14/06/2021 13:08

It’s £3 🙈

Whyhello · 14/06/2021 13:23

You’ll have to get used to this I’m afraid, they constantly ask for money. My eldest is year 6 now and I’ve lost count of the money I’ve thrown into primary school. From fancy dress costumes for book day and various other events they arrange to school trips and charity events. I remember in reception they asked for 50p a week for a snack so that added up over the course of the year.

School funding has been slashed immeasurably over the past decade but I do think this has always been a thing. I know when I was at primary school in the 90s my Mum complained quite a lot about the money they seemed to always want. Even then, non uniform days were often for school funds rather than charity and that was the Blair era.

Newnamefor2021 · 14/06/2021 13:32

Ours has extras all the time, school find some and parents find some. If parents can't afford it they just tell the school.

I run something similar, so regarding who gets the "contract" as you put it, it's usually a theme the class is doing and the teacher looks for resources and will come across things like this. Costing is usually not huge so they don't have to seek out different prices, unlike say major building work. Most companies like aren't very profitable, I run at a loss, I do it as I enjoy it and I charge to help pay for insurance, licences,DBS, stickers, etc.

Phatpheasant · 14/06/2021 13:32

YANBU.

I know school are tight for money, I understand that. But it isn't the parents job to fill the gap. Or at least not directly. Tax us more, properly fund the NHS, education, social care, public transport.

But I am a bit of a socialist!

SheilaWilcox · 14/06/2021 13:32

They should ask first and get the permission / agree to pay slips in. In not enough people are prepared to pay, the activity doesn't take place.

Hankunamatata · 14/06/2021 13:36

£3 - you got off lightly. There's going to be way more asking the older he gets

Crazycrazylady · 14/06/2021 13:49

In a perfect world, absolutely everything in school should be free but in the real world most schools don't have budgets for the extra's and request contributions from parents.
I'm happy to contribute to these as its normally a couple of euro's here and there and we can afford it and its normally something the kids enjoy.
If you don't wish to contribute to these, just send a note into the school saying you won't be taking part. Just because most parents choose to contribute, they are not compulsory.

fashionablefennel · 14/06/2021 14:08

If you don't wish to contribute to these, just send a note into the school saying you won't be taking part. Just because most parents choose to contribute, they are not compulsory.

but expecting to send your children and other people to pay for them is being a CF.

Jennyfromtheculdesac · 14/06/2021 14:16

They should have asked in advance but I actually think the school have done really well to find a fun activity, something a bit different that the kids enjoyed that only required a contribution of £3 per head!

Brefugee · 14/06/2021 14:16

Tell them that you don't want to pay because you weren't advised in advance and see what they say.

Ask if they put it out to tender and who the supplier was if you really want to poke the hornets nest

Woeismethischristmas · 14/06/2021 14:20

Schools constantly ask for money. COVID has lessened it massively but the requests are starting to creep back in. Now everything has to be paid by PayPal though as the school is cashless. Our PPG used to be pta is awesome though normal year they raise 14k it’s a tiny school less than 200 kids so it really helps fund trips/ the nice to have extras.

LateAtTate · 14/06/2021 14:39

A sad thing is that not all schools have a mix of backgrounds. Because of catchment areas etc the reality is that the school will either be filled with middle class kids where parents can pay or the poor/disadvantages who don’t get anything at all.

Also agree with PP that school should just collect a set amount at start of term. How is one supppse ton budget with things ‘popping up’ by surprise?

newnortherner111 · 14/06/2021 15:20

School should ask in advance. Many are short of money and that won't change under this government led by an old Etonian, so please don't blame them for asking, just the timing.

NoMontaguesOrCapulets · 14/06/2021 15:44

They should have asked in advance, but be prepared to pay for a number of special events, trips etc throughout your child's schooling. Nobody has time to put anything out to tender either, with the possible exception of getting a few quotes when a coach needs booked (coaches are pretty expensive).

Schools have zero money. The only good thing that has happened as a result of covid is that I now don't have to spend my own money on soap for my classroom. In the last week alone I have spend approx £65 on laminating pouches, coloured card, felt tips, maths resources and food/milk for breakfast and snacks for hungry children. So please pay the £3 if you can.