Year 6 leaving party/prom

[HolyGaucamole]

I all of a sudden feel like one of “those parents” 🙈 a group of mums at dcs school, including myself thought it would be nice to do an end of year disco as the school aren’t doing one for them, we have hired a hall and asked for all parents who want to be involved with the planning to contribute £40 towards a £1500 budget or whatever they can afford.
for context there are 4 year 6 classes so we are at least expecting to have around 60-70 children, but will not exclude any who’s parents cannot afford to pay.
There will be no limos and all that jazz, just a bit of music, food, games goody bag etc.
but do you think that is too much to ask for?
all the of the money will go towards the hall hire, decorations and jumpers which a lot of the dc have requested.

Hall hires here are £60 for 4 hours so I would be wondering where the £2500 has gone?

I absolutely would not pay £40 for a end of primary school dance.

That’s a lot of money for a cheap disco - maybe look at the figures less the hoodie?

not everyone wants a hoodie, mine never worn them more than once - waste of money and eventually landfil.

give people the options at least.

In comparison DD end of year hired a field and bouncy castle, type things, games, music, water fight - much better than a disco. Not all kids enjoy them.

Honestly I'm expecting to pay about a tenner. The theme park trip has already cost £20. And there's the campout on the school field (no residential though)

That seems like a huge amount of money!

The budget isn’t set in stone as yet that was just an example.
I haven’t said that everyone must pay of course we can do it cheaper.

The hall alone has cost £220 a dj would be around the same price maybe a little more, plus food and again hoodies are not set in stone it was a suggestion by most of the dc, not the parents.

Suggest tshirts instead of hoodies. Usually a lot cheaper.

Our school are doing absolutely nothing at all for them, not even an end of year assembly.

I honestly don’t want to fleece people, so will definitely try and revise the budget.

T-shirts are a good idea.

At our primary the y6 parents organise the party, last year it was £10 a head and that covered hall hire, food, drinks, leavers gifts, balloons and photo collages. We had a disco but it was either free or mates rates.

Jumpers were separately arranged by the school.

I think £40 is a bit steep.

I think you need to split the disco from the hoodies as not everyone will want both. But t-shirts would be cheaper too. £40 is far too much and although you say no one will be excluded if they can't afford it, what if you get CFs who can afford but don't pay but then want to turn up?

£220 hall (but why not use the school hall for free via the PTA), same again for DJ (or ask a parent to make a playlist and hire a few disco lights), £100 tops for a pizza delivery…
t shirts or whatever should absolutely be a separate purchase not bundled in with the disco.

£40 is much too much. Don’t bother with hoodies (or even t-shirts to be honest).

The venue sounds expensive, is there not a church hall or similar that would be cheaper? Or ask school if you can use their hall for free?

I’d keep the T-shirts or hoodies separate. Parents can order one if they want.

then get a volunteer with a speaker and a phone playlist as dj, and maybe just pizza delivery and a drink?

could you use the school hall?
I’d think £10 tops.

This makes me feel uncomfortable for parents who can't afford it but might feel awkward not paying and still sending their children. There is the risk of bad feeling/ guilt for parents and unnecessary disappointment for the children. Even if parents can't/ don't contribute to hall hire there are still costs for outfits etc. Sorry to be a killjoy as I know you are probably just trying to do something nice but I think the whole end of primary school prom/disco is OTT.

These t shirts will never be worn once they go to high school…

I think £40 is an awful lot. Have you got a break down of where the £2,400 to £2,800 is going?

I'd do the hoodies separately and I wouldn't hire a DJ, I'm sure there are parents would could do it. Will the PTA donate anything, at GCs school the PTA bought the hoodies but I don't suppose all PTA's will have that sort of money.

So if all the kids (assuming 4 classes of 30) went that would be 4.8k. That is some hall hire.

I can afford that but think it’s ridiculous. Sorry. I know you’re trying to do a good thing but they’re 10-11 year olds, it’s not a university graduation and there is a cost of living crisis. What happens if a lot of people don’t pay, who covers the loss?

£40 is far too much for a primary school disco and a top.

I would do hoodies/t shirts, but keep that completely separate from the disco.

I would use the school hall if possible, and ask a parent to do the djaying for free. There is usually someone happy to oblige!

Too much money OP. You will cut a loss at best and why should you when trying to do a nice thing for kids. The thought is lovely but yes just too much.

We have asked the school and we aren’t allowed to use it, covid and all that 🙄
and the hall we have is a church hall, we’re in central London so hall hire starts at about £30-£40ph plus deposit.

I will definitely take out the hoodies as you’re right some might not want them.
no child will be excluded, we had sent a message to all parents clearly explaining that and if I have to pay for most of the things myself I will do that none of them miss out and no I’m not rich by any means.

You should be charging £5|10 max.
£220 for the hall, order some pizzas, one of the organisers uses their phone or laptop and speakers as he music and makes a playlist, order pizzas and buy bottles of soft drink and paper cups.
They are preteens, £40 for a disco is insane.