To think £4 each for school nativity is too much

[cheekynicolle]

So state Infant school have finally after covid deigned to do a Christmas performance - and for some reason (not disclosed) are charging parents £4 per ticket to watch!

I wouldn't mind £1-2 per person but really should they be charging parents so much to attend a school performance? And are all schools doing this or just this one school who have a history of bizarre decisions.

Well said @FallingsHowIFeel . The heartlessness of some people chills me. No empathy, zero grasp of how it feels to be poor, or the knock-on effect of being the child in class whose parents can't let them be the same as everyone else because they just can't afford to, day in day out, year in, year out. I really despise that Thatcherite shrugging off of the poor as though they are not worth caring for. That is not what state education should be about.

I agree, they're obviously trying to raise funds, my daughters Christmas carol concert is free, but we have had a brown envelope home asking for a donation if possible. Sad state of affairs that schools have to do this just to be able to function.

£4 is way too low. They'd have to pay me a lot more than that to go.

There certainly are bigger problems if you don't have 8 pounds to see your child at a play, but how depressing to be facing period and food poverty as ND also not be able to see your child?

That is quite a high charge, but you’re only obliged to buy one and the school will be struggling for money right now. I realise that families are struggling too, but the school is trying to do its best for the children from those families, and it’s not too much to expect parents to support with small payments like this. They get something in return and the money will ultimately benefit their children, so I don’t think there’s much to complain about.

There was no charge at the school where I worked. It's OK to ask for donations or hold a raffle but the performance should be free. As pp have said £4 is a lot for some people.

Dds primary, they did a voluntary collection for the local food bank, which seems more in keeping with the Christmas spirit.

Just got a ticket to my dd’s and it’s £3 pp, first year so don’t know if this is normal or an increase

My DC’s were £3 but the school reduced them to £1.50 (we’re in a very deprived area) they’ve been great, covered the cost of the year 6 trip and leavers hoodie last year, and covered the cost of a school jumper this year.

Whilst we don't charge for our productions, I can absolutely see why some schools do. If they've bought a show officially (as they should), they'll have had to pay a fee to use it and a cost to get the materials. If they are also providing the costumes, the cost to school can quickly mount up.

It may be that it's not viable to do without charging for tickets so the school is stuck between either charging or just not doing one. After all, it's not something that they have to do

It’s only £4. Schools aren’t made of money. If you want them to put on these types of things you’re going to have to pay for them.

I’m surprised they are charging. Ours is always free but there is a collection tray in the corner by the door so if parents want to pop a pound or two in they can

Most good parents will still go, £4 is genuinely nothing

It's got nothing to do with being a 'good' parent.

If someone is seriously struggling to feed their family or heat their home £4 most certainly is not 'nothing'.

I think a ticket price is a bit off, but holding a raffle, overpriced tea and coffee, maybe flogging some christmas cards made by children is all fine in my book as they're not compulsory,

It is a lot of money - but you need to address your complaint at the Tories who have underfunded schools so that now they are at breaking point.

You speak with disdain about the school in your post,
“So state Infant school have finally after covid deigned to do a Christmas performance,”
which is quite telling.

It should not be obligatory, a 'suggested donation' is reasonable I think.

Apart from any parent who has spent the time being noisy or looking at their phone the whole time, where the charge should be a lot more. I'm sure many parents could identify who those one or two are.

Schools have zero money. Its likely they can't afford the costs of putting on the play without charging you to go watch it.

Would you prefer it was cancelled?

I think a ticket price is a bit off, but holding a raffle, overpriced tea and coffee, maybe flogging some christmas cards made by children is all fine in my book as they're not compulsory

From the experience of a pta member desperately trying to fundraise, all that happens if you do this, is you go to the effort of doing drinks, mince pies etc and no one fucking buys anything. Or you watch as the worst off do and the richer parents don't.

If its not mandatory no one gives.

Sounds like they are trying to put off the families who bring mum dad and grandma and auntie val and Edna from number 3. 😂

My primary let families have two tickets each. I often gave my second one away as always went alone but I don't think it's fair that sone families wanna bring loads of people.

£1 a ticket I’d say is reasonable. £4 each is a lot for some families close to Christmas. I hope that some families will speak to the school instead of going without something

I like the idea of two free tickets.

2 kids through primary and never been charged for any performance.

Charged to buy a fancy programme or a brew, yes. Tickets are free - 2 per child and that's that!

We provided our own costumes. I don't know what resources school used other than time. And some donated cardboard boxes for sets.

Of course it is not okay. £4 is a huge amount for families that are struggling and always has been. I am a CP social worker and schools in the area I work in would never pull this stunt. It a very mixed, and schools come quite low in the city's league table in terms of Ofsted. However all children make considerable progress from wherever they start, all children will be kitted out with uniform, have access to breakfast club, after school clubs- lots of parents cannot pay. There is a massive amount of pastoral support, including non-judemental for parents around parenting, food parcels and general cost of living.

Our school changed us the same amount this year as well, all the previous years it's been free.
This year, there's limited amount of tickets, some classes not even performing.
I'm really gutted, as we already missed two years due to Covid.

Lots of people will be able to more than afford £4 per ticket.

Some will have to budget hard for the extra.

Some won't be able to afford it at all.

Coming to watch your child in their play isn't optional.

It also comes at a time when there is a lot of other additional cost.

Donations seem much fairer.