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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think school are cheeky fuckers?

264 replies

sandpDy · 03/12/2022 21:07

DS started school in September. Reception.

September - McMillan coffee morning. Donate £2 and wear something green

October - wear blue and donated £1 to sands, a still birth and neonatal death charity Confused Halloween party - bring in cakes, a bottle of soft drink and something else of your choosing. Halloween coming up - £1 and you can wear your costume to school

November - children in need day. Wear something yellow and donated £2. Childrens fun day, bring in £5 to join in activities Shock

December - Non uniform £1 donation. 15th December Christmas jumper day. Bring in £2.

In addition to this, they've asked for donations in his class for jumpers and socks, and spare clothes for spares. Also asking for a 'small contribution'
so they can buy some for the class

AIBU to think this is pretty wild?!

OP posts:
RudsyFarmer · 03/12/2022 21:10

It doesn’t sound that bad until you have to multiply that cost by two or three kids. Then it’s bloody annoying.

MyCatIsAFuckwit · 03/12/2022 21:10

Pretty standard at primary school. Thankfully this doesn't happen at high school 😅

Prinnny · 03/12/2022 21:11

Not really, was the same when I was at primary school 25 years ago.

SpottyStripyDuvet · 03/12/2022 21:11

Absolutely standard for most primaries.

sandpDy · 03/12/2022 21:11

This reply has been deleted

Sorry all, but this is an emotional vampire troll back with more made up nonsense. Apologies to those who have advice in good faith.

PickyEaters · 03/12/2022 21:12

So £12 in total?

tenbob · 03/12/2022 21:12

It’s pretty standard

The majority of those are raising money for external charities, not just money for the school

PuttingDownRoots · 03/12/2022 21:12

Over 5 Primary schools never been asked for more than a £1 on charity days. But they accepted 50p or even 10p if necessary, no child left out for financial reasons.

Managinggenzoclock · 03/12/2022 21:13

I agree but our school has at least twice as many. PTA have very high aspirations! It’s exhausting and we don’t have the money. They also have a school trip at least once a month, which again is lovely for the kids. But with multiple children is expensive and means we can’t then do many fun things as a family.

RavenT · 03/12/2022 21:14

Welcome to Primary School!

We had a wear yellow for mental health day recently.

In the letter from the school it said 'please note there is no charge for your child to wear yellow'.

Wtf.

😁

Theydoyaknow · 03/12/2022 21:15

12 quid is on the lower side actually.

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 03/12/2022 21:15

You should see the logic of my sons school:

Don't send in Christmas cards as cards are expensive and they don't want parents to spend money.
Yet spend £5 on each nativity ticket, £2 for Christmas jumper day, £2.50 Christmas dinner, bring in something to donate to the Xmas fair x2, Xmas fair and then £1 to sing around a Xmas tree in the freezing cold.

Hmm basically it's okay to donate to the school, but not okay for the kids to spend £1 on a pack of Xmas cards and get a bit of happiness getting cards!!

Whee · 03/12/2022 21:16

Yes how unreasonable of a school to ask for spare clothes for children who have accidents or get wet or don't bring the right things, and which are virtually never returned by said children 🙄They just mean hand me downs that you might pass on/recycle otherwise. And no one will even notice if you don't donate on the charity days.

EcoCustard · 03/12/2022 21:17

Sounds similar & standard to DC’s school. Several wear something specific for today and donate a £1, 2 of those in September, 1 in October. Children in need non uniform, £1 plus coins fir Pudsey. School Disco’s (PTA), £4.50 a week per child swimming this term X2. 1x school trip of £20.00 Christingle candle donation tube, Christmas raffle (PTA) & Christmas jumper day £1. I have 3 kids in school, will be 4 next year. The costs mount up. Joy of joy World book day will be upon us soon.

PuttingDownRoots · 03/12/2022 21:17

DD had to wear red for something recently. But... their school uniform is red....

Merlott · 03/12/2022 21:17

YANBU it's ridiculous.

Less so the money since that's totally optional. More the constant barrage of random requests! And worrying about DC being left out or bullied for not having the right colour t shirt or bringing a bloody jam jar to collect mini beasts!

BeanieTeen · 03/12/2022 21:19

YANBU.
Although I suppose at least you are donating to real charities.
We just have a very busybody pushy PTA. Latest wtf contribution was a bottle of wine for mufti day to go towards their ‘water and wine’ stall at the Christmas fair. I’d rather just donate money straight to the school.

MarigoldPetals · 03/12/2022 21:20

It’s not unreasonable. You don’t have to pay (your child can just turn up in the non school uniform or whatever) but it’s always good to give to charity. I am a Christian so I tithe, that way you only give depending on your income. It works well. If your earnings go down, the amount you give also goes down. It’s a good way to give.

Creameggs223 · 03/12/2022 21:20

Only thing our primary has asked for donation for is children in need, certainly not halloween never have either. They have christmas jumper day coming up donation £1 and christmas party we used to be given a piece of paper with something to bring for it crisps/cakes etc but due to so many allgies we don't any more so again £1 donation.

EcoCustard · 03/12/2022 21:21

I will add I am on the PTA and it’s frustrating as by the time Christmas comes around parents are so fed up of coughing up money in the run up for all the external charity days & events they aren’t keen on funding PTA events which goes to the kids.

InTheFutilityRoomEatingBiscuits · 03/12/2022 21:21

Someone needs to tell my DC’s secondary that it doesn’t carry on at high school.

it’s normal OP.
we have had wear red day, comic relief, CIN, dress like a Roman day, Halloween fancy dress this term. Still have Christmas jumper day, school Christmas dinner, the Christmas disco, the Christmas fair, the Christmas play. To pay for.

the secondary has had non uniform donations CIN, comic relief, odd socks day, and will have Christmas jumper day too. They are also putting on a play we need to pay for.

tulippa · 03/12/2022 21:21

Completely normal for primary school. Just wait til World Book Day in March. So glad my DCs are in secondary now.

BeanieTeen · 03/12/2022 21:21

In the letter from the school it said 'please note there is no charge for your child to wear yellow'.

Wtf.

Yes wearing Christmas jumpers for Christmas lunch is ‘free’ at our school this year. How very generous 😂

Ttbhappy · 03/12/2022 21:22

The schools are desperate. Spares are needed as children wet themselves and they need change of clothes, what’s the problem. It all goes to helping the school hence you children.

SausageinaBun · 03/12/2022 21:23

Ours is never more than £1 for a charity day, no more often than once a half term. The teachers collect the money in a vague sort of way on the door, so no one makes a fuss if a child comes without a contribution.

On the other hand, they regularly have "dress like a Victorian" or "dress like an Egyptian" days. They tend to say "no need to buy anything" as if I can just magic an Egyptian costume out of DD's minecraft T shirts and jeans. They also don't do the same themes as children go through the school, so can't hand down costumes within a family.