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Original poster

Voluntary contribution to school fund?

56 replies

EccentricaGallumbits · 05/09/2010 16:06

used to subsidise trips and transport for trips (although the exorbitant cost of school trips confuses me if they are subsidised) also used for trips people cant afford to pay for.

all 'voluntary' but expected.

So how much per child or family would you pay?

OP posts:
LesbianMummy1 · 05/09/2010 19:29

as a governor at an infant school I can explain this (I hope).

It has to be a voluntary donation but it is hoped as many parents as possible pay towards trips. A basic coach if I recall correctly is £200 per day. Entry to attractions is on top of this.

The school receives little funding towards these trips. Parents often grumble at £2 - £3 per child but the school can only ask for a voluntary contribution per child and can not increase the amount to cover children who can not afford to pay. I asked what percentage of parents often pay and was told approx 30 - 40% which leaves a huge shortfall. The trouble is if less parents contribute there has to be less trips or more local ones.

My dd1 is now at Junior school and I have to find £140 more for her residential trip which I know are not compulsory but she would be upset to miss out on.

Original poster
EccentricaGallumbits · 05/09/2010 19:34

but this is secondary - if you don't pay you don't go. and not subsidised from what i've seen (£38 for a coach for an art trip)

OP posts:
Alouiseg · 05/09/2010 19:38

My ds' are at a fantastic state comprehensive and I would like to make a contribution. Afaik they don't have a voluntary contribution fund, we have never heard of one. We always pay for school trips but I would be happy to pay a bit more to cover a hardship fund.

The ds' used to go to a private school and the educational experience they are receiving really is outstanding.

While contributions should always be voluntary I would really like to be able to make a contribution somewhere without it being a big deal. Any ideas?

LesbianMummy1 · 05/09/2010 19:44

Alouiseq

If you mean a contribution to the school why not ask if they have a pot of money for children in financial hardship to enable them to participate in activities. I am sure either a one off donation or a regular small donation would be most welcome. This could then be used to help children access trips or after school activities which other children take for granted

FessaEst · 05/09/2010 19:48

I am not at this stage yet (DD only 9 months) and have no idea what financial situation I will be in when the time comes. I also have mixed feelings about how right it is for people to have to pay these funds. However, I do remember my parents being asked to contribute when I was at school - think each trip was overpriced for what it was iyswim. The excess paid for those who couldn't afford it. I do remember the excitement of one girl in my class who wouldn't have been able to come but for others' contributions - not that it was put like that, and would hate to think of a child missing out but for those who could afford a few extra pounds giving them. That said - £50-80???!!!

mrz · 05/09/2010 20:04

EccentricaGallumbits the major cost of a school trip is the cost of hiring a bus running into £100s for quite short journeys having said that we don't ask for contributions to the school fund and we certainly don't ask parents to pay for soap and towels.
If a class is having an educational visit we ask parents to make a contribution towards it (normally half the cost)

cleverlyconcealed · 05/09/2010 20:13

I've never had to pay a contribution voluntary or otherwise to any of my three children's schools. We don't ask for such at the school I work in either.

Obviously we pay for school trips - the cost of coaches is exorbitent and without parental contribution school's could't afford it from budget.

Original poster
EccentricaGallumbits · 05/09/2010 20:14

i know - my point was that the last trip a DD went on was not subsidised and yet I am still expected to donate to the school fund and i really can't aford to donate as well as pay for educational trips - it would be one or the other i'm afraid.

OP posts:
readinginsteadnow · 05/09/2010 20:18

The figure I quoted isnt for trips etc, thats a seperate voluntary cost.This figure is for mainteneance fund, eg insuring the school buildings and other such sundries, that arent paid for by the state cos its a church school. Or something like that Blush The £50/80 depending on amount of children is voluntary, but of course if no one pays it, there's no money, and I heard that last yr was the lowest ever in terms of contribution. School is lovely and would never make anyone feel bad who couldnt afford it, but I do have a little morality creature sitting on my shoulder whispering that I should stump up. Which I have. I'd much rather buy the kids a xmas present worth £80 with the money tho.

elmofan · 05/09/2010 20:45

dilemma456 yes thats it exactly , they both have to bring in a bar of soap wrapped up in a small hand towel & take it with them to the bathroom . Considering i pay ?240 per year in total donations i feel the school can afford to supply a clean towel & soap .

QueeferSutherland · 05/09/2010 20:53

Shock at some of these!
Are you talking about secondary schools particularly?
Makes our 230000 raffles and discos seem benign.

I had to pay £40 for the "free" swimming, which shocked me, although it was for transport it tramnspired. (Although a few miles down the road.)

23balloons · 05/09/2010 21:02

I work in a Secondary school finance office and a letter is sent to each new parent suggesting a voluntary monthly contribution of around £35. I advise anyone I know not to pay it as I know where the money goes and it is not towards the childrens' education. It is a faith school though.

Alouiseg · 05/09/2010 21:06

Where does it go then balloons?

Original poster
EccentricaGallumbits · 05/09/2010 21:08

Shock monthly???? £35???? Shock

i don't think i have an issue with things that are needed like insurance or faith stuff that are not provided - if you choose to send your child to a school outside the state system.

OP posts:
23balloons · 05/09/2010 21:13

The majority goes to one particular builder who does a lot of maintenance. The rest to one particular sport the school is obsessed with and some to the Heads particular favourite activity. Definitely ask exactly where the money is going before you pay anything.

Alouiseg · 05/09/2010 21:23

That's a bit shocking! Don't the auditors pick up on these special arrangements Shock

23balloons · 05/09/2010 21:29

We have recently had an audit and I think they were speachless when they discovered the amount the builder had been paid (without a contract). Unfortunately there are a separate set of books for voluntary funds. As they are not provided by the council the school can refuse to show them to the auditors. They are obviously told it is in their interests to show them but they can refuse and just get a negative comment on the audit. Some of the money does come from the council.

In my opinion some of the deputies should be facing prosecution but of course they will probably get away with it and retire with a very large pension (btw one of the deputies is the Head of Finance).

cleverlyconcealed · 05/09/2010 21:35

Our school fund has to be fully audited, the balance sheet approved by the governing body and disclosed to the LA auditor. Refusal could result in disiplinary against the finance officer and probably the head.

23balloons · 05/09/2010 22:03

The audit information did say refusal to show accounts maintained by school staff in school time would be frowned upon and an note on the audit would be made indicating the possibility of fraud. They still refused to show those accounts. The Head of this school is a law unto himself and the governors don't question anything, they believe the information they are given.

VivaLeBeaver · 05/09/2010 22:10

I happily pay the amount asked for school trips and also paid for swimming. I will attend all fund raising events, cake bakes, toy sales, raffles, £1 to not wear your uniform day, etc.

I would not pay anything else.
If the head summonsed me to a meeting to explain why not I can assure you I wouldn't go. Smacks of bullying and coercian to me and I have better things to do with my time.

I'd happily write the head a letter explaining that if the school are that low on funds then the/she isn't doing their job of budget management correctly.

mamatomany · 05/09/2010 22:17

Blimey I have never heard anything like this, is it standard practice in secondary schools ?

SuzieHomemaker · 05/09/2010 22:38

This has been a bugbear of mine for a while.

When we lived in the Netherlands we paid ?60 per year per child which covered everything not covered by Government funding (art materials, school trips, swimming, Sinterklaas and Christmas parties etc). No other money was asked for. We were happy with this approach. The school cut its cloth accordingly with modest trips.

When we moved back to the UK we found a much more ramshackle approach with there being something every week demanding money from us. As a governor I challenged the spending on school trips on the basis of both cost and lack of notice. Initially I was told that they couldnt do anything about it as they didnt know what trips they would want to run. I was unimpressed by this and said so as it implied that staff had no idea what they would be teaching. Since then the school now puts a limit on the cost of trips in the year but it was a fight.

I would much rather have the Dutch system as there were far fewer inefficient fundraising activities.

DinahRod · 05/09/2010 22:56

There is a voluntary fund of £12 at the m/c school I work at and there are complaints from some pupils who have no concept that there might be pupils amongst them who can't afford to go on trips etc.

At primary, again, I have no objection to paying, it goes towards pupil's fruit at break and cooking ingredients etc but some parents refuse to pay on principle (have said we are mugs) but their children still get fruit as you can't have them miss out, so I am paying for them too, which I guess does indeed make me a mug.

DinahRod · 05/09/2010 22:57

apologies for lazy typos

gorionine · 05/09/2010 23:00

There is no fund in our school, we pay for school trip as they happen, in total probably about £30 per child per year.

DinahRod, in our school it is a government scheme that pays for 1 fruit a day (infant, not juniors).

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