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Education

payments enabling outside companies to come in during school day etc.

88 replies

border1 · 14/06/2011 15:14

At least twice a year dc's school have a company coming in to run workshops. We are asked to pay an amount to cover this. Normally £7 - £8. On top of this we obviosly pay for school trips out. I don't mind this. Plus Snack which I understood should be free in KS1. Plus usual sponsor forms etc. I am feeling like a cash machine. How much does it cost you to send your dc to school?

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MmeBlueberry · 19/06/2011 14:00

To be fair, global warning was an obsession with the last government. I personally get bored with it as a teacher of physics and chemistry. But the poor pupils get it in biology and geography as well. I imagine it slips into Maths, English and PSE too.

I get annoyed about Maths. When I was at school, we would do 50 problems in the lesson and another 50 for homework. Now, it seems like they do three and then move on.

It is difficult with English. English is a very evolving language and children of this generation write far more for pleasure than before. I am a pedant though, and try to do my bit to uphold standards (as my students roll their eyes and silently yell me to get a life).

med80 · 19/06/2011 15:12

I can't help that think that maybe we do overstimulate students in the classroom. DD is often saying we did this, this and this today but I didn't have time to finish it. Maybe we are trying to pack in too much with this topic based curriculam that Often seems to like. Maybe more time should be spent at infant level at least getting back to basics.

mrz · 19/06/2011 16:26

Last week we had a theatre group in to perform - now most of our children would never get to see a performance unless the school initiated it. They were absolutely mesmerised, you could hear a pin drop... The next day they retold the story to the head almost word for word, showed him how the actors walked, tone of voice, the dance moves in fact everything about it. It led to drama and to writing their own pieces (high quality work) so I would argue that there is a place to provide these experiences.

gordongrumblebum · 19/06/2011 16:59

This thread just makes me very sad about the end of Creative Partnerships.CP offered a real opportunity for children and teachers to have new experiences working with professionals in a particular field.

We are working with a film maker as part of our last CP year at the moment. That's 7 days @£200 per day (other year groups have had professional chefs, animators, artists, etc). We will never ever be able to afford that again through our school's budget.

What a short-sighted government to stop such a wonderful project.

MmeBlueberry · 19/06/2011 17:10

Interesting point about partnerships.

At our school, we often have teacher's spouses come in to do a workshop or talk to students.

Invariably, they enjoy doing this. I know my hubby loves coming into school to talk about what he does and get the girls to mock up some products. Big business believes it is in their interests to stimulate young people.

MmeBlueberry · 19/06/2011 17:26

Teachers' - blimmin iPad auto 'correct'

IndigoBell · 19/06/2011 17:56

I guess what this thread really shows is there is a problem with communication between schools and parents.

I get a form letter asking for £5 / £10 / £15 and saying what it's for. But never enough info to make me feel glad my kids are getting such a great experience......

Although I would also say that we're in London, and the school does also do day trips totally for free using the tube and the free museums......

fivecandles · 19/06/2011 18:07

What a bunch of old miseries some of you are! What do your kids say about outside speakers and trips? I bet they're not so grumpy and negative as you lot. This is the sort of thing kids remember for their whole lives.

bude1 · 19/06/2011 18:32

Probably not but they aren't the ones having to pay. In one week alone I had to pay £50 for various school things for 3 children. Young children do not understand the concept of money.

TheFeministsWife · 19/06/2011 18:33

I don't understand why they cost so much? I've never paid more than £7 for anything in dd's school. And the one time it was £7 it was a full day out! They often have "visitors" most recent was African drummers and that cost £3.

They quite regularly have clubs for the kids after school. These are run by the teachers and usually cost nothing. They had a cinema club were they would watch a movie after school and they could take in £1 to buy treats. Other clubs include Lego club (dd very excited about this 1) where the kids take in their lego, French club, healthy eating club etc. No extra money. They are currently having a "bring your bike or scooter to school" on a Wednesday and the kids are taught about safety. This doesn't cost any extra either. And it's a state school.

mrz · 19/06/2011 18:35

We usually ask for a contribution of £3 for in school activities and £6 for a full day out of school but the school heavily subsidises visits and visitors.

bude1 · 19/06/2011 18:38

I think the problem we have is that the school is on a private estate so they believe the parents can afford to pay. However, everyone is struggling. All our afterschool clubs are chargeable. Min £2,.50 per hour. Some as much as £4.00 per hour. Like op we get very little for free.

IndigoBell · 19/06/2011 18:40

Honestly 5candles - my kids don't rave about these outside speakers and trips. They don't have a good time.

I was sitting next to the HT and she was saying how great the last thing had been and how all the kids had enjoyed it. I turned to my DS and asked him if he'd enjoyed it - and he said no. (In front of the HT :( )

Last week they went to the art gallery (this was free), and on the tube on the way home he did a poll of the class to ask how many of them enjoyed it or learnt something - and they all said it was more boring than a day at school and they didn't learn anything.....

I have 2 problems with these trips. 1 is the money. Not everyone can afford them. And 2. My kids can't read or write. DS will leave primary school unable to write, and DD will leave primary school unable to read or write - yet school have time to teach them all sorts of other rubbish..... :(

If school actually taught my kids

to read
to write
handwriting
basic maths

I would be far less critical of them :(

bude1 · 19/06/2011 18:51

Can my kids go to yuor school Mrz?

bude1 · 19/06/2011 18:52

your

gordongrumblebum · 19/06/2011 20:23

£10-15 per trip for us. No subsidies available. That's why we've just been told to limit them to one per year.

mrz · 19/06/2011 20:27

With budget cuts we will have to look at things next year.

OddBoots · 19/06/2011 20:29

Sounds like I am in a minority for loving these kinds of things, I can remember theatre groups and the like coming into school when I was a girl and they were some of the best times and brought things alive.

My children seem to really like them too and while it's not cheap it is cheaper than a day trip with the school and lots cheaper than going as a day trip as a family.

YummyHoney · 19/06/2011 20:31

purits I don't object - I'm just ungrateful and I totally agree with your posts.

MoreBeta · 19/06/2011 20:31

IndigoBell - my children say very much the same thing about school trips.

They never rave about them apart from PGL. In my view one really good trip per year is enough.

mrz · 19/06/2011 20:36

See PGL is my idea of an "unnecessary" trip ... fun but not adding to the curriculum

OddBoots · 19/06/2011 20:48

Oh I'm afraid I disagree mrz, those kinds of PGL trips add so much the the roundedness of an education. The teamwork, the freedom, the inspiration all add to self worth and without self worth who is motivated to knuckle down to desk work?

It is all fantastic preparation for life and it's something that puts all the pupils attending on an equal footing, those with idyllic families and homes and those who know what it is to struggle.

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mrz · 19/06/2011 20:53

Trips like PGL enhance a child's life experience and are fantastic but hugely expensive and don't contribute to the school curriculum. Great if you can afford it!

TotalChaos · 19/06/2011 20:57

don't think we'ver ever been asked for money for events in school, looks like school have been v generous. and when they arranged an outside trip last year they probably got a v good group rate as admission was cheaper than taking DS would have been.

MoreBeta · 19/06/2011 20:57

mrz - DS1 did the rock climbing, rope walk, etc.

However, they did a lot of pure educational things too closely connected to the curriculum.

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