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Primary education

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Original poster

Primary charging for attending school nativity..

56 replies

user1480061930 · 25/11/2016 08:32

I might be unreasonable, but I'm feeling aggrieved that school are charging for attending the school nativites this year..there are 3 different ones for different year groups. Apparently reception and nursery parents were charged last year.
We also had to take the children back for evening performances last year, were asked if we'd agree, but this year it's automatically assumed we will, and pay too.

So I've had to buy two costumes, will have to pay £4 for two tickets to attend 2 different plays, and take children back so they can perform again for the later show..bearing in mind, we have to drive, 15 mins each journey too..

I'm just annoyed, we give to all sorts at the school, time, money for book fair, cakes, bottles for tombola, PTA time etc etc....and now to pay for tickets to see our own children too...I'm just really annoyed about it..

OP posts:
Original poster
user1480061930 · 25/11/2016 17:14

Had to laugh at the socio economic area comment...and I also forgot to mention that we are having Christmas jumper day too soon, a nursery visit to a farm, Christmas fair, last week we had book fair, and before that Halloween costumes/ at school and disco ) and the children all enjoy these days, so we are all obliged to join in...
My major moan was providing £26 for costumes ( an animal and an angel, average price on Amazon ) then being expected to pay for the privilege of seeing primary children..any fee would have been too much really, it's insulting. ( in terms of all the other things we contribute towards at this time of year ) .... but again, perhaps it is me this year, being over sensitive and taking offence..
We raise lots of money from parents all year round to fund extras for the school through the PTA! As I mentioned previously. Lots of nice extra treats for the year 6 leavers, for example, new books, well equipped library etc etc.

I think I'll just console myself, with the thought that the children will be happy, and will have a great time, and are thoroughly enjoying rehearsing for their respective productions...and I can forget about the nominal (but annoying ) charge by the end of the week...

Thanks very much for everyone's input, it's helped to put it in perspective...

OP posts:
Tomorrowillbeachicken · 25/11/2016 17:38

Our school is charging £1 a ticket and limiting tickets to two. Not really too bad but I've got a bee in my bonnet about other things so just one more expense.

BackforGood · 25/11/2016 17:49

I don't have an issue with being asked to contribute £2 per ticket to go and see something you really want to see. Sounds a very sensible policy to me.

However I would NOT be paying out £26 for costumes. Every school I've either worked at or had dc at has a stock of standard costumes which are used year on year - then you always find some lovely parents (or Grandparent) or sometime family member of one of the staff - who offers to run up the odd costume you've not had from before, or those that need replacing.

catkind · 25/11/2016 18:12

Angel - white adult t-shirt, tinsel halo, tinsel belt, paper plate wings or something gauzy tied between wrists and tacked to the top of the t-shirt if you want to be fancy. Animal - appropriate coloured clothes, tail made out of stuffed old sock or tights or something or even just a roll of paper, ears on a cardboard head band, face paint nose or cardboard mask if you have time.

I'm very much not a crafty type, but these things don't have to be perfect and you can do an awful lot without spending any money.

mamapants · 25/11/2016 18:17

I paid £4 a ticket last year just assumed all schools charged as a fundraiser. We also buy costumes although it is a s b and they don't reuse costumes, I bet a lot of them go to waste. Ours will go to charity and hopefully someone can make use of them.

WiggleYourWoo · 25/11/2016 18:28

I don't see any problem with charging for the tickets. All money will be used to provide the children with much needed resources. School budgets are really tight.

jamdonut · 27/11/2016 13:33

We provide most costumes for ours.... occasionally we ask for white or black leggings or teatowels or a bit of tinsel!
We would never expect parents to spend money buying costumes!!! Quite shocked at that.
We raise funds with a raffle at ours.

I wonder if they have had to pay money for the rights to stage the play and use the music this year, and are recouping the money?

Sixisthemagicnumber · 27/11/2016 13:41

Depending on he performance that they are doing the school
Will have to pay for a licence to put the show on and selling tickets is he best way to recoup the money.

nennyrainbow · 27/11/2016 13:54

We never have to pay for costumes or for entry. School keeps a stock of costumes - well, mostly tea towels, dressing gowns, blankets etc fashioned into costumes. Seems very inefficient of your school to make parents buy costumes every year when a lot of them could be reused.

Original poster
user1480061930 · 27/11/2016 15:47

Have to agree it could be the license issue for the performance...( googled it )
and I also agree, they should create more inexpensive costumes, using leggings, t shirts and perhaps masks or ears..where possible..

OP posts:
HerRoyalNotness · 27/11/2016 15:59

We don't have a nativity, just a grade mystical and the costume was iirc $ for a t-shirt.

I wish they did charge though, it might stop the ignorant parents I was sitting next to from talking through the whole thing. And those who brought siblings and dumped them at tables at the back where they played and chatted throughout. Couldn't hear a thing.

HerRoyalNotness · 27/11/2016 16:00

Haha musical

mrz · 27/11/2016 16:00

My school pays the performance licence fee. We see productions as a gift for parents

BackforGood · 27/11/2016 16:19

Thing is, as Wiggle says, schools have a finite budget. They could not charge you, and end up having to then charge you for something else that you are actually less bothered about.
Depending on school (I realise a lot have constraints of space), so schools are then getting the money from Grandparents etc., rather than just parents each time. For some it means one less fundraiser elsewhere.
It would seem an odd thing to complain about - there will be bigger battles to pick in all the years your dc are at school.

Yoarchie · 27/11/2016 16:24

Schools almost all have ridiculously tight budgets. From the most deprived state school to several private schools. There are a few exceptions, but far fewer than you'd think.

They need to scratch money from anywhere they can and do everything as cheaply as possible. I'd just suck the nativity charge up. Nobody is profiting in any way, this money will go back into the school and benefit the kids.

Yoarchie · 27/11/2016 16:25

The price of leggings and tshirts is not that different to a supermarket costume.

BackforGood · 27/11/2016 16:28

........except that you will already have them, or be able to borrow them from friends / neighbour / cousin / etc., Yoarchie, or even if you do buy them, you (your dc) will be able to wear them again, but there are limited places one normally wears an Angel costume to Grin

mrz · 27/11/2016 17:12

Most performance licences are a few pounds it's not a huge cost

JemimaMuddledUp · 27/11/2016 17:20

We pay £5 per ticket. Limit of 3 tickets per family - have bought 3 for me, DS1 and DS2 (both secondary age) to watch DD, DH is on the wait list to see if he can get a ticket.

On top of £5 per ticket we will be expected to buy raffle tickets and donate prizes for the raffle.

But the school has to raise money somehow!

We also have to provide costumes.

mrz · 27/11/2016 17:27

And no we aren't a wealthy school but the actual cost works out less than 10p per pupil

DandelionAndBedrock · 27/11/2016 17:35

We absorb the cost of the licence as a school - not sure, but I have a feeling the licence cost goes up if you are charging people?

We also provide costumes, and don't ask for ticket money. I wonder how much a collection bucket would make? Free ticket, but a note sent home saying there will be a collection to raise money for X. I imagine most people would put in a pound, and some might do more so it could balance out and just feel more...festive.

QwertyKeyboard · 27/11/2016 17:50

We ace to pay for siblings who attend the school but are in a different key stage! Ks 1 one night and either lay for a ticket or pay a sitter, then ks2another night and same again. Plus matinees. :/ plus costumes. Money goes to school not pta. We are two weeks out and no idea what costumes we have to provide yet as one child doesn't even know their part yet, and other child knows part but costumes haven't been worked out. To say I am annoyed is an understatement.

QwertyKeyboard · 27/11/2016 17:50

And. I license fee as it is just carols or a play written by the students depending on the key stage.

QwertyKeyboard · 27/11/2016 17:51

*no

insan1tyscartching · 27/11/2016 18:09

We used to pay £1 per ticket but would have a free mince pie included in the price (school did a deal with local bakery) Leftover mince pies would be sold off in bags of four for cheaper than if you went to the bakery. Costumes were mostly provided by school but occasionally would be asked to provide leggings, a certain colour t shirt etc. I never minded paying it was a fairer way to get a ticket (two per family) and a seat than it would have been if they were free and unlimited.

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