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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

school is taking advantage of it's position

123 replies

ClaudiaApfelstrudel · 03/12/2016 10:24

AIBU to think that my daughters primary school is taking advantage of it's position.

They are constantly asking for money, for example 'wear what you like day' they have to bring in £1 each (I have two daughters) just so they can wear non-uniform. I once forgot to pay and the teacher wrote the names of children who hadn't paid names on the board!

Other things too, when they go on school trips the costs for the transportation are always far higher than one would expect and I know they are extracting profits from them.

Now they have a trip to see the concert which is another £15 each so £30 which I feel is not educational at all and again, you can actually buy cheaper tickets direct from the playhouse itself.

Everytime I feel under obligation to pay or my children will be singled out whereas the school has no authority to do this at all and I feel it's abusing it's position.

OP posts:

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dodobookends · 05/12/2016 18:20

I used to audit school funds. They don't make money out of trips - they are lucky if they can cover their costs; and coach hire and school trip insurance is far higher now than it used to be.

Astro55 · 05/12/2016 18:25

A lot of work goes into organizing these trips - it's hard work -

Then deal with all the parents complaining !! I'm surprised teachers bother any more!

There's always one parent having a moan - DS had a trip to the beach - total cost £4 parents complained -

There is no way I could take DS in the car to the beach with a packed lunch for less than £4 - he had a great day

mrz · 05/12/2016 18:26

We have a termly "non uniform day" organised by friends of the school it usually raises less than £10 across the school despite almost every child taking part. I really wish they would scrap it.

Sirzy · 05/12/2016 18:38

If you had "forgot" to pay for non uniform day why did your children dress down? Amazing you remembered the need for own clothes but not the payment.

To be fair I have done that. Been halfway to school and realised I had forgotten to send the money with ds - nothing was said though and I gave it to the teacher at hometime

Haskell · 05/12/2016 18:40

You're completely wrong about PP money. Only LAC PP is tied directly to the child. PP for disadvantaged and service children goes into the school's pot to be spent as school deem fit. They do have to say how they've spent it, but it's not up for discussion with parents.

spanieleyes · 05/12/2016 18:42

I've managed 5 pages but I can't refrain any longer.

its, not it's.

Sorry!

thatdearoctopus · 05/12/2016 18:54

Spaniel. You and me both!

spanieleyes · 05/12/2016 18:55

I tried REALLY hard, honest I did.

But it just became too much for me

Feenie · 05/12/2016 18:56

Omg, I was sat on my hands so I couldn't post convinced it was just me!

thatdearoctopus · 05/12/2016 18:58

Hi Feenie! (name-changed here - clam)

Haskell · 05/12/2016 19:00

You know, there have been so many threads recently on similar subjects, I'm sure it's just the government politrolling and softening us up, and judging how much parents are willing to cough-up for 'free' education.

Feenie · 05/12/2016 19:00

Hiya, clam Hope you are surviving the rehearsal/data/glitter season ok!

Piglet208 · 05/12/2016 19:02

I've got a valid point that schools that use their perceived moral authority to make moral demands on parents to pay for things they never asked for or had a say in.

Moral authority? I am trying to picture a group of teachers organising a trip to a museum, for example, which they hope will enrich the children's learning. They will consider the benefits versus the cost. They might consider how big the risk assessment will be. They might consider how much extra work it will cause them. I very much doubt they are exerting any kind of moral demands. Many trips do not go ahead because of the extreme cost of coaches and insurance. Schools ask for voluntary contributions and try to help those who cannot afford to pay if they are informed. Try talking to your children's school if you are finding it hard to pay. Schools do not wish to exclude children but on the other hand if they offer no enrichment activities there would be another load of threads on MN complaining that teachers don't care and can't be bothered to organise anything. Schools really can't win.

thatdearoctopus · 05/12/2016 19:26

(@ Feenie In denial about data, OK on rehearsals and office forgot to put in the order for glitter, so that's going well!)

MiaowTheCat · 05/12/2016 20:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

user789653241 · 05/12/2016 20:36

Parents always have say/choice. Contributions are always voluntary and you can always wear uniform if you don't want to participate in non uniform day at my ds' school.
If you been to one of those trips, you know how hard work it is.

Bertieboo1 · 05/12/2016 21:39

I'm a teacher and I don't know why we bloody bother arranging trips sometimes

Moral authority? I just arranged to take a big group of our kids to the theatre. Hopefully this will help with their exam text. Some have parents who, for whatever reason, will never take them. Luckily my school is supportive and staff are giving up their free time to do this.

MyWineTime · 05/12/2016 22:33

Non-uniform days happen maybe once per term? £1 per time x 2 children - that's a massive £6 per year!
What else do they ask you for over the year where your child misses out if you don't contribute?

You are completely wrong when you accuse them of profiteering and misusing PP funds.

DullUserName · 05/12/2016 23:50

I'm a former teacher. I dread to think how much I spent of my own money on resources.
Run out of coloured pencils? Stock up in Tesco.
Science practical? Just bring the stuff from home.
Need more laminating pouches? Easier to buy from Amazon than to attempt negotiation with the financial manager.

Make a profit from the trip? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ...

MiaowTheCat · 06/12/2016 08:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ICantFindAFreeNickName2 · 07/12/2016 14:55

We really are not allowed to make a profit from school trips, the most our bursar will let us do is round a £4.87 trip up to £5, that's mainly because we ask for the correct money to be paid rather than giving change out.

One parent with 3 children at our school kept a record of the money she was asked for over an Autumn term and presented it to the head. The little amounts here and there do begin to add up, especially when you add in class photo's, Christmas cards, panto visit etc. I do think the head was surprised at how much it actually came to. As the Mum concerned was also one of our 'better off' parents, it highlighted how much some of the less well off (but not pupil premium) families must be struggling. Now we do restrict trips to one per term and try and ensure the Autumn one is a cheaper trip (where possible). We also get the PTA to fund an in school panto.

mrz · 14/12/2016 06:45

http://schoolsweek.co.uk/nao-school-finances-report-headteachers-face-3-billion-in-cuts-and-10-other-key-findings/?utmcontent=buffer72d6a

Ditsy4 · 14/12/2016 09:17

Bertieboo and dull
Agree.

I work in a school OP.
We only go on school trips once a term although we would like to go on more. They are always topic related.We sometimes go to the local museum as we can walk. Buses cost a fortune and we ring around every company for a quote each time. We do appreciate that it is costly for some parents but what you have failed to realise is that staff give extra time to organise and go on these trips. Risk assessments need to be done so that means a trip to the venue in your own car and in your own time. First Aid boxes and spare clothes need to be taken and this is organised in either my lunch break or after school. We have to arrive earlier and leave after the last child has gone and there is always somebody late.HLTA & TAs don't get paid for lunchtime so that is another hour. Trips are hard work. Very few children or parents thank you at the end of the day. Some parents moan at you. The kids get to go places there parents can't or won't take them. The work completed from these trips is invaluable.

Pupil Premium as others has said has to be accounted for and I found your sentence confusing. I work with these children. By extra lessons do you mean they should be after school? What generally happens is that I am appointed to work in class instead of a TA and I take these children out to work in a small group in a small room. They are getting more attention and I can work on any misconceptions. In the summer term I run Booster Classes. Some children come to Nurture Group too. In there we overcome barriers to learning.

If you are struggling to pay because you are unemployed or on the breadline please go and see the Headteacher or teacher. Perhaps the teacher put the names on the board to remind parents at the end of the day I doubt s/he did it to embarrass your child. If you think there are too many 'mufty' days then complain or join the PTA and fundraise another way. Our last one helped provide new reading books for the school. So many books don't come back to school so with some clever planning and shopping by staff we now have 300 lovely new shiny books.
As DullUserName says we buy lots of things. Out of our pocket too. So far this term I have bought gift shop items for the two kids that had no money on the trip, a drink for a child, snack for Nurture every week, made a large cake and 48 buns for fair, art materials for classes because there wasn't any in the cupboard and we have to fill in a request card and see if it is granted and I needed it the next day. I provided costumes for five children but luckily had those but I do often buy them and re-jig them.I'm not alone. Staff often pay for things. So just be aware you are not the only one out of pocket and let's face it you had the children and kids are expensive. I know I had four!
Do go and speak to the school without moaning and say you are struggling they will understand. We have lots of families who are struggling and we try and help them.

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