What are the hidden costs of a state education?

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

Ds's first school:
Trips times 2
chairs
fundraising-plants, books, charity (red nose/book day/children in need)
school uniform
lunch
reading books for ds as the school did not have any that were appropriate for him.

I don't believe any school would regularly rub out childrens answers and reuse worksheets! Maybe it happened once because they ran out or someone did the wrong one but do you honestly think teachers and TAs would have the time?

All schools use photocopied worksheets-they buy the book and photocopy as required in line with the copyright agreement

I wouldn't know. When he left he came home with all of his work except for the maths and english that he had done. In a term and a half he had produced the grand total of 4 sheets of writing and a picture.

unfortunately I can't read the whole thread because I'm still crying with laughter at "after school care" being a hidden cost.

Yeah well

Our PTA regularly buys books for the school. A PTA member buys them from car boot sales out of PTA funds.

That's a good idea

I know - it's such an obvious good idea that we couldn't believe no one had thought of it before. They are all cheap and, obviously, only good condition ones are bought. I think she sometimes finds appropriate resources too, mainly for the nursery.

I used to get alot of loved books from the library, they sell off old stock at 10p a book. Bargain!

I'll admit to be surprised by the level of 'hidden' costs at primary compared with secondary or rather the constant drip drip - but then secondaries are often better funded and can absorb costs better. Plus when secondary asks you to pay it's actually a lot more just less often. I am glad that ds' primary offer these extra things, it makes for a richer curriculum, it was just as a first time parent through primary I was surprised at the persistent level of it.

Re the school "asks for a voluntary contribution but the school reserves the right to cancel if there are not enough contributions received...." etc there is some legality involved here where it has to be phrased like that.. but basically it means you're all paying, cough up.

They aren't going to be blanket cuts though- certain programmes, and LEA funding is what is being cut.
Schools' budget isn't being touched at the moment.

should the op read ' of raising a child' rather than state education

My kids don't have school lunch
ditto after school care
we can opt out of school trips -or funded for those on low income
ditto school uniform
state education is free

Quite right, I should have done.

not cheap is it

studies say boys are more expensive than girls but not so in my house!

No, not cheap. I'm really pleased I only have 1 child

fantastic!!

sadly I have 6

He's a lovely child, he needs someone to play with though.

6 is cool, there was 5 of us.

LEA funding is being cut, yes. As a result of a 25% reduction in education spend decided by central govt, LEA funding will be cut hugely and for many LEAs this will obviously mean a reduction in teachers and specialist instruction and TAs.

what is your job then - sounds intriguing?

Radiography, it's cool!

We pay for meals, milk and snacks. School trips are generally free, after school clubs are also free. But there are a lot of fund-raising events, non-uniform, PTA cakes/ice creams after school etc. OK these are optional, but I wouldn't want to DD to be the only one who misses out.

I hate the bloody Scolastic book fairs, as DD is always v. hyped up about them, I feel obliged to buy and it's crap stuff that we don't need.

Cost of uniform.

But all said and done, it's a damn site cheaper than private. There's only one private school on the island and the fees are eye watering. Also private schools are buggers for charging extra for things and the price of their uniforms are far more than state schools (generally).

did i sound dim ?

No of course not Posy

I'm still at paying £20 for 2 tickets to see my child in a school play! (private)

So, it's an obligation to pay for trips/ice creams/chairs etc.

Pointy- IME, a cut in LEA funding does not equate to a cut in schools' funding- I cannot remember a time when schools' budget has been cut (I mean in my working life, I am 36).

We have 10% cuts across all our subject areas. I am sure there are other cuts being made.

TheFallenMadonna "Talk to your PTA about paying for transport for school trips. I know it's still parents paying, but it brings down the cost considerably when you only have to pay entrance fees/insurance rather than astronomical coach fees as well. I think of it as paying in installments I suppose. I support PTA events throughout the year, and don;t get a whopping bill for trips in the summer. Best thing our PTA does I think."

I do agreee with you on tht one but as PTA are usually the ones asking for the parents to do he funraising they are not always popular. IMHO you cannot have it both ways, want the PTA to help finance things while complaining that the PTA asks parents for money at school events.