what does voluntary contribution mean

[miller599]

My son is in year 7 and was going on a 1 night school trip costing £65. The letter said voluntary controversial £65. I sent the letter back with no money. A few days later, the teacher told my son to tell me I have to pay the money. On other trip letters he had bought back and it also says voluntary contribution. This was also the same in primary school. I may have got this wrong but I thought voluntary contribution meant you can make a contribution of what ever amount you want up to the balance, or none all. It does not seem the case and am wandering that is this a new polite way if saying you have to pay the designated amount stated.

For overnight stays they can charge bed and board. For anything that takes place in school hours they can only ask for a voluntary contribution.

In reality, if no one volunteered the money, the trips wouldn't take place.

It is a provision for those who cannot otherwise afford the fee for the trip.

A school should be far more sympathetic than what you report from yours towards those in straitened circumstances. Though of course if you do not have an obvious 'marker' like FSM, it might get overlooked.

Perhaps you need to go in and explain, in confidence, that you are unable to ay and that no amount of comments to your DS will change your family finances.

Schools sometimes have a hardship fund, or PTA step in to support, those who cannot afford it.

Ds's school state in every newsletter that free trips are available only to those on FSM. Subsidies are given to those earning under, I think £16K.

There is a problem though if substantial numbers of parents refuse to pay when they reasonably can because the trips get cancelled for all. In many cases if parents knew what trips were planned, and how much they were likely to cost well in advance, there might be more opportunity for parents to save up and pay. It is also another aspect which separates good schools from average ones as learning outside the classroom is desirable from time to time. OP.... I think anyone with a child in year 7 really would have grasped the concept of contributions before now or have you never paid? If large numbers don't pay then those that do may have to pay more unless the school has a wide ranging policy for fees and remissions. This is the policy you need to see to find out where you stand.