Donation to school

[Mumsmet]

Parents are encouraged to give money to school, but how much should one give? I know our taxes are already paying more than what it costs to educate our child and half her class.
Please advise - what would be a sensible annual donation?

Hello- is this a state school?
There should be no obligation to donate anything...

Totally up to you. I haven't donated anything yet. Someone told me the comp round here asks for £150 a year.

I would question why they need a donation also.

Around £100 a year would be reasonable, as a voluntary donation.

I think what you can afford is reasonable.

I would give £15-20 per child if mk ey wasnt tight, as they will ask for money on top of that "donation"
Donation is what you choose not an amount decided by the school,that would be a set amount

If you can afford it, and want to, maybe donate some books for the library/classroom? Or pritt sticks/pencils/sellotape. But you certainly shouldn't feel obliged.

Ours have started asking for a minimum of £20 per month with a direct debit

That's astonishing! We have lost two teachers since DD (Y3) started school and classes are merged, but they've never asked for a penny.

My local school's budget has gone from £7.3mil in 10-11 to £3.9mil in 15-16. They aren't quite at insisting on donations but tbh I'm surprised.

Its definitely become more common for schools to ask for donations here on the Wirral. Ours asks when you start Yr 7, I think I signed up to give £30 per year but I know some schools suggest up to £100 to help them out. Massive budget cuts, and the school wants to try to keep offering what it can/did before so I'm happy to help out. Wish I could afford to give more.

To have dropped that much from £7.3M to £3.9M they must have lost an awful lot of pupils - I would guess approaching 50%. As such it is more a matter of managing a reduction in staffing.
One has to ask the question why have they lost so many pupils?

Don't forget that you can deduct a certain amount from your tax bill when making donations.

DD's school suggest £50 a month but on the direct debit form there are options for larger amounts. I think when they start asking for such vast sums people might stop giving altogether. I give a small amount each month, I give up two Saturday mornings a year to paint classrooms and buy a few books from the school's Amazon wish list - I can afford that but others can't so it is very much what you want or can afford but should never feel obliged.

Gosh, these are a lot. I have only ever been asked for money for school trips or in the form of things like raffles and competitions.

To have dropped that much from £7.3M to £3.9M they must have lost an awful lot of pupils - I would guess approaching 50%. As such it is more a matter of managing a reduction in staffing.
One has to ask the question why have they lost so many pupils?
From what I've heard this is not through dropping pupils but the new funds nog formula that massively hit some schools.
Donations used to fund nice extras, but now fund quite crucial things.

Many thanks for all your replies. I will perhaps ask if they need any books for the library.

@DizzyDandelion Yes, State Secondary

@Ttbb Thanks re the tax tip

I know our taxes are already paying more than what it costs to educate our child and half her class.

This is really not a good way to look at it. In rough number say 15 kids at £5k per year is £75k. If you are paying that or more in taxes that is not money going to the school - it is paying for all public services in line with what society thinks it is fair for you to pay.

Your school is just getting £5-6k per child regardless of your taxes and many are struggling. I would give as much as you can afford and feel comfortable with financially and morally. If that is zero then don't give any. Personally I don't give regularly but try my best to support one off appeals and events as generously as possible. Our school so far is not desperate for money fortunately but I know others who donate say £50 monthly (cost of Sky or a mobile phone or a meal out) especially those who could afford private school but were lucky to have the good state option.

We are asked for a voluntary contribution of £250 per year. Per child.

Some years we give more if we're able to.

It is a state school, but as we're all aware, budgets have been cut.

I'm not privileged to school's finances but I know that they are struggling and the PTA's contributions are greatly needed and the school is hugely grateful for any money they are gifted.

Don't forget to GiftAid your donation if you're a UK tax payer.

Our school has asked us to sign up with easyfundraising. I've donated about £38 since I joined, quite a bit just from my weekly Sainsburys shop as I generally shop online. If every parent in the school did that, they'd raise quite a bit.

But they haven't asked for anything else except a couple of sponsored events where some of the proceeds have gone to charity and some to the school eg to buy sports equipment.

At our school you can donate £7.99 so they will get a book for the library and they put your child's name in it.

Yes Beka - I think this must be it as pupil numbers have grown approx 15% in that period.

The new formula for funding still means that a number of counties are very poorly funded. According to the local paper, verified by Suffolk County Council, showed the county of Suffolk will be ranked 113th of 150 authorities for primary school per-pupil funding for 2018/19 (£3,841). The England average is £4,114. Tower Hamlets, in top spot, would get £5,893. For secondaries, Suffolk is 115th, with £4,928. The England average is £5,343. Hackney would get £7,840.