St. Michael's Catholic Grammar Parent's Contribution Scheme

[kiert]

My DD got into St. Michael's and I received an invitation letter to meet the Headmaster along with a standing order form for the Parent's Contribution Scheme.

Given the lack of Government funding for schools we often hear in the news I do not object to school requesting for 'voluntary' contributions. However, the wording/tone of the letter made me feel uncomfortable by asking for a regular monthly donation of £65 per student. No mention of the word 'voluntary' and transparency what the money is used for?

I don't mind contributing on an ad-hoc basis but £65/month is excessive financially.

I would like to hear from parents who's DD has attended St. Michael's. Did you pay the requested amount? Do you know if some parents not opting in? What are your views?

It's sad that under the tories state school funding depends on how well off the parents are

I don’t know that particular school, but it’s quite standard, at least in London. And no, it’s not voluntary.

I’m in London. We were asked for a one -off donation of £50 at the start of the school year. (Sixth form comprehensive). Voluntary.

I went there in the 80s and they were asking for a sizeable annual donation even back then! My parents made a rather smaller contribution than the suggested one, I seem to remember. I also remember that Harrods used to be the stockist of the uniform and my parents spent £300 on that, which was an astronomical amount at the time.

Here's the law on charging by state schools

childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/charging-for-school-activities/

Schools/ Local Authorities can ask for voluntary contributions for the benefit of the school or any school activities. It must be made clear to parents that the contributions are voluntary and parents must not be made to feel pressurised into paying. Schools should, therefore, avoid sending colour-coded reminder letters or standing order / direct debit mandates to parents when asking for contributions.

I know children there.

The school is in a difficult place on 3 fronts:

1. They are expected to get funding from the Catholic Church which can't or doesn't provide. The governing body used to be made up of very elderly nuns of little means. They have now combined with the Loretta foundation which will hopefully improve matters. The government model on this front works for some communities, e.g. Jewish schools which are part funded by the community, but not small Catholic girls schools.
2. The school is small - under a hundred per year - and therefore doesn't have the efficiencies of scale others have. However they've been granted permission to expand to another class which will help. However they have to build to accommodate the extra kids..
3. There are few pupil premium kids so funding is less per child. The new class will be made up of pupil premium children with easier entry requirements. I think this is very forward looking.

Three years ago I would have otherwise but the school is on the up and up with a new headmaster, a building project very much in progress and an extra class who - in line with the founders dream - will come from poorer families.

The donation is exactly that. Just talk to them. I know parents who pay £65/month, some who pay more and some who could never do pay anything.

Btw the nearest similar school is Henrietta Barnett. Over 50% come from prep schools so are used to paying.
St M has a completely different demographic. They are used to parents from many backgrounds and financial means.

My DD went there in the early 2000's. Yes, I remember the letter from the school "requesting" contributions which sounded more like a demand. We agreed an initial contribution (can't remember the amount now) and contributed whatever we felt like thereafter throughout DD's seven years there. I remember the then headmistress, Ms Morrissey used to tell new parents that it's cheaper than private schools which I think is fair enough.

A friend's DD is starting there this September. I'm told the school has an extra 20 places beginning this year which I reckon is an expansion of appx. 20% - it used to be 96 places for years!

My son is at a London grammar. I was asked for a £50pm voluntary contribution. Tbh I was so glad he’d got in I filled the form in in a heartbeat. Apparently about 80% of parents fill in the standing order form. As a PP mentioned above, they don’t get much pupil premium and government is cutting back year on year so personally I don’t mind making this contribution.

Thank you for all your replies.

I don't mind donating but the letter indeed sounded like a demand and pushy especially with a standing order form.

Yes there are extra places this year because of the expansion (building works taking place). 16 grammar schools have agreed to relax admissions criteria and admit more poor children to qualify for part of a new £50 million fund to expand their school. St. Michael's was one of them.

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys (Trafford)
Bournemouth School (Bournemouth)
Bournemouth School for Girls (Bournemouth)
Chelmsford County High School (Essex)
Colchester County High School (Essex)
Colyton Grammar School (Devon)
John Hampden Grammar School (Buckinghamshire)
Kendrick School (Reading)
Lawrence Sheriff School (Warwickshire)
Queen Mary’s Grammar School (Walsall)
Queen Mary’s High School (Walsall)
Sir Thomas Rich’s School (Gloucestershire)
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar school (Buckinghamshire)
St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School (Barnet)
Rochester Grammar School (Medway)
Wolverhampton Girls High School (Wolverhampton)

www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/grammar-schools-england-funding-government-academic-selection-department-for-education-a8664691.html

Anyway I am not keen with setting up a standing order as I want to be in control. I will donate on an ad-hoc basis once my DD starts and I know where the money is spent. £65/month is way too high and yes its cheaper than private school but if I had money I wouldn't have applied to a state school in the first place.

Thanks for the link HeidioftheAlps, it was very helpful and unfortunately St. Michael's did make me feel pressured by sending a standing order mandate.

My dd was at St Michael’s under Miss Morrissey.

It was made clear at a open Evening that the payment was not compulsory, although the letter they sent out with all the other enrolment bumf didn’t have a No option to tick - I remember being annoyed about that.

We didn’t return the direct debit form, and never heard anything back - they don’t chase you for it.

Presumably it's gift-aidable? Can't you set up a gift aid account and then send vouchers for £65 each month? This would cost you about £50, or even less if you're a higher rate taxpayer.

PS - think yourself lucky - my DC's VC's are well over twice that....

Thanks Mutakirorikatum

samG76 - you do not if its a state school then contributions by law are voluntary?

Yes, it is 'cheaper than a private school'. That's because it's a state school and , as such, whatever its funding model, that is all the income it can actually expect to receive and if no parent agreed to make any voluntary contribution, it would just have to put up with it.

And I love the concept of a faith school reminding parents that coughing up a week's food money for their family each month as a handout to the school is cheaper than sending DD to an indie - that and the fact that this particular one currently has few PP students reminds me that one of the major advantages of such schools usually trotted out wben anyone criticises them is that they are so much more inclusive than their secular counterparts...

And I love the concept of a faith school reminding parents that coughing up a week's food money for their family each month as a handout to the school

That's the Catholicism for you. When my parents moved to north London and showed their face at the local Catholic church, they were paid a home visit by the priests to welcome them to the parish. The "welcome" involved making it very clear that it was their duty to donate 10% of their income to the Church.

Yes it's definitely voluntary op.

Quite standard! Even out if london.