General Chat

Ails when we moved here 5 years ago there as no PTA and they started it the next year, the last head wouldnt let us do a lot but have a new one now who is letting us do loads new things and even letting us go for charity status. We dont just raise funds though, nursery have a trip that is over two days and ther ewerent enough volunteers so we have provided helpers so we do give back as well as ask for money Pat I know coaches are a lot as we had one a few yesrs ago for one year to the theatre and the coach company had to be changed and the cost went up, the PTA covered the shortfall as thye would have to cancel it otherwise.

Dawn nope not just you am afraid, we're really struggling currently, esp as twins are due to go to high school in Sept. In our experience once at high school it gets worse. We're also struggling with the amount of outings/camps etc the cubs/scouts and rangers are due to complete this yr. Of course this is our choice to send the kids to these, but i feel it's character building, so will find the money from somewhere. Ails In our school only the compulsory trips are voluntary donations, so all trips to educational places like museums are voluntary. But for example when in year six they always go on a holiday for four nights. The cost this yr was £230 per child..... if you don't pay your child doesn't go. The problem is this yr for the first yr ever those who don't go are not doing fun things. In the past those left behind went to Asda and pizza hut etc and saw behind the scenes as well as the local police station. This yr they've got to do lessons as normal. I feel they are losing out twice. I couldn't afford it, but i asked and received a discount because i ahd twins but my M-I-L still helped us out. We was lucky, not everyone has some one who can help them

As far as school trips go, A lot of the contributions are spent on coaches. It's not uncommon at the school i've been in for the coach company to charge £600 for the journey. Pat

A lot of our school trips dont actually say voluntary contributions but the swimming does. I have known them put children who dont pay into another class. I pay for the trips but do only give a contribution towardssome wear what you like days and swimming as i have triplets and a singleton and my triplets have been going swimming every week since last October. They are good though as my triplets are going to PGL in yr 6 in Sept and i have been able to pay a bit every week, with no pressure if i cant pay one week. I certainly dont remember my parents having to pay out so much when i was in primary school Star

Dawn - you're lucky you have a PTA for fundraising!! Our Boss won't have one & we really need the money!!!! I DO totally agree with you, however. Ails x

Ours was like that, too. I remember in the first year (don't know why I remember this) that we went on three trips, costing a total of £30. And the next year, when my sister was at the same school, of course the prices went up. We had a whole school trip to Lightwater Valley near Ripon for one day right at the end of summer term. Everyone could go except those who had had more than five lunchtime detentions or one after school detention. And that was £14 per head. I had a friend who was one of ten children - there were never more than three siblings at the school at once - but unsurprisingly she never went. It would have cost her parents about £50, I reckon, including making them lunch etc. I often wondered exactly how much was in the school fund account. Plus, each September, we did a sponsored walk and those who collected the most money were praised (not fair on the kids whose parents/relatives/neighbours couldn't afford it) and each Christmas, every pupil (there were about 1000 of is - the school was bursting at the seams) was issued with two books of ten raffle tickets (total value - £10) and we were expected to sell them all. I didn't, with the raffle tickets. My parents bought one book each from my sister and I, and sent the other two back.

Ails yes I agree if you are able to pay towards it and I have only once told them I cant pay , and I know as am on the pTA we ask for things for events but we make sure its not at a time when they are asked for other school events as well. Just seems more of it now

All donations are voluntary - you cannot be made to pay anything - although schools are run on a very tight budget & I think that everyone should do their part by contributing something to help their kids. In our school we sometimes have theatre visits as special treats & it helps if a small donation is made to cover costs. We had a parent whose last child left primary school last year who deliberately didn't pay the required amount for the school trip to Europe - she stood at the school gates BOASTING that she thought that the school should pay for her child to go as she was on benefits!! She could've given up smoking & used that money to fund her child's trip!! Ails x

My son's school is just as bad It seems like every week they want money for something

yes they do its always fruit money sponsor money m,oney for trips money for people visiting the school money for charitys lol i dont mind tho because if we didnt pay the children wouldnt get the experiences ours school does a lot more with the kids than when i was there and they enjoy it so i supose its worth it stray xxx

We always seem to get letters for trips, events etc asking for money. Have just paid for a big trip for laddo, tiddler just had to pay for trip, Now they have installed bike sheds and if laddo wants to ride his bike to school has to do a course that will cost £15, course runs May and June, he leaves in July. School is on a main road so wouldnt be happpy him riding to school anyway. Just seems they are asking for money the whole time now