General Chat

In all the schools my kids have attended, none have had mention of non payment expected for individual groups of people on any letters sent home regarding trips.

For one it would be embaressing to feel one needs to accept freebies, and for another it would cause a riot amongst those who can pay.

I REMEMBER A SCHOOL TRIP TO LONDON ZOO I WAS 7
THAT WAS IN 1957.I BOUGHT MY MUM A TINY CHINA RABBIT,SHE DROPPED IT A FEW YEARS LATER AND IT BROKE

I STILL REMEMBER HER CRYING SO DAD STUCK IT,SHE THEN CRYED BECAUSE HE MENDED IT

I STILL HAVE IT

Mildred at ours you get a letter about trip stapled up and asking not to tell other parents as some of them dont like it and cause trouble but tells you about trip and that you get it free and with the tear off slip on.

Yes mine gets them free but way I look at it is I claim free school dinners but she wont eat them so takes sandwiches so school get that extra money each week anyway.

Laddo has never bought letters home about trips as he knows that we cant afford them now, he did go to France at primary but we were allowed to pay in instalments and even got money back at end when they did all costings and hadnt come to amount we paid.

We're a dual parent family and we struggled bleedy hard to find £70 for youngest to go on an over night residential in November....We were given a deadline to secure the deposit and were allowed to pay the rest in installments ...on the understanding that if the full balance wasn't paid in full by the time allotted then she'd lose her place and someone else who didn't get the deposit in on time would be able to take her place...and I'd lose the deposit I paid.

Fair enough. No probs with that at all.

Not giving time to pay the balance after a deposit has secured the place sounds wrong to me. I'd write to the governors about it.x

Just read the rest of the thread.......


Dawnieher3headaches Report 16 Oct 2011 17:41
Mildred at ours you get a letter about trip stapled up and asking not to tell other parents as some of them dont like it and cause trouble but tells you about trip and that you get it free and with the tear off slip on.


...tbh I am totally shocked about this. Seems very underhand and dishonest to me...if that is their policy they should be honest and upfront about it !! Not pull the wool over other parents eyes like that !!! I'm sorry to say that makes my blood boil !!!

Do they give provision to everyone who is struggling to afford the trip or do certain rules apply?

When did schools become dictators re school trips?

Our end of year academic report on how the school had performed also informed parents of suggested trips relating to various subjects during the next academic year.

Parents could then weigh up the advantages of particular trips and decide whether their child/ren would benefit (each child is different of course, some would loathe being abroad for a week).

Plenty of notice given and alternative activities would be offered to those children not going on a trip.

The cost was broken down into accommodation, food, entry fees and insurance, the school would give a contribution from their funds. Parents could then work out if it would be cheaper to arrange something privately.

Seems nowadays that parental choice has gone!

Sue

Muffy

Some parents dont like it broadcast that they are having to claim benefits and entitled to help and I have been in reception when someone went off because they didnt get what others did wasnt pleasant and that was over the government giving school money to pay for out of school activities which is why I suspect they do it , when we paid for trips it never occurred to me that some might not have to just paid what was asked for

School is really fair and will do whatever they can to help parents pay for any trips or equipment used in school.
We as a PTA were asked to help with costs of a whole school trip last christmas to keep costs right down as Head knew parents would find it difficult with the climate and being at that time of year. That is at priary school not sur e what would happen at secondary as Laddo dont give me letters about trips.

d x

Rugby kit being what? Rugger top, shorts socks & boots, for a middle school child cost £130.......How?

SENIOR SCHOOL AND LAD IS 5FT 8IN AND 12YRS OLD

ONLY AVALIBLE FROM ONE SHOP
SCHOOL LOGO SHIRT WAS £46
SHORTS
SOCKS
TRACK SIUT
BOOTS

OH GUMSHIELD

If they're charging £46 for a logo shirt then they need to be reported to Trading Standards. That's obscene. I pay £7 for the logo shirt my daughter needs for high school..there's something seriously amiss there !

Dawn. I understand what you're saying...but I don't think a public body should behave in such an underhand manner. They don't need to say WHO is getting the funding..just that they are !...and parents can then give their own points of view on the situation.

Government money still comes from somewhere and it's only right that how it's spent should be accountable and up for debate x

£46 - That is outragious- well beyond the reach of many.

Presumaby a council run middle school , not a fee paying private one?

They are only £25 for blinkin Eton! Lol!

http://www.billingsandedmonds.co.uk/products/eton-rugger-vest/233/

BY THE WAY GRANDSON WHO IS ONLY 12 IS A TALL STRAPPING LAD HE DONT FIT KIDS CLOTHES HES A ADULT LARGE SIZE T SHIRT ,THATS WHERE THE COST IS AND A SIZE 11 SHOE.HECK IF HIS FEET KEEP GROWING WHAT SIZE WILL HE BE BAD ENOUGH NOW FOR PRICES,
I REMEMBER WHEN MINE WERE LITTLE ALLWAYS TWO PAIR OF SHOES AT A TIME THEY ALLWAYS NEEDED THEM AT THE SAME TIME ,COULDNT GIVE ME A COUPLE OF MONTHS BETWEEN THEM TO SAVE UP,

Regardless of his size...there will be year 11s as tall as him so they are being equally exploited.

If it's a council run school then you should be asking the reasons why their uniform costs are so extortionate...as Penny has shown...Eton charge less so there can be no justification for anyone paying that in a publically run school!!!

MY DAUGHTERS WORKING TAX BENFIT HAS JUST DROPPED TO £17 A MONTH FOR 2 CHILDREN ONE AT SECONDARY SCHOOL,SHE WORKS PART TIME AND GRANDSON BOUGHT A LETTER HOME SAYI NG HE NEEDED A FULL RUGBY KIT ONLY AVALI BLE IN ONE SHOP COST £130 AND IT WAS NEEDED THE NEXT WEEK

Dizzi they are NOT allowed to do that.

Have a read of this site. They're breaking many of the guidelines set out and need the book thrown at them.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/SchoolLife/DG_4016078

True Muffy .

Laddo just had to have new rugby shirt only available from one shop (have lodged my complaints about that) and he is a 34/36 inch chest adult medium and his was £25 even the adult large was same . wouldnt mind but hes in last year and only going to use it for a few weeks, he said the teacher would have them at end of year for spares oh no he wont I will sell it for a lot less to help some other family who cant afford the £25. £45 pound for a top is bad.

MUFFY THANKS FOR THAT
LOOKED UP OUR AREA GRANTS FOR UNIFORMS
AND THIS IS IT
Grants
There are no school uniform grants. You could contact the school to find out whether they can assist with any secondhand uniforms, or whether they have uniform sales.

for our school boys rugby & PE kit 11 years +

from school shop

rugby top - house colours 40 in chest £18.50
Football/Hockey Socks From £2.50 a pair (also can be bought in high st stores)
logo shorts from £8
logo sports top (fred perry type) from £8

.................
from high st shops (If you go to sports direct)

shin guard £4 upwards
Gum shield - £3-4
football / hockey boots from £20 upwards & a pair of trainers £10 upwards for ordinary PE.
swim trunks can be bought in cheaper shops as also the socks
.........................
.
no more PE for my son 16 anymore :-D but for my daughter 12, its just the logo shorts/ FP type t shirt, trainers, white sports sock & long footie ones.
oh and a swimsuit :-)

MENT TO ADD WILL PASS SITE ON TO DAUGHTER
THANKS

ps

we had a list of uniform / PE items to buy around 3 months before both of mine started the school that September.

Thats normally adequate time to find the money

ONLY AVALIBLE FROM SPECILIST SHOP SHCOOL DONT HAVE ONE.
THE RUGBY KIT LETTER SENT 3 WEEKS AGO
ALL UNIFORM MUST BE WITH SCHOOL LOGO

SIZE 11 SHOES AND WIDE FEET CLARKS TYPE SUITABLE FOR SCHOOL OVER £40

OH FORGOT THERE NOT CALLED SCHOOLS ANYMORE ITS AN ACADAMY