Charging for Educational Activities

Charging for Educational Activities

At Brookmead we recognise the valuable contribution that the wide range of additional activities, including clubs and visits, can make towards our children's education: it is part of the Brookmead Experience. The Governing Body aims to promote and provide such activities as part of a broad and balanced curriculum for the pupils of the school and as additional optional activities. The relevant statutory provisions are contained in Chapter III of Pt VI of the Education Act 1996. This requires the Governing Body to determine and keep under review a Charging and Remissions Policy. Parents have a right to ask for this information and a summary must be included in the school prospectus. The school must also comply with the Buckinghamshire County Council Scheme for Financing Schools, Finance Section F7 Charges for Educational Activities.

There are two types of financial contributions for which parents can be asked in relation to educational activities:

• Voluntary contributions

• Permitted charges

They have different limitations as set out below.

Voluntary Contributions:

There is no limit to the level of voluntary contribution that may be asked for or any restriction on the way in which it is used. Voluntary contributions are not used to subsidise parents of pupils who are unwilling or unable to pay the charges made and to pay the travel and accommodation costs of accompanying teachers or adults.

Letters requesting a voluntary contribution for an activity must indicate that there is no obligation to contribute and that pupils will not be treated differently according to whether or not their parents have made any contribution in response to the request or invitation.

Permitted Charges:

Permitted charges are a direct request to cover certain costs involved with a school activity or visit.

Materials & Textbooks

Where a pupil or parent wishes to retain items produced as a result of art, craft and design, or design and technology, a charge may be levied for the cost of the materials used. In the case of Food Technology, pupils usually provide their own ingredients, but if the pupil forgets, the school provides the ingredients and levies a charge. Textbooks are provided free of charge, but in some subjects, additional revision guides are available, for which a charge is made.

Music Tuition

The school levies charges in respect of individual music tuition, and group music tuition up to and including 4-6 persons, if the teaching is not an essential part of either the National Curriculum or a public examination syllabus being followed by the pupil.

Residential Activities/Activities Outside School Hours/Lunch Clubs

If the activity is held outside school hours and is education other than non-chargeable education, then it is regarded as an “optional extra”. A charge may be made for the full cost of the activity but must not exceed the actual cost of providing the activity. The charge may include the costs of travel, board and lodgings, additional staff costs, entrance fees, insurance, materials and equipment. However, the charge made to individual parents cannot include any cost added to subsidise parents of children who are unwilling or unable to pay the charge.

Damage/Loss to Property

A charge will be levied in respect of wilful damage, neglect or loss of school property (including premises, furniture, equipment, books or materials), the charge to be the cost of replacement or repair, or such lower cost as the Headteacher may decide.

Lettings

The school will make its facilities available to outside users at a charge of at least the cost of providing the facilities. The scale of charges will be determined annually by the Finance Committee and approved by the Governing Body.