ST. MARK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL
St. Mark’s – a caring place to learn, play and grow
Charging and Remission of Charges Policy
Introduction
This policy, which has been approved by the school governing body, lays down the criteria for
charging parents and children for specific activities, tuition and loss of school property.
The policy follows the recommendations of the Education Reform Act 1988 entitled ‘Charges
for School Activities’ as expanded in the 2/89 D.E.S. Circular January 1989 and the subsequent
review in the Head’s Legal Guide of June 1998.
Principles
The principles, which underline this policy, are:
• To maintain the right to free education during school hours.
• To establish that curricular activities offered by the school, whether wholly, mainly out of,
or completely outside of school time, should be available to all children, although this may
be dependent upon the receipt of sufficient contributions of money to cover the total cost of
the activity.
• To emphasise that there is no statutory requirement to charge for any education but that
certain optional activities provided wholly, mainly out of, or completely out school hours
may be charged for.
• To confirm the right of the governing body to invite voluntary contributions to support any
activity organised by the school whether during or outside school hours.
• To establish that extra-curricular activities (that is, those that are not included in the National
Curriculum) will be charged at the appropriate rate to cover the cost of the activity.
• To establish that where the governors and teachers feel that it would be possible to subsidise
an activity, especially where there are considered to be a sound reasons or that the parent is
unable to help meet with the cost, the school may consider it appropriate to make the
payment out of the school budget or a fund set up for the purpose.
• To request voluntary contributions for Educational Visits rather than charge
• To ensure that, where costs are charged (school trips – non-educational) or requested
(Educational visits – voluntary contributions), children may not be expected to subsidise
other children. Shortfalls must come from LA, school funding of other voluntary sources.
School Hours
The school hours are 9.00 – 11.50 (Infants); 12.30 (Juniors)
12.45 (Infants); 1.25 Juniors – 3.2 (Infants); 3.25 (Juniors)
Charging for activities within school
Only the activities listed below will be charged for on the basis described.
a. Musical Instrument Tuition
There are currently 2 types of instrumental tuition on offer that levy a charge (other than
tuition offered as part of an after-school club).
I. Where a parent requests an instrumental lesson, a charge will be levied which shall not
be greater than the actual cost of the provision of the specialist teacher for that lesson.
This fee will be set annually and will alter in accordance with the cost of tuition, and
the number of children receiving tuition. The children will be taught in groups of not
more than 4.
II. Subject to availability, a school instrument may be loaned to a child for a specified
loan fee, which will not vary irrespective of the type and condition of the instrument.
The school retains the right to set the fee annually.
III. Private Providers – where a parent requests an instrumental lesson from a private
provider, the charge and conditions will be agreed between the provider and the
parent. The school act as a facilitator only.
b. Food Technology and Design Technology Materials
Where parents have indicated in advance in writing that they wish to own the finished
product, a charge, not greater than the cost of the materials, may be levied.
c.
Residential Visits
For educational visits which involve staying overnight away from home, a charge can be
made to cover the actual cost of the board and lodging.
If the trip is non educational and out of school hours a charge can be made to cover the
actual cost of travel and activity costs, as well as board and lodgings.
d.
Other activities distinct from the curriculum
These may be charged for with agreement from parents in advance. They include after
After school clubs and voluntary requests to help subsidise shows, on occasion
Charging for damage/ loss
Where library books or home reading books are damaged or lost a contribution towards the
cost of the book will be levied. The charge will be £3 for a library book and £1.50 for a home
reading book. (Appendix 1)
Where an exercise book is lost/damaged and a new one is required, the school will not charge
more than the cost of the item to the school.
Where a piece of school equipment/part of the school is wilfully damaged, the sanction will
be disciplinary rather than monetary eg Yellow Book Letter
Voluntary contributions/ Remissions
To support school activities, parents will be invited to make voluntary
contributions.(Appendix 2 – example letter)
The contribution requested must not exceed the cost for one child.
Whereas no child will be excluded because of a parent’s unwillingness or inability to pay,
parents will be informed that if sufficient voluntary contributions are not received, the
activity may not go ahead.
The Head will make any decisions with regard to remissions, in whole or part, for
individuals or groups.
Lettings
See Lettings Policy
Activities organised by a third party – not LA, governors or school
Should a third party advertise a school hours trip, and the governors grant the participating
children and teachers leave of absence, the restrictions on charging would not apply and
parents would be free to choose whether or not their children participate.
Implications of this policy
In most respects this policy follows the legal requirements of the Education Reform Act
1988 and the 2/89 D.E.S. Circular January 1987 entitled ‘Charges for Activities’ and
therefore, with the exception of a few permissible variations, must be complied with. It is
the duty of the school and governors to ensure this.
Review of policy
This policy will be reviewed every three years by the Resources Committee and updated,
with the approval of the delegated committee of the governing body, at any time that
conditions demand it.