Education Reform Act changes
The Education Reform Act (1988) introduced new provisions on charging for school activities. The purposes of these provisions are:
- to maintain the right to a free school education.
- to ensure that activities offered as part of the National Curriculum and wholly within normal school time should be available to all pupils, regardless of their parents’ ability or willingness to help meet the cost.
- to give educational authorities and schools the discretion to charge for optional activities provided wholly or mainly out of school hours.
- to confirm that schools may invite voluntary contributions for the benefit ofthe school or in support of any activity organised by the school, either in or outside school hours.
The Governors believe that activities such as swimming and educational visits (or visitors) are an extension to, and an enrichment of the curriculum. They have adopted the LA Policy of Charging for School Activities, which allows the school to ask for voluntary contributions from parents to support these activities. The policy is reviewed annually.
All education during school hours is free. We do not charge for any activity undertaken as part of the National Curriculum with the exception of individual music tuition.
When organising school trips or visits which enrich the curriculum and educational experience of the children, the school invites parents to contribute to the cost of the trip.