St Mark’s CE Primary School Policy on Charging and Remissions for School Activities

St Mark’s has and continues to provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities. These activities are offered over and above the National Curriculum to enrich the experience pupils have at School.

Both educational and social, these activities form a vital part of the life of the School.

As they are not funded by the LA the School relies heavily on the generous support provided by parents to cover the cost of these activities. We hope that this level of support will continue.

The law now requires that such parental support should be, and be seen to be, on a voluntary basis. As such, the School Governors are required to have a policy on charging and remissions.

The following policy summarises the position that the School adopts and is based on the fuller WSCC Model

Policy. 1. Voluntary Contributions

For any extra school activities parents will be invited to make a voluntary contribution to cover the cost of the activity, any transport costs, costs of materials and other incidental expenses. Although the contribution will be voluntary, the Governing Body needs to point out that it is probable that the activity will not take place unless all parents who are able are willing to contribute. Where there are not enough voluntary contributions to make the activity possible, and there is no way to make up the shortfall, the activity will be cancelled.

2. The Governing Body shall charge in full:

• Board and lodging on residential visits
• Costs associated with individual tuition in the playing of musical instruments
• Activities that take place wholly or mainly outside school hours, and are not required in order to fulfil statutory duties relating to the National Curriculum or to religious education

3. Remissions

Where the parents of a pupil are in receipt of any of the benefits listed below the Governing Body will offer to remit in full the cost of full board and lodging for any residential activity that takes place largely during school time or is to do with the National Curriculum or religious education.

• Income Support
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit (providing that they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190)
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• An income related employment and support allowance introduced on 27th October 2008.

4. Discretionary Assistance The Governing Body understands that sometimes circumstances make it difficult for parents to meet the cost of the activities offered. In this situation parents are invited to contact the Headteacher, who will exercise discretion in accordance with individual circumstances in remitting some or all of the legitimate charges. The costs of any such remissions will be covered by LA delegated funds, school funds or voluntary donations.