BUCKLER'S MEAD ACADEMY

CHARGING POLICY

1) BACKGROUND

The section does not constitute part of the policy but is background information to it.

In 1988 the Education Reform Act made the following provisions:-

1.1 (i) To maintain the right to free school education;

(ii) To ensure that activities offered in normal school time should be

available to all pupils regardless of their parents’ ability or willingness to help meet the cost;

(iii) To give to LEAs and schools the discretion to charge for optional activities, provided wholly or mainly out of school hours.

(iv) To confirm that schools may invite voluntary contributions for the

benefit of the school or in support of any activity organised by the school either during or outside school hours (subject to 1.2(iii) below).

1.2 During School Hours - the basic principle confirmed by the Act is that

education provided wholly or mainly in school hours should be free of

charge. The principle exceptions to this rule are:-

(i) Parents may be charged for ingredients or materials in practical subjects if they have indicated in advance that they wish to keep the finished produce.

(ii) A charge may be made for the provision of music tuition to pupils,

either individually or in groups of four or less. The governing body is free to decide whether or not to remit such charges in cases of hardship.

(iii) Parents may be charged for the board and lodging element of a

residential activity during school hours. Such charges must be remitted to parents in receipt of income support.

(iv) If parents in receipt of Income Support wish to make a voluntary

contribution, they should contact the Bursar to agree the level of payment.

1.3 Outside School Hours - charges may be made for education provided wholly or mainly outside school hours. Such education is defined in the Act as an "optional extra" and participation will be on the basis of parental choice and a willingness to meet such charges as are made. The exceptions to this rule are:-

(i) No charge may be made if the activity is an essential part of the

basic curriculum or a requirement of an examination syllabus.

(ii) The board and lodging element of a residential activity outside school hours must be remitted in respect of parents in receipt of income support.

2) POLICY DOCUMENT

The following policy statement is offered as a realistic and succinct summary of the position that Governors have in the past supported, and is also in accordance with legal requirements and practical administration.

CHARGES FOR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

A POLICY STATEMENT The purpose of the 1988 Education Reform Act's charging provisions are:- - to maintain the right to free school education - to ensure that activities in normal school time should be available to all pupils

regardless of their parents' ability or willingness to help meet the cost - to give schools the discretion to charge for optional activities provided wholly or

mainly out of school hours. - to confirm the right of schools to invite voluntary contributions for the benefit of

the school, or in support of any activity organised by the school, either in or outside school hours.

In accordance with the Act, we may:- 1) Invite voluntary contributions from parents in support of school activities. 2) Make charges for any in-school or out-of-school activities for which a charge is

permitted by the Act. 3) Remit charges to families in receipt of Income Support where required and to

remit charges in other individual cases as appropriate. 4) Invite parents to pay, in cash or in kind, for materials used in school where

parents have indicated a wish to own the finished article which incorporates these materials.

The cost of activities not fully covered by charges or voluntary contributions may be met by the school if appropriate resources are available. However, in some circumstances a lack of adequate funding may mean that we have to cancel a proposed activity