Approved by the governing body on 20th October 2022
Date of review: Autumn Term 2024
OUR LADY IMMACULATE CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
CHARGING AND REMISSIONS POLICY
Introduction
All the education we provide during school hours is at no charge to pupils. We do not charge for any
activity undertaken as part of the National Curriculum. However, we may charge for some additional
extra activities such as individual or small group music tuition. This charging policy has been compiled in
line with DFE requirement (DFE Charging for school activities; departmental advice for governing bodies,
school leaders, school staff and local authorities) (October 2014)
Aims and Objectives
The aims of this policy will:
• Set out what the school will not charge for, what it will make a charge for or request a voluntary
contribution from parents/carers;
• Clarify how charges will be determined, so parents and carers understand why requests for
payment are sometimes made for some activities.
• Enable pupils to take full advantage of the activities provided by the school.
Basic Principles
School governing bodies and local authorities cannot charge for:
• An admission application to any state funded school;
• Education provided during school hours, including the supply of any materials, books,
instruments or other equipment;
• Education provided outside the school hours if it is part of the national curriculum, or part of a
syllabus for a prescribed public examination, that the pupil is being prepared for at the school or
part of religious education;
• Instrumental or vocal tuition, for pupils learning individually or in groups, unless the tuition is
provided at the request of the pupil’s parent;
• Entry for a prescribed public examination if the pupil has been prepared for it at the school; and
• Examination resits if the pupil is being prepared for the re-sits in school.
School and local authorities can charge for;
• Any materials, books, instruments or equipment, where the child’s parent wishes him/her to
own them;
• Optional extras (see details below);
• Music and vocal tuition, in limited circumstances;
• Certain early years provision;
• Community facilities;
Optional Extras for which the school may apply a charge:
• Board and lodging for a pupil on a residential visit eg Colomendy, Winmarleigh Hall (PGL)
• Extended day services offered to pupils (for example breakfast club, afterschool clubs,
supervised homework sessions)
• Education provided outside of school time that is not: –
Part of the national curriculum;
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Approved by the governing body on 20th October 2022
Date of review: Autumn Term 2024 – –
Part of a syllabus for prescribed public examination that the pupil is being prepared for at
the school; or
Part of religious education
• Examination entry fee(s) if the registered pupil has not been prepared for the examination(s) at
the school;
• Transport (other than transport that is required to take the pupil to school or to other premises
where the local authority/governing body have arranged for the pupil to be provided with
education.
Voluntary Contributions
When organising school trips or visits to enrich the curriculum and the educational experience of the
children, the school invites parents and carers to contribute to the cost. All contributions are voluntary. If
we do not receive sufficient voluntary contributions, we may cancel a trip. If a trip goes ahead, it may
include children whose parents or carers have not paid any contribution. We do not treat these children
differently from any others.
If a parent wishes their child to take part in a school trip or event, but is unwilling or unable to make a
voluntary contribution, we do allow the child to participate fully in the trip or activity. Sometimes the
school pays additional costs in order to support the visit. Parents and carers have a right to know how
each trip is funded, and the school provides information on request.
The following is a list of additional activities, organised by the school, which require voluntary
contributions from parents and carers. These activities are known as “optional extras”. This list is not
exhaustive:
▪ Visits to museums;
▪ Fieldtrips and research visits;
▪ Sporting activities which require transport expenses;
▪ Outdoor adventure activities;
▪ Visits to or by a theatre company;
▪ Musical events;
Activities for which the school will apply a charge include:
• Breakfast and Afterschool clubs
• Wraparound care for pupils attending the school early years provision
• Lettings
• Ancillary services
The governors’ finance, resources and safety committee will approve a scale of charges for these services
annually.
Residential visits
If the school organises a residential visit in school time, which is to provide education directly related to
the National Curriculum, we do not make a charge for the education or travel expenses. However, we do
suggest a voluntary contribution to cover the costs of board and lodging. If we cannot raise sufficient
funding through these voluntary contributions, the visit may have to be cancelled, and the aspect of the
curriculum would have to be covered in other ways.
Residential trips, which are not directly related to the National Curriculum and take place outside, or
mainly outside school time, parents, are required to fund these trips, where possible subsidy will be
made from grant or other funds available.
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Approved by the governing body on 20th October 2022
Date of review: Autumn Term 2024
Music tuition
All children study music as part of the normal school curriculum. We do not charge for this.
There is a charge for individual or small-group music tuition, since this is an additional curriculum activity,
and not part of the National Curriculum. Peripatetic music teachers teach these individual or small-group
lessons. We make a charge for these lessons. We give parents and carers information about additional
music tuition at the start of each academic year. Parents may be asked to pay a holding payment for use
of an instrument by Resonate Music Services, which is refundable on return of the equipment.
Swimming
The school organises swimming lessons for children in Key Stage 2. These take place in school time and
are part of the National Curriculum. We make no charge for this activity, but we do ask for a voluntary
contribution from parents and carers to cover the cost of transport when used. We inform parents and
carers when these lessons are to take place, and we seek the permission of parents or carers for their
children to take part.
Remission
It is the policy of the headteacher and the governing body to determine any individual case arising from
hard ship and take appropriate action to enable these families to take advantage of school activities.
Details of the remission arrangements will be made clear when parents are informed of charges for
individual activities.
Extra-curricular activities run by external providers
External providers will set and collect their own charges.
Other Charges
The headteacher may levy charges for miscellaneous services up to the cost of providing such services eg
photocopying.
In cases of wilful or malicious damage to equipment or breakages, or loss of schoolbooks on loan, the
headteacher may decide it right to make a charge. Each incident will be dealt with on its own merit and
at their discretion.
Monitoring and review
This policy is monitored by the governing body, and will be reviewed every two years or sooner if
necessary.