School Charges for Activities and Visits

The Priors School is a maintained free school which was established with the Department of Education to begin operating from September 2011. As such we are funded directly from the ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency) by a general annual grant to run the daily business of educating the pupils to include buying resources and paying staff.

Funding resources are, however, limited.  As a school we offer a range of additional activities, outings and trips, to include swimming lessons from Reception which enhance the quality of the pupils’ experiences but are not specifically funded by government.

We are fortunate that parents raise funds, through the Parents' Association, to subsidise much of this activity. In addition PET (Priors Education Trust) contribute to a number of these activities to lessen the financial burden on both parents and the school.

Nevertheless this in itself is not enough, so the school does on occasion invite parents to make a donation towards trips and outings. The levels of such charges vary but are always informed to parents by letter sometimes with a range of payment options offered. While there is no obligation on parents to contribute it should be understood that without some assistance the activities which we take for granted could not continue.

Voluntary donations will be sought for the following:

* visits during school hours

* visits outside school hours

* residential visits

Compulsory payments will be sought for the following:

* School Meals (if not entitled to free school meals)

* Before & After School Club

* Chargeable After School Activities (ie MultiSports and Dance etc)

* Music Tuition 

These payments will be invoiced directly by the School Business Manager.

Parents whose children are in receipt of free school meals, which are not part of the universally free infant meals, will receive at least 50% remission from any charge for trips that take place during or after school and residential trips.

Parents who can prove they are in receipt of the following benefits will be exempt from paying the cost of the board and lodging element of any residential visit:

* Income Support (IS)

* Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)

* Support under part V1 of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999

* Child Tax Credit, providing that Working Tax Credit is not received and the family's income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs) does not exceed £16,190 (Financial Year 2013/14)

* The guarantee element of State Pension Credit

* An income related employment and support allowance that was introduced on 27th October 2008

Any parent suffering a period of financial hardship is encouraged to approach the head teacher in complete confidence in order to discuss the circumstance. Financial assistance is then often available through the support offered by the education trust.