petit-pois wrote:
What do the other schools ask for then Guest55? This is why I've asked the question as I have no idea
Hmm, I understand your point Anotherdad. Food for thought ...
There seems to be a trend among some schools (seems to be just grammar schools but that's from a perhaps skewed sample of posters on here) to ask for regular monthly sums. Some make a suggestion, others imply it by providing an average. I wish schools were funded properly of course, but I can't shake the belief that being in a system where their students tend to come from wealthier families, grammar schools exploit that by asking for money where upper schools probably wouldn't dare to. All it does is increase the divide between the facilities they have and those of the other schools. More importantly, it exacerbates the perception that one must be well-off to attend a grammar school and has the potential to make those students whose parents can't afford to donate regularly feel bad about it. That's why I prefer discrete campaigns, because parents can choose whether to donate or not and can choose the amount they donate.
My advice, which is as a parent of an AHS pupil? Don't commit now, it's way too early. You will already be committed to a not insubstantial sum for uniform, PE kit, Chromebook and other stuff and you will no doubt have upcoming costs for DofE and school trips. Get settled and see how you might play a part in school life. Contributing your time to the school in some way is worth much more than simply funnelling cash to them every month - they won't value you for the latter but will for the former.