Charitable donation

[Twinkle]

Petit-pois, our GS asks for £60 per year per child. There is absolutely no pressure to pay it. You can pay more, less or nothing. The school has no external funding as far as I am aware apart from what it gets from the government ( which is little compared to many schools). £30 per month is my opinion a huge amount for AHS to ask parents to pay. Don't feel pressured.

Our school does encourage donations to its development fund when it has wanted to build a new block as. But again no real pressure and at least you know what it is for,

[anotherdad]

Yes, what you are both saying does make complete sense. We will let her settle in and then look at the best ways - financial and otherwise - in which we can contribute.

Thank you once again for your help

Pleasure. Is your daughter excited about the move to AHS? Does she have a familiarisation day to attend?

[rhiane]

DDs Slough Grammar ask for £40.00/year but it's completely optional, no pressure at all
DSs Primary ask for £25.00 (£10.00 siblings) again optional, no pressure

£30.00/month does seem a lot!

[anotherdad]

£30 per month is my opinion a huge amount for AHS to ask parents to pay. Don't feel pressured.

Indeed, especially when the mandatory Chromebook costs another £23 a month for 12 months in the first year.

[Twinkle]

£30 per month is my opinion a huge amount for AHS to ask parents to pay. Don't feel pressured.

Indeed, especially when the mandatory Chromebook costs another £23 a month for 12 months in the first year.

Nope - not mandatory or even suggested at our GS. I am beginning to realise that we have been very lucky.

[scary mum]

They used to ask at Burnham Grammar (£150/year/family) but they took it off Parentpay when they had a campaign to raise money for new buildings & I haven't seen anything since (& the building work seems to have been delayed by years).

[petit-pois]

Twinkle and Rhiane - AHS give no suggested or recommended amount, that is why I was asking approximately what others contribute, to get an idea. It was Blueberry that mentioned her Dc's school suggested £30 a month.

We're going to wait and see as suggested, I'm quite happy to donate my time and contribute in other ways and I'm sure if I decide to submit a direct debit form halfway through the year it wont be refused!

Anotherdad - She most certainly is thanks It's uniform fitting day tomorrow so getting very real now, and then two transition days at the beginning of next month when I believe she will find out her form tutor and meet her form mates for the next few years. She can't wait! She's also very excited about getting a chromebook

[anotherdad]

Indeed, especially when the mandatory Chromebook costs another £23 a month for 12 months in the first year.

Nope - not mandatory or even suggested at our GS. I am beginning to realise that we have been very lucky.

It will probably be a matter of time, it seems to be a growing trend. I'm not convinced of the value of it but I'm willing to be convinced. The education conference I attended this week had a talk about the use of IT in classrooms and specifically the detail of the new AI technology that is being tested in the US, to auto-mark pupils' work. I'm not convinced by that either, but I'm sure I wouldn't have been convinced by some of today's ubiquitous technology if I was presented with it 30 years ago!

AHS does have a scheme where those on pupil premium have a discreet way of obtaining a Chromebook through school funding.

[Amber]

I would be well cross if a school made me buy a google device. Apple all the way here but I still wouldn't want to be made to buy one.

Our school asks for voluntary contributions but it isn't hard sell. I am conflicted about what to do when my younger DS leaves the school next year. Do you stop?

[Amber]

It will probably be a matter of time, it seems to be a growing trend. I'm not convinced of the value of it but I'm willing to be convinced. The education conference I attended this week had a talk about the use of IT in classrooms and specifically the detail of the new AI technology that is being tested in the US, to auto-mark pupils' work. .

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-06- ... 1970s.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Could there be a connection? If one believes intelligence can be measured, then could increased reliance on short concentration span requiring technology be contributing to this, or is it just lack of fish?