Charges and Remissions Policy 2023 - 2026

Policy adopted: September 2023

Review date: September 2026

Signed: (Headteacher) Mrs L Wilmer

Signed (Chair of Governors) Mrs C Sellers

Introduction
The Academy Governing Council recognises the valuable contribution that the wide range of additional activities, including clubs, out of academy trips, residential and experiences of other environments, can make towards students’ all round educational experience and their personal and social development. No compulsory charge will be made for activities during academy hours that are part of the national curriculum or religious education or that form an essential part of the syllabus for an approved examination.

Charging
Co-op Academy Friarswood’s Academy Governing Council wishes to see the curriculum enriched as far as possible for the benefit of all students. It recognises that whatever public funds and sponsors’ endowments are made available they will never be sufficient to fund all desirable activities at the required level.

Co-op Academy Friarswood’s Academy Governing Council therefore reserves the right to make a charge in the following circumstances for activities organised by the academy:

1. Academy trips and residential experiences in academy time: the board and lodging element of the residential experience and outdoor pursuit courses;
2. Activities outside academy hours: the full cost for each student of journeys, trips and overnight stays in the United Kingdom and abroad which take place at weekends and during holidays, which are deemed to be optional extras;
3. Materials: the cost of materials or ingredients for Design and Technology and Food Technology, if parents/carers have indicated in advance that they wish to own the final product;
4. Acts of vandalism and negligence: the Academy Governing Council reserved the right to recover part, or the whole cost, of damage to buildings or equipment which is the result of vandalism or negligence by a student;
5. Examination fees: if a student has not regularly attended the lessons for a particular examination subject, the examination fee may be requested. This is refundable if the student attends for examination.  Re-sits for public examinations where no further preparation has been provided by the academy If, without a medical certificate explaining the reason, a student fails to complete examination requirements for any public examination for which the academy has paid an entry fee, the Academy Governing Council may seek to recover the fee from the parent. There may be a charge for examination entry where there is a request from the parent for additional subject entries to be made which are not supported by the academy.
6. Music Tuition: in respect of individual music tuition and group music tuition if the teaching is not an essential part of either the National Curriculum or a public examination syllabus.

Remissions

Where the parent/carer of a student is in receipt of qualifying state benefit(s), the Academy Governing Council will remit in part the cost of board and lodging for any residential activity that is organised for the student and which takes place within academy time. This will also be the case where the residential activity forms part of the syllabus for a public examination.

The Academy Governing Council may remit other charges in full or in part to other parents/carers after considering other specific hardship cases. The Academy Governing Council invites parents/carers to apply, in the strictest confidence, for the remission of charges in part or in full. The Headteacher will authorise remission in consultation with the Finance Director for Staffordshire and Merseyside.

Insurance

Any insurance costs will be included in charges made for trips or activities.

Voluntary Contributions

Any contributions are voluntary; that children of parents/carers who do not make a contribution will not be discriminated against.

If a trip is dependent on voluntary contributions and if insufficient contributions are received the trip may be cancelled.

Charges for use of Academy facilities / Lettings

A charge, at least the cost of providing the facilities, will normally be made for the use of the academy’s accommodation and facilities (Lettings) and for all external work processing, copy-printing, design work, etc.

Other Charges

Co-op Academy Friarswood may levy charges for miscellaneous services up to the cost of providing such services, e.g. providing a copy of the OFSTED report.

Charges are also made for school meals, details of which are on the school website, and before and after school care provision (Small and Tall), again details of which are available on the school website and the school office.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

The Academy Governing Council will review this statement at least every three years and assess its implementation and effectiveness. The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the Academy.

All people will be treated equally including those within the nine protected characteristics.

Co-op Academy Friarswood is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people / vulnerable adults.  We expect all staff, visitors and volunteers to share this commitment.