Welcome To Wirral

1. We back the principles that education in maintained schools should be free and that no pupil’s education should be affected by his or her parents’ unwillingness or inability to pay or to contribute towards the cost of the pupil’s education.

2. Pupils should not have to pay for any materials, books, instruments or other equipment which they use in connection with education provided during school hours. However, schools may charge for, or ask for ingredients or materials for, practical subjects where parents have said that they want to own the finished product.

3. We charge for instrumental music tuition in groups of up to four.

4. We will not charge for any activity taking place in school time. However, schools may make charges to cover the costs of board and lodging on residential trips. They will not charge for board and lodging if you receive Income Support or Working Tax Credit for any part of the period when the activity takes place.

5. Schools will not charge for staff or material costs at residential centres. They cannot charge for travel to and from outdoor centres if the visit takes place during school hours. However, they can charge for travel if the visit is an optional extra. Schools will charge for board and lodging at our centre (Oaklands) but we will pay a grant if you receive Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Disability Working Allowance or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance when the visit takes place.

6. Schools will not charge for entry fees for prescribed public examinations for which registered pupils have been prepared at school. However, they will make charges in the following circumstances.

• For examinations for which the pupil has not been prepared at school
• For examinations which are not prescribed by the Department for Education and Skills
• If the preparation provided by the school allows a pupil to enter two or more examinations, you will be charged the cost of your child sitting the second and further examinations. If fees vary, you will be charged for the higher fees.
• If a pupil fails to complete all the examinations requirements without good reason and so is ungraded in the examination, we will not refund any charges.

7. For activities defined as optional extras under the terms of the Education Act 1996, governors may cover the costs of board and lodging travel, materials, books or other equipment, entrance fees, teaching and non-teaching staff and any other costs for providing the activity.

8. For travelling costs arising out of work experience placements, schools may ask parents to meet those expenses and governing bodies should decide whether, and in what circumstances, to refund them.

9. The amount of charge allowed by the Education Act 1996 and the decision whether to refund any charge is decided by the governors if the cost of any of the optional extras or the board and lodgings is paid for by the governors and in any other case by us.

10. If charges (for example, for board and lodging) are to be refunded, the costs will be paid for out of school funds.