Charging and Remissions Statement

CONTENTS Introduction...........................................................................................................................2 Charging        ......................................................................................................................3 Remissions...........................................................................................................................4 Insurance..............................................................................................................................4 Voluntary Contributions.........................................................................................................4 Freedom of Information Act...................................................................................................5 Charges for use of Academy facilities / Lettings....................................................................5 Other Charges ......................................................................................................................5 Monitoring, Evaluation and Review .......................................................................................5

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

Woodslee'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.

Woodslee's Academy Governing Council therefore reserves the right to make a charge in the following circumstances for activities organised by the Academy:

i         Academy trips and residential experiences in Academy time: the board and lodging element of the residential experience and outdoor pursuit courses;

ii         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;

iii         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;

iv         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;

v         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.

vi         Music Tuition: in respect of individual music tuition and group music tuition up to and including 4 persons if the teaching is not an essential part of either the National Curriculum or a public examination syllabus. The cost of peripatetic instrumental instruction is subsidised by the Academy.

Remissions

Where the parent/carer of a student is in receipt of qualifying state benefit(s), the Academy Governing Council will remit in full 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 Manager for Wirral Hub.

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.

Freedom of Information Act

Single copies of the information covered by Co op Academy Woodslee publication scheme are provided free (see list below). However, the Academy Governing Council reserves the right to make a charge:

• For multiple copies of information covered in the FoI Act 2000

• If a request involves a lot of photocopying or printing

• Where cost of postage is high

In these cases the individual will be informed of the likely cost before fulfilling their request.

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 Woodslee 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 (“Squirrel Club”), again details of which are available on the school website.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

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