Charging and Remissions

Rationale
Applemore College is committed to providing equal access to all areas of the curriculum. Students will be encouraged to participate in activities outside College which support this. In cases where charges are made or requested, the College will do its best to ensure that no student is excluded from a course or activity.

The policy for Applemore College follows the guidance produced by Fair Access Division; DfE (revised January 2009).

Charges can be made for the following:

1. Board and lodging for a student on a residential visit.

2. Costs associated with individual tuition in the playing of a musical instrument or voice whether in or out of school hours (unless it is provided as part of a syllabus for a prescribed public examination or is required by the National Curriculum). For children in care or who receive free school meals, tuition could be free. Parents should contact the Heads of Year to enquire. The College is not able to provide a discounted rate for a student who undertakes tuition for more than one musical instrument.

3. Activities which take place wholly or mainly outside College hours, but which are not provided as part of the syllabus for a prescribed public examination and are not required in order to fulfil statutory duties relating to the National Curriculum.

4. The cost of entering a student for a public examination not prescribed in regulations, and for preparing the student for such an examination outside College hours.

5. Re-sits of prescribed public examinations where no significant further preparation has been provided by the College.

6. For unauthorised non-attendance of an examination.

7. The purchase of GCSE revision guides or other text books where students would benefit from using their own copy.

8. Materials required for certain lessons or projects e.g. Design and Technology subjects, Art.

9. Breakages, wilful damage, vandalism or loss of school property caused by students.

10. The use of lockers – a one off charge will apply for the first three years of use.

11. Student print quotas - if a student’s quota is exceeded then a top-up charge will be payable.

Charges for board and lodging on residential visits will be remitted for students whose parents are in receipt of income support or family credit, if the education provided during the visit would otherwise be provided free, under the terms of the Education Act 1966.

The College is not able to provide a discounted rate for activities such as music lessons and trips where there is more than one sibling in a family undertaking the activity.

Parents will be invited to make voluntary contributions for all visits within school hours, and every effort made to inform those on low incomes and in receipt of certain benefits of the support available to them when being asked for contributions.

The College is not always able to support financially, for any student, the whole cost of a trip or extra-curricular activity. Parents of students receiving Free School Meals can apply for financial support from the College to part-fund curriculum activities. This request should be made to the Headteacher for each activity the student wishes to engage in.

Monitoring

The Headteacher will monitor this policy and practice annually if concerns or questions arise.