Teaching unions, parents’ groups, and the primary and secondary schools council have urged MPs to stop schools asking parents for a financial contribution towards their children’s education.

In addition, they say, they are worried about the mounting cost of digital aids, such as laptops and tablets, which parents are being asked to pay for and which are an essential part of the education system.

Some 15 years ago the government agreed to make school books free and it would be “logical” to do the same for digital tools, the organisations said.

“As well-functioning digital learning resources are now indispensable in most schools, it would be a logical step to broaden the legal definition of free learning resources (and the associated funding),” the letter states.

Voluntary payment

The annual payment schools ask for is voluntary but some parents cannot afford to pay, and this is also exacerbating the difference between rich and poorer schools and leading to school trips being cancelled, the campaigners say.

“School fees were already a problem in many families and are becoming increasingly so,” the teachers and parents say. “Good education should be accessible to all children, equally, regardless of their parents’ wallet.”

Instead, the campaigners say, the government should allocate a fixed amount per pupil to pay for school trips and other special events such as the Easter breakfast.

Last year, school inspectors said a majority of secondary schools are still putting parents under pressure to pay for extra school activities despite the voluntary nature of the contribution.

Since August 2021, schools are no longer allowed to exclude pupils whose parents have not paid a voluntary contribution from extra activities such as school trips or additional classes.