Charging

The Academy has to conform with the government’s Charging for Activities regulations.  No charges can be made for any activity in Academy time or which is a part of the Academy’s national curriculum provision.

However, charges can be made for the following:

• Board and lodging on residential visits.  The cost must not exceed the actual cost of the provision
• The proportionate costs for an individual child of activities wholly or mainly outside Academy hours (‘optional extras’) to meet the costs for:

1. Materials and equipment
2. Non-teaching staff costs
3. Entrance fees
4. Insurance costs
5. Teaching costs engaged specifically for the activity and supplying such staff with travel, board and lodging

• Individual tuition in the playing of a musical instrument
• Re-sits for public examinations where no further preparation has been provided by the Academy
• Costs of non-prescribed examinations where no further preparation has been provided by the Academy
• Examination fees for entries which the student fails to attend (including failure to complete the required coursework) except by reason of sickness
• Any other education, transport or examination fee unless charges are specifically prohibited
• Breakages and replacements as a result of damages caused wilfully or negligently by students
• Extra-curricular activities and Academy clubs

Voluntary Contributions

The Academy may ask parents for a voluntary contribution towards the cost of any activity which takes place in academy hours.  The contribution must be genuinely voluntary, but students of parents who are unable or unwilling to make a voluntary contribution must not be discriminated against.

Where there are not enough voluntary contributions to make the activity possible, and there is no way to make up the shortfall the activity must be cancelled.

Remissions

Students whose parents are in receipt of the following support payments:

• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseekers’ Allowance
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit, where the parent is not entitled to Working Tax Credit and whose annual income (as assessed by the Inland Revenue) does not exceed £16040.

will be entitled to the remission of charges to:

• Music tuition
• Board and Lodging costs during residential Academy trips if the trip is part of a prescribed academy/examination syllabus.