Danesfield Parental Voluntary Contribution Scheme

Why we need a Voluntary Contribution Scheme

Many primary schools are taking difficult decisions at the moment about class sizes, teacher numbers, staffing levels and provision of IT and books. Danesfield School, however, continues to deliver an excellent education for your children, despite government funding of only just over £2,000 per pupil per year:

The SATS results continue to be excellent.
9 out of 10 parents are very satisfied or extremely satisfied with the overall education their child receives.*
99% of children are happy at Danesfield.*
More than 90% of parents are satisfied with their children’s progress in Maths, Science and English.*
Danesfield has managed to actually expand the school’s services, in spite of a relative reduction in state funding, because of the significant sums raised by the PTA and Voluntary Contribution Scheme; parents now contribute 7% of the total school budget – A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED!

*2005 Parental Questionnaire

Recent Voluntary Contribution Scheme Achievements

Over 100 parents have contributed via regular standing orders or one-off payments. This delivered over £25,000 in 2005 which has helped us to:

Achieve our objectives of limiting class sizes; Key Stage 2 classes have a maximum of 30 pupils, unlike many local schools which have 30-40.
Maintain teaching staff numbers.
Fund two additional learning support assistants to cover non-special needs (i.e. for the benefit of all children).
Achieve high staff:pupil ratios throughout the school.
Invest in teacher training and development.
Make major improvements to the Middle School Corridor learning environment.
Update IT for teachers and the office by replacing or upgrading PC’s, servers, printers and laptops.

2006 Voluntary Contribution Scheme

In real terms our budget from the Government for 2006 has fallen; we will use your money to:

Maintain class sizes, teacher numbers and staff:pupil ratios at current levels.
Connect to broadband (estimated cost £6,000pa). A glass fibre 10MB connection linking all ICT facilities would vastly improve internet connectivity.
Contribute towards replacing the computer suites for pupils (estimated cost £42,000). Our current suites are 6 years old; they are reaching a point where they can no longer support our growing needs and the latest software.

How you can help

Please remember that the money raised really does make a difference. The scheme is 100% confidential; the school staff and Head do not know who contributes. Every contribution, no matter how large or small, is valuable and for every £100.00 that you contribute as a tax payer, the Government give an extra £28.00 in Gift Aid.

If you are currently contributing via standing order, THANK YOU.
If you are not contributing at the moment, please complete the attached Standing Order and Gift Aid Forms, or to make a one-off donation write a cheque to ‘Danesfield School Trustees Fund’ and complete the Gift Aid Form.

Please return the forms and slips to the School Office marked for Gavin van der Pant, Scheme Co-ordinator.