School activity charges

In schools maintained by the Local Education Authority (LEA), the education provided wholly or mainly during school hours must be free. This includes:

• the materials, equipment, books and transport provided in school hours by the LEA or the school to carry pupils between the school and an activity.

This means that head teachers may not impose a charge on parents/carers for:

• any visit undertaken during school hours, which is part of the National Curriculum, or is an essential part of the syllabus for an approved examination

No charge can be made entering a pupil for a prescribed first public examination, but a charge may be made for subsequent resits.

Parents/Carers can only be charged:

• for activities that happen outside school hours when these activities are not a necessary part of the National Curriculum or religious education.

No charge can be made:

• for activities that are an essential part of the syllabus for an approved examination.