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Voluntary Contributions

It cannot be said enough times that the school exists only because of the generosity of past parents. Future parents will say the same of present parents. The Voluntary Contribution, these days donated by about 75% of parents, started in 1934 as an encouragement to parents to make their cheque's “up to level money.” “No donation would be too small” says the document. This was continued by a “Paying Your Bill in Even Money” scheme, which started in 1950. That request went as follows: “will you, as your predecessors 20 years ago did, remember the Building Fund when writing your cheque for fees and PAY YOUR BILL IN EVEN MONEY adding a few pence (so that e.g. £19. 4s. 3d. become £19. 5s) or a few shillings (so that e.g. £19.13. 5d. becomes £20) or a few pounds (so that e.g. £27. 8. 11d. becomes £30) until we let you know that the last essential building is our own?”

The amounts have changed, but the principle hasn’t. In 1988, the voluntary contribution was added to the bill and parents were encouraged to donate £50 per term. And so they have, every year since then. In 1988, £50 represented between 10% and 20% of the termly fee. When, in 2004, the Voluntary Contribution was increased to £60, this represented 1.5-2% and even though the voluntary contribution has remained at that amount since, we should not underestimate its value to the school. At the moment The King Alfred School receives about £60,000 per year from families donating each term. With the added gift aid, this comes to roughly £80,000 per year.

Over the decades, the Voluntary Contributions have subsidised myriad things in the school, including contributions to small and large projects. Also, by contributing to general expenditure, they help reduce the annual fee increase. In truth, the school can no longer do without them. We depend on the generosity of those parents adding a few pounds to their already hefty school bills. So we hope that many parents will continue to pay this contribution “until we let you know that the last essential building is our own!”