The law, as amended from 1st April 1989, seeks to establish that activities offered wholly or mainly during normal teaching time should be available to all pupils regardless of their parents’ ability or willingness to meet the cost. The restriction on charging for school activities does not prevent the school from asking for parental contributions.

However, there is no obligation to contribute and no pupil will be omitted from the activity or outing in question because his or her parents are unwilling or unable to contribute. If the activity or outing cannot be funded without voluntary contribution, this will be made clear to parents at the outset (normally in the letter of information) and the school reserves the right to cancel activities or outings rather than incur financial loss. The Governing Body may charge for materials or require them to be provided for items which pupils subsequently take home.