Most of the trips/activities my kids have the opportunity to get involved in are based on voluntary contributions. I'm a single working parent who doesn't have the luxury of regular maintenance. The one and only time I was unable to pay for an activity, my son was penalised by his teacher, in front of his friends. My younger son was 'invited' along to a 'residential' sometime later, again with a voluntary contribution, but, not wanting him to go through the same ordeal as his brother I had to tell him he just couldn't go. School is hard enough, if the government really wants to see a change in our young people they need to put their money where their mouths are & start paying for it.

   Another sad aspect of the new Britain where everythings got a price to be paid. I suppose we should be grateful that the school encourages competitive sports without fearing that pupils will be traumatised by failure; or corrupted by success!

When in future years, the Government wails about the lack of British success or representation in international sport, no doubt we will have forgotten why.

   Perhaps those youngsters who are into sport could save the school money by not going to certain other lessons and therefore not have to pay the £45. I would have loved to trade some of my lessons in order to have extra hockey coaching instead.