Brent school charged pupils for visit from former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen
Parent’s anger after Sudbury Primary School levies �1.50 fee per child
A Sudbury school charged its pupils to see former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen when he visited last month.
Mr Rosen, who grew up in north-west London, performed poems to the children at Sudbury Primary School, in Watford Road, Sudbury, before taking a writing workshop in the afternoon.
But pupils had to pay �1.50 for the privilege of seeing the writer.
A parent, who asked not to be named, said: “When I first read the school letter which said a poet was coming to visit the school, I was chuffed that he was voluntarily visiting a local school.
You may also want to watch:
“Then I read that each child had to pay �1.50. I was outraged.
“It would be interesting to know how much money was made from this appearance, who decided on the cost and where has the money gone and been spent on?”
Most Read
- 1 Man rushed to hospital after shooting in Dudden Hill
- 2 Man arrested following shooting in Kingsbury
- 3 Police 'determined' to find Wembley man who failed to appear at court
- 4 Teen charged with killing 21-year-old man in Brent Cross
- 5 Mother of newborn baby found in Willesden canal urged to seek medical help
- 6 Three men charged after police officer injured in traffic stop
- 7 Body of newborn baby found in Grand Union Canal in Willesden
- 8 Two men charged after police find 'gun, cash and drugs' in Brent Cross flat
- 9 Wembley attacker draws large knife after being chased by victims
- 10 Man appears in court charged with the murder of Michael Fadayomi in Willesden
When the Times requested to speak to the school’s headteacher Uma Pandya, she released a statement which read: “All outside theatre groups, speakers, performers, authors etc. charge for their performances which are over and above the National Curriculum provision.
“Therefore the school was responsible for paying Mr Rosen’s fees and duly passed these on to the pupils at �1.50 per pupil for the day.”
Sudbury Primary School, which has around 820 children on its roll, recently lost two of its nearest libraries – Barham Park and Preston.
Speaking to the Times, Mr Rosen said: “Schools raise money for school visits in many different ways.
“My children’s school does it through school fetes, and ‘gala’ evenings when we bid for services, gifts, presents etc. Charging parents who can afford it is another.
“I’m not sure that one method is better or more ethical than another.”
What do you think? Should children be made to pay for author visits or should it come out of the school’s budget? Email tara.brady@archant.co.uk
