News

New research carried out on more than 14,000 parents across the UK has shown that the vast majority would like the option to pay online for school items, though fewer than half of all schools allow them to.

The survey, carried out by home to school communications provider ParentMail found that 91% of primary parents and 90% of secondary parents would like to be able to pay online for school items, such as school dinners or trips for their child.

But the survey also found that only 32% of primary schools, and 47% of secondary schools currently provide parents with this option.

Geoff Jones, director, ParentMail said: “Cash and cheques have the potential to get lost in transit by pupils. Previously, schools may have used an abundance of spreadsheet systems to keep track of who has paid what, often spread across multiple sheets, and perhaps only accessible by one individual at a time.

“Electronic payment solutions however centralise data, reducing the need for manual and time consuming jobs such as the counting of money, trips to the bank and accurately tracking who has paid for what. It also reduces the problem of keeping cash and cheques secure in schools.

“With technology a firm feature throughout our everyday lives, many parents feel that paying online has the convenience factor. Our survey has shown that whilst there is a real demand from parents for online payments, schools are just not keeping up with this.”

Among other findings, the survey showed that primary school parents spend on average £1.98 for a school meal for each child, and primary children have meals every 3.45 days.

Jones added that in a school of 350, this equated to £1,697 of dinner money being handled each week (or £6,970 per month), the majority of it cash. For a secondary school this would be significantly more.

The survey also found that 65% of primary parents, and 63% of secondary schools, would pay by mobile phone if available.