A mum has spoken of her anger after her child's school asked parents to pay £9 for artwork produced by pupils. The mum said "a lot of parents cannot afford this".
The framed drawings and paintings created by children at the school will be displayed in an exhibition. Proceeds from their sale will reportedly go towards boosting school funds.
But one mum-of-two slammed the move, telling StokeonTrentLive : "It's artwork the children produced. They are charging £9 per piece. A lot of parents cannot afford this. A lot of us are upset because what happens if you can't afford it? Are they just going to throw it in the bin?
"The cost of living crisis means that people have no spare money. The school says they have done it through a professional framer. A lot of parents are so upset but don't have the courage to say anything.
"I feel if children don't get their artwork then they will feel left out. I know one parent who told me they have got four kids, and they're being charged £9 each, so that's £36. People cannot afford it."
The mum also wants to known where the money for the gallery is going. She added: "It just doesn't feel inclusive for all families. People are going to feel left out. It is shameful, they're creating class division. It is sad that parents are going to be missing out.
"I am going to the gallery and I am going to have to get one. It will pull at the heartstrings. We don't know where the money is going. If it was definitely for school fundraising, people will want to pay more."
The Co-op Academy Glebe in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, has defended the art exhibition, explaining that any parent who does not want to buy the artwork can still take it home for free at a later date, minus the frame.
A spokesperson said: "Our Art Gallery is a really exciting project we’ve run for almost 15 years. Students spend time working with a local art company, creating pieces to display at our Academy Exhibition. The company we work with takes their art away, frames and displays it for our academy gallery.
"Parents are welcome to buy the framed art for £9. If they don’t want to, the art is returned to school at a later date, without the frame, and parents are welcome to request it for free. The cost relates to the framing, and this is entirely optional for parents. It is an inclusive project where all parents are invited for free to experience the gallery with their child. It is a magical evening our students share with their families."
