SMSP is a Voluntary Aided Church of England School which means that any building work the school requires is not fully funded by the Government in the same way as local authority schools.
As a Voluntary Aided School, our buildings are maintained by the Diocese of London, rather than Richmond Council. The London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS) receives funding from the Department for Education for major capital building projects, but Voluntary Aided Schools such as SMSP are required to contribute 10% of the cost of these works. This contribution is raised through contributions to the annual Governors’ Maintenance Fund (GMF).
The SMSP GMF is a voluntary contribution made by parents and families that helps to maintain the school building and grounds in conjunction with the Diocese. Recent projects since 2025-26 include; £250k for a new boiler and £1.25m for a roof upgrade. These are significant projects we could not afford on our own.
We are very grateful for any contribution to the GMF, no matter how big or small. If we are able to meet our annual commitment to the LDBS, then any surplus in the GMF can be used to support the school for expenditure on works and items that the Diocese would not cover.
The GMF holds charitable status allowing us to claim extra money through Gift Aid on eligible donations, helping your contribution go even further without any cost to you. Using Gift Aid allows the school to claim an extra 25p for every £1 you donate – an extra £12.50 for every £50 donated.
School Funding Sources
The table below shows the four main income streams for the school each year. Our aim is to maximise the money we can raise via the GMF to help ease the pressure on our operating costs, allowing for greater focus on supporting teaching and learning across the school.
Government
(incl. Sport & Pupil premium)
- Operating costs, including:
- Staff wages
- Running Costs
- School resources
- Special educational provision
- Excludes building or grounds (capital maintenance)
Commercial Operations
- Includes revenue generating activity such as grounds leasing for clubs and wrap around care
- Supports shortfalls in government funding to our operating costs
Governors’ Maintenance Fund
- Voluntarily contibuted by families
- Aims to cover annual contributions to the Building Maintenance Scheme of the Diocese.
- Where available, surplus can be used for other capital projects to improve the school
Friends (PTA) Fundraising
- Funds raised by parents, carers, family and friends with support of staff.
- Provides enrichment i.e. learning subscriptions and specific extras e.g. outdoor & playground resources
Suggested Contributions
While contributions are voluntary, a suggested amount for the academic year is detailed below. However, a contribution of any amount is gratefully received, be that less or more than £50:
- First Child: £50
- Additional Children: £40 per child
How to Pay
Option 1: ParentMail (Quick & Direct)
This is often the easiest way to ensure your donation is tracked against your child’s records.
- Log in to ParentMail.
- Navigate to Payments > Shop > Donations.
- Select Governor Maintenance Fund.
- Important: Tick the Gift Aid box in your basket if you are an eligible UK taxpayer to increase your donation’s value by 25% at no extra cost to you.
Option 2: Standing Order (monthly budgeting that you can set up via your online banking)
Ideal for spreading the cost over 12 months (e.g., £5/month for one child). If you set up a standing order and are able to claim Gift Aid, then you will need to download a Gift Aid Form, complete it and return it to the School Office.
- Account Name: SMSP Governors’ Fund
- Sort Code: 20-46-73
- Account Number: 30771392
Questions and Enquiries
If you have any questions or enquiries about the GMF, please do not hesitate to contact the School Office.