A child cannot be excluded if the parent can't pay, but there is limited money available, and if lots of parents can't pay, trips are cancelled

Yes thanks LadyMuck
it would be less - but thanks for the joke

I know of at least 2 well off parents in our class who pay for nothing one has just had a mahoosive extension and has a boat that sleeps 6 moored in southampton

"If you put a 50p a week by for school trips that means you end up with £31 saved a year."

Presumably only if you put it into a very high interest rate account?

I was a secondary school teeacher for 9 years. My experience was that almost all parents paid in full, even at the school in the far less affluent area. The odd one that didn't were genuinely not able to pay.

One of our local schools asks parents to pay £15 a term in installments if necessary in order to cover school trips etc. This is voluntary.

yes, I am sure that some just don't pay.
If they can't afford to fine, if they can afford to and just choose not to then not fine.
ok - so the ones that can't afford it are getting a free trip - but they are probably the ones that need it the most!
I am happy to subsidise that, although as already said they are probably subsidised anyway.

that's a good idea snora - I might suggest that at school

If you put a 50p a week by for school trips that means you end up with £31 saved a year, so enough to go around for more than one child IMHO.

It does wind me up to think that some that can afford to pay wouldn't contribute.

Some parents can't afford. Some parents can afford but don't cough up. The bottom line is that if there isn't enough ,money the trip has to be cancelled or the remainder met from school funds - which aren't exhaustive. Most schools will already be subsidising the trip - coaches for instance are shockingly expensive.

That's funny, our letters are worded the same, but if you don't pay, they remind the child the day before they MUST bring their money in!!!!

Isn't it because they are legally not allowed to 'charge' for school trips as those on lower incomes might be excluded - hence they make it voluntary )But then make you feel bad if you only send in 50p rather than £5)

I know that some parents who definatly can afford it, only pay half.

I'm sure they do.

A parent at school asked me about this (I am a governor) and the Head told me that they rarely get enough contributions to completely cover the cost but they are not allowed to word it differently

it's so that no child will be excluded. if you can afford it just cough up

Letter from school.
The trip costs x amount (entrance, insurance, transport etc)
A voluntary contribution to cover the amount is required, it will not be possible to run the trip if insufficient voluntary contributions are made.

Does that mean some parents don't bother, even if they can afford it?