Enrichment week. Anyone else?

[OrmIrian]

Weird name but that's what it's called.

We have just had a letter to tell us that end of yr 7 the children are invited to take part in various activities that cost from £10 to £275. This is on top of school trips and all other costs. DS#1 has also announced he wants drum lessons (and a drum kit . And an expensive uniform and PE kit. Anyone else finding secondary school a bit shockingly expensive?

[magentadreamer]

I'm assuming that the £275 activity is some kind of over night trip? I'm assuming DD's school will have some kind of activity week planned for the last week of the year but as yet they've not said - I'll make a note to start saving!

[BodenGroupie]

Yes, dd2's school did this, but most of the activities were free - fishing, crafts etc but with a few exceptions - theatre trips to London. We didn't get advance warning (it was held in June) but she only did free activities. Had a fantastic time and rounded off year 7 nicely.

[Troutpout]

Enrichment... lol isn't that what they do with Zoo animals?
Ds has it once a week. I asked him what it was and he said he didn't know. I asked him what he did in the lesson and he said he didn't know

[OrmIrian]

Yes troutpout. That's what I thought. Perhaps one of the cheap activities will be putting all the children in a cage with an old tree trunk full of haribo or something .

They are giving us warning precisely so we can save up! Honestly. It is in a very deprived area. Our family isn't all that deprived in comparison but even so - not sure that we can manage £275 just before out main family holiday. Perhaps I should sell one of the younger children

[OrmIrian]

magenta - sorry, forgot to say, yes there are some residential trips included which are the most expensive. Now if 275 covered something really whizzy like skiing I might be prepared to find the money somewhere, but I suspect it won't.

[Remotew]

Unfortunatley you are looking at around £750 for skiing.

Since secondary I have shelled out £350 for a trip to Europe and £750 for skiing. Mine has decided that she doesn't like school holidays anymore thank god!

[OrmIrian]

Yes I suspected that abouteve.

Oh yes and I forgot the Yr7s get invited on a trip to somewhere in Europe to see a Christmas market as well. Ho hum! D'ya reckon he's accept that as his christmas present?

[ecoworrier]

The other secondary school near us does this. Originally, it started off as a week where teachers shared their own hobbies and skills and children got the chance to try new things.

Now it's mostly paid-for activities, some of them very very expensive. Our school does 'turnaround' week instead (every year group moves up a year and new Yr7s start in July) - no cost at all so suits me! Each year group also has an end-of-year trip, but that only costs £15-25 on average.

[OrmIrian]

The funny thing is ecoworrier that this is the 'poorest' school in the town. ie the one with the least affluent catchment. I don't know if lots of children get help paying for these things or not.

DS is going on an outward bound type thing in October but that is only £50 and I think a very good way of getting the new class to bond.

[Remotew]

I don't mind the outward bound type trips which are usually reasonable. DD has done a few and recently the DofE.

Just remember that the expensive ones are not compulsory, not everyone can afford them.

I spend the money for DD but told her this was all I was prepared to do. She has said she may go away skiing again in 6th form as they have more freedom, but will pay for it herself.

[BodenGroupie]

I have a friend in Sweden who says the schools there aren't allowed to charge for trips because it's not fair on those who can't afford it. In one school year her son did a trip to France and one to Auschwitz. I want to be Swedish when I grow up

[OrmIrian]

I guess you don't go riven. DS almost certainly won't be. To be fair that is the most expensive, there are plenty of less expensive ones. I guess my whinge is that it's on top of normal school trips and the other voluntary trips that are made available. I'm just reeling from the cost of it all atm. Primary was peanuts in comparison.

Sweden sound good boden!