to expect to pay out £600 in 11 months for 3 school trips?

[Jornhob]

I'd like to know whether anyone else has experienced having to pay £185 for a compulsory curriculum based 5 day outdoor activity trip? My son has had to go to the same place 3 TIMES in 11 months !!! Oct 2010 in year 6, July 2011 in year 6 and Sept 2011 in Year 7. Excluding spending money, £600 would have paid for a 1/3 of our family summer holiday !! I can't afford this much with everything else they have to do and have for school. Over the summer the cost of the uniform, p.e. kit etc came to ~£350. I didn't send my son to private education because I can't afford it but yet I'm expected to pay out so much. Why are we expected to discuss our bank balances with Heads if we can't afford it? It's embarassing for goodness sake!!
Yes its right that they are suppose to ask for a contribution towards the cost - some don't though, the High School hasn't - but what's the point when we all have to pay it anyway. I've spoken to my council in the last few days and they don't seem to have the answers - has anyone been able to get anywhere with this because I'd like to start a revolution on this and parents across the country to blinking refuse to pay stupid amounts for trips. I don't mind my kids having money spent on them and having opportunities to go places and do things but not to the degree that seems to be happening.

[worraliberty]

I'm not sure a revolution is necessary

My kids are 19, 12 and 8 and I've never paid stupid amounts for trips

Just because the curriculum is compulsory, doesn't mean the trips are.

[workshy]

compulsory residentials???

2 in 1 year at the same school

that's just stupid

ours do an
optional residential in year 5 (outward bound and team building)
optional residential in year 6 (as above)
optional residential in year 7 -getting to know you type thing with team building

all are optional -can't believe any overnight trip is compulsory?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I would canvass opinion among other parents of Y6 children. It won't be just you that can't afford it. If several of you write to the headteacher and protest at the cost, they may cancel one of the trips.

[Groovee]

If you can't afford it, just tell the school that.

[ragged]

Gotta be private. There is no way a regular UK state school would do that.

[LittleJennyRobyn]

Never heard of residentials being compulsory...all ours have been optional.

if you cant afford it dont pay....what is the school going to do if you dont pay??

[Scholes34]

Ridiculous to do three trips to the same place and two in one year, but £195 sounds like a bargain for a five day residential outdoor activity trip. Our Year 6 four nights/five days PGL trip was about £400.

[diddl]

Three trips to the same place seems daft!

Was bad enough as ours go away yrs 5, 7 & 9 and as they are 2yrs apart, we´ve had a couple of years of them both going.

And trips are usually around ?200 each.

But have heard of trips in UK being 1000+GBP-there seems to be some competetive "tripping" going on.

[diddl]

"competitive"