Would you let your child go on this school trip?

I’d say let them go. It’s one night and they’re not about to do their A levels or anything. They’ll likely be a bit tired the next day but that’s not a big deal.

I'd do it even though DD wouldn't sleep on the coach on the way back. The disruption is worthwhile imo.

It’s one day.

It’s one day. Of course I’d let them go.

I was about that age the first time I went to a west end show. I remember falling asleep on my dad's shoulder on the train back home to our midlands town. The kids will mostly all sleep on the coach home.
One late night won't kill them. They're 7, not toddlers.

Absolutely let them go. They will cope for one night.

If they're used to going to bed at like 8pm or something then I'd be concerned they might fall asleep during the performance?
I'd question a bit why they didn't go to a matinee? Which is a bit more child friendly and probably cheaper. Maybe it's very far away?
But they'll get to see the west end of London, probably a few landmarks and I'm sure will have a good if slightly tiring time.
Assuming they've got a few friends also going then I'd say let them.

This.

Yes, I would absolutely let them go. They’ll most likely have a whale of a time and if they’re tired the next day, so what? They’ll catch up on sleep the next night.

I meant that they are in a performing arts school where odd hours for performances and work will be a normal thing. I know that there are children (and adults) who struggle with it and maybe a career onstage is not the best thing for them?

I think it's fine provided your child can generally cope with the odd late night and you feel they could manage this.

I would have absolutely no issue with this. I honestly dont understand why anyone would, how miserable to deprive your child such a positive experience because of a late night and possibly being a bit tired the next day. Poor kid!

Controversial opinion but I think too much is made of bedtime ‘routines’ for children. They’re almost always for the parents’ benefit rather than the child. It’s not detrimental to them if they’re up late one night. In fact, as people have pointed out, it will have great benefit to them.

Because they would have to make it available to all free of charge / voluntary contribution etc. trips during school hours get complicated.

Huh? I don't understand your question.

I would happily agree to this for my children as they’d both have loved it at this age.

To all those commenting on the evening performance, it can be incredibly difficult to book matinee performances as demand is high from schools. There is also the difficulty of losing lesson time to a non curriculum activity, particularly one that is not universally offered.

It isnt the responsibility of the school to organise how your child will be collected. Why do schools now have to think for parents too? If logistically it doesn’t work for your family, don’t send them!!

The teachers on this thread are exasperated that we are being bashed for going out of our way to plan amazing experiences for kids. Honestly, trip planning is a nightmare. The burden on the trip leader is enormous. in this case the teachers will work all day and then lead a trip all evening. They won’t see their own family that day. If anything goes wrong it’s our entire livelihood (and liberty) on the line. So many teachers point blank refuse to organise trips now because of this.

and if the lateness is affecting the child then should they stay in the school at all?

have I got this right? Is it being arranged by a performing arts school that the child attends? Is there any hope/expectation that the littlies will get parts in other shows? Because if they are and they want to do it, the nights will be a lot later.

Depends on the child I guess. I have one that would be fine/have a lie in the following day, and one that would be awake at 5:30 regardless and be a living nightmare for the rest of us from being overtired I'd have let them go as a one off anyway If they wanted to.

But if your child is already involved in performing arts then are they not used to late nights from evening performances? If that's affected them negatively in the past I can understand reluctance but if they usually cope then I don't see the issue.

Depends what the show is and whether you take them to the theatre at other times. My DD's experience of school theatre trips has been that they often get rubbish seats with a restricted view. We go to the theatre/musicals as a family a few times a year, so it's not a particularly exciting trip for her. But I know that schools often take children to improve their cultural capital as their families don't go the rest of the time.

I let mine go on trips like this.
They were also on school on time next day..
They went to bed earlier next night if they were tired but as ds2 said, his body just resets! 😆

They'll probably all fall asleep on the coach home, they'll be knackered. It's unusual to choose an evening performance for such young ones but I'd let mine go, yes. They'll have a lovely time.