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Original poster

School Trip to Paris

113 replies

Verbena37 · 13/01/2015 10:37

Hi.
In a couple of weeks, my year 8 child is off to a Euro Disney with school for a couple of days and on one day, they are off into Paris City to visit a few places, eat out etc.
With all of the recent trouble in Paris, would you send your child? It's not really Disney I'm concerned about.....and I'm not worrying about any more shootings really I don't think. It's more the worry about more mass demos and protests and what that may entail. With 10000 troops with weapons being sent into Paris etc and the implications if something kicked off whilst they were there.
I just feel slightly uneasy about them going. Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Original poster
Verbena37 · 16/01/2015 20:34

Ooh yes please....that sounds extremely helpful.

I have also just emailed the travel section at the British Foreign Office.

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 16/01/2015 20:25

In fact, I think I ought to talk to the father of a very good friend of DD's (at her school, in her class), who happens to be No 2 at the British Embassy here in Paris and make sure the information is passed on the right person!

Original poster
Verbena37 · 16/01/2015 20:23

Really?
Gosh.....I will show my DH your reply.
I did think I would contact the foreign office next week.

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Bonsoir · 16/01/2015 20:22

Then you should be contacting the Foreign Office and asking them to amend the advice on their page!

The very nice lady who supervises all entrances and exits and does reception/parent liaison at the annex where DD is at school was flabbergasted when I told her your story this morning! Her reaction was as mine: if Paris isn't safe for French schoolchildren, how the hell can it be safe for foreign schoolchildren?

Original poster
Verbena37 · 16/01/2015 18:10

I meant Hmm

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Original poster
Verbena37 · 16/01/2015 18:10

School issued details today. Said they had checked out the British Home Office site and it says be vigilant and they asked the travel comp.(think I will call them next week) and if parents are worried/have queries school say get in touch with them.
I had composed an email asking if they knew about French school groups suspension but didn't send it as a friend just told me that unless the British Foreign Office declare it unsafe, they won't get the insurance back [frown]

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Bonsoir · 16/01/2015 07:39

Verbena - I agree that the tour operators could lose a lot of money over this. Hence them not being neutral parties.

ravenAK · 15/01/2015 22:28

They do rather depend on repeat business - & schools are pretty risk adverse, when it comes to a) trips to 'forn parts' & b) suppliers that have caused us difficulties in the past...

Original poster
Verbena37 · 15/01/2015 21:38

Think how much money the travel comps will lose though.....perhaps they haven't divulged it on purpose? Although I'm sure our home office would put something more on their travel section if it were relevant?

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ravenAK · 15/01/2015 21:34

Ah OK, your trip isn't us then! Grin.

I will nonetheless be passing on Bonsoir's link to my colleague who is organising a Paris trip in the next few weeks...but I do know it doesn't match with the info he's been given by the travel company - he's been coming to me for occasional advice about other aspects of running a trip to Europe as I do rather a lot of residentials.

Bonsoir · 15/01/2015 21:11
Grin
Original poster
Verbena37 · 15/01/2015 21:10

I said that exact same thing to DH but he was adamant it would work the same way.....sneaks off to tell him I was right Wink

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 15/01/2015 21:05

Because this is France and it doesn't work the same way as the UK!

Original poster
Verbena37 · 15/01/2015 21:04

DH doesn't get why it's the dept. if Ed that has stated the no groups out in Paris and not the French Home Office?

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Original poster
Verbena37 · 15/01/2015 21:01

nope raven, not in West Yorkshire.
Just chatted to DH and he said a good idea would be to ask the school /LEA for the risk assessment regarding security following the Incident.

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Bonsoir · 15/01/2015 20:56

Very odd. Very worrying.

Our DC are not allowed out in groups - not just school groups but also guides/scouts etc. They are not allowed to hang about on the pavement in groups etc. No museum or place of interest may take school groups.

ravenAK · 15/01/2015 20:50

Mmmm. I teach in a school that's planning a Paris trip fairly imminently. It was certainly on as of earlier this week, & following discussion with the travel company.

Bonsoir · 15/01/2015 20:18

I must say that I find it truly bizarre that the information Is not "out there" that school trips to Paris are currently off limits.

I cannot stress enough that groups of DC are not able to circulate in Paris at the moment.

Original poster
Verbena37 · 15/01/2015 18:56

I will wait until Monday Bonsoir because tomorrow they are sending home the itinerary and details etc so they may put something in there to quell my worries.

And no.....I won't approach school with my worries....just my assertive suggestions (love the wristband idea with contact number) and questions.

Thanks for your input peeps Smile

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Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 15/01/2015 18:41

My dad (16) is off for exchange near Paris in March. I was a wee bit worried, now I find out the town they are staying in was involved in last weeks violence. I'm still a bit Hmm but if anything security there will been tighter.

threepiecesuite · 15/01/2015 18:36

You won't be the only parent feeling uneasy. Call school and ask to speak to the trip organiser for up to date info.

FWIW, we took a large group of 12-16 year olds to Paris and Disney in October. In Disney, staff took it in turns to wait at the meeting point and all kids had a wristband with staff contact details on.
In Paris, we did a tour by coach then straight off coach onto river boat and back on, it was all very well managed by staff (7 staff for 66 kids). When I am in loco parentis, I take that role really seriously, I hope your DD's teachers will too.

Bonsoir · 15/01/2015 18:21

Verbena - I suggest you don't approach the school with "worries". Take the article I linked to, highlight the bit about no incoming school trips and ask them what their tour operator and insurer have said.

ravenAK · 15/01/2015 17:57

would you by any chance be in west yorks?

Original poster
Verbena37 · 15/01/2015 17:49

Oh I see.
Gosh, it would seem strange then to allow any students to go.
Like you said though, the Bristish foreign notice says nothing specific about school trips. Their update does seem very wary though for visitors....saying the threat of terrorism is extremely high.

No doubt school will just say "oh it's Verbena again.....worrying for nothing".

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Bonsoir · 15/01/2015 17:41

My DD is at school in Paris! I can assure you they are not allowed off school premises and won't be for weeks.