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Original poster

The cost of school trips in independent schools

153 replies

UkraineQueen · 14/05/2019 10:10

I have just moved DS to an independent school, due to problems he was having at his old state secondary.

One of the things I am genuinely shocked at is how much cheaper the school trips are in the independent school. For example, a 3-day trip to Germany at his old school was going to cost £800. The trip to Paris at the new independent school will be £600 for 6 days. Both trips involved flights and a stay at 2 star hotel accommodation.

I am wondering now why school trips in state schools are so expensive, or is it just that our experiences aren't typical of the norm?

OP posts:
Pinkyyy · 14/05/2019 14:51

Oh it would be an absolute no to a youth hostel.

MariaNovella · 14/05/2019 14:51

A pool? It’s not a resort holiday.

teyem · 14/05/2019 14:52

Not just room service, what if they want to get their clothes pressed or ask the concierge to source some tickets for the opera, you know, the basics?

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Pinkyyy · 14/05/2019 14:52

@dreichuplands by the sounds of it, mine won't be going.

MariaNovella · 14/05/2019 14:52

They have fun in youth hostels!

dreichuplands · 14/05/2019 14:52

My dc have had potential access to pools on some trips but even cheap hotels in the US often have small ones.

Jackiebrambles · 14/05/2019 14:54

The most memorable school trip I had was a youth hostel type trip in Wales, with 8 girls in a room! We had great fun, almost got caught sneaking into the boys dorm :-D

Pinkyyy · 14/05/2019 14:54

@teyem if hardly liken ordering yourself a bowl of chips to tickets to the opera. Room service isn't fancy, it's a basic thing in my opinion.

dreichuplands · 14/05/2019 14:54

pinky You don't want your dc to be the one staying at school while all the other dc go off and then come back with deeper friendships and a ton of stories.
You've got time to address your issues.

rhowton · 14/05/2019 14:55

A lot of state schools use some of the money to subsides children who previously wouldn't be able to afford to go. Whereas at private school, a large majority can afford the trips!

Pinkyyy · 14/05/2019 15:00

@dreichuplands I honestly don't think I have any issues. In all honesty the main issue would be whether or not I'd be able to let them go to a different country at that age without me. That's something I'd have to put a lot of thought into.

MariaNovella · 14/05/2019 15:01

the main issue would be whether or not I'd be able to let them go to a different country at that age without me.

Why?

BertrandRussell · 14/05/2019 15:01

“Oh it would be an absolute no to a youth hostel.”

Oh shut up, Pinkyy- it’s not funny any more!

TeenTimesTwo · 14/05/2019 15:03

rhowton A lot of state schools use some of the money to subsides children who previously wouldn't be able to afford to go

They're not allowed to do that.

Pinkyyy as a matter of interest, do you have children, and if so how old?

Pinkyyy · 14/05/2019 15:06

@MariaNovella I honestly don't know if I'd be able to. I suppose hopefully I'll trust that they're grown up enough to look after themselves.

@BertrandRussell I've made it quite clear that I'm not trying to be funny so there's no need to be rude.

@TeenTimesTwo I do but not at secondary age yet so I have a while to think about these things.

BlueSkiesLies · 14/05/2019 15:07

PMSL at room service and a pool

dreichuplands · 14/05/2019 15:09

pinky most schools start UK based trips in primary school, often outdoor activity based ones.

MariaNovella · 14/05/2019 15:12

My DD went to summer camp in the US when she was 7, for three weeks. She slept in a cabin Shock

Pinkyyy · 14/05/2019 15:13

@dreichuplands yes there was one last year but my DC didn't want to go so I didn't have to give it much thought.

TeenTimesTwo · 14/05/2019 15:14

The thing is pinkyyy , posher hotels won't want a bunch of teenagers (even well behaved ones) staying in them, for fear they will upset the other guests. More budget places are not only more affordable for the majority of parents, but are likely to be slightly more accepting of teenagers.

On school trips they tends to do mass ordered meals, sometimes provide packed lunches. Pack 3 -4 kids to a room (so 'family' rooms). Our Paris trip has 90 pupils, so you need a big enough hotel to cover that too.

Also, tbh, it is good for children to 'slum it' occasionally if used to smarter holidays with their families. It makes them appreciate family holidays more, and to understand that to get nice accommodation you have to work hard to earn money etc.

Trips are almost always educational. (Not skiing obviously). My DDs have done Paris, Nice, WWI battle fields, Geography field trips. All with clear educational benefit. We wouldn't fund them otherwise.

Pinkyyy · 14/05/2019 15:14

@MariaNovella do you live in the US? How did you feel about it?

BertrandRussell · 14/05/2019 15:14

“@BertrandRussell I've made it quite clear that I'm not trying to be funny so there's no need to be rude.”

I don’t believe you. It is impossible for a person genuinely to see no problem with teenaged having free access to room service and a pool, or to think that a Youth Hostel is unsuitable for youth! It has to be a spoof

MariaNovella · 14/05/2019 15:15

No, I don’t live in the US. She went with her brother, who was 14 at the time. It was absolutely fine! She learned SO much!

BertrandRussell · 14/05/2019 15:16

“A lot of state schools use some of the money to subsides children who previously wouldn't be able to afford to go”
No they don’t. They might use PP money to subsidise PP children......

Hollowvictory · 14/05/2019 15:17

@rhowton that's incorrect and is not allowed. School can use pupil premium money for some specific elements, pta may chip in etc but they can't use my payment to subsidise someone else's trip.