The cost of school trips in independent schools

[UkraineQueen]

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?

Re the activities.. Almost all are run by trained professionals at the site, not teachers. In fact teachers are often specifically not in authority during such activities other than usual discipline etc. Of course there are occasional knocks / breaks / sprains because just for once kids are allowed to put themselves ever so slightly at risk. That's fine. Obviously the extremely rare instances of serious injury or death always merit enquiry but so much is gained from these trips that to avoid them over the small risk of perfectly acceptable childhood mishaps is crazy.

Every hostel I've ever been to (school, Brownies, work, etc) has been immaculately clean. Yes, children share, usually in large, secure rooms with a few bunk beds, but the provisions are perfectly adequate, warm, safe, comfortable and the food planned to give them good nutrition and energy for their daily activities and expeditions.

A Youth hostel is completely different to a hostel for the homeless and, in some ways, is often superior to the facilities provided in a 2* (which are fine in any case, they just aren't tailored to the specific requirements of a large group of children and supervising staff).

It's a different experience to go away without family present. Not better or worse, just different - and whilst some might only ever have seen a 5* hotel room before, some equally might never have been away from home and some have only ever been the centre of attention or never had the enjoyment of talking late at night with friends away from houses - or of the sense of achievement possible from a group of children working together to solve problems or complete challenges in a structured and professional setting.

I found out I wasn't as scared of heights as much as I loved abseiling. And that I'm a natural with horses and don't get sick on boats - seeing seals outside a shitty Sealife Centre, with sunshine on the waves and more birds than I'd ever seen in the city was a revelation. None of those things would have happened in a week in a caravan with family that wanted to play cards, watch television and chuck a rod and line out into the lake all day and night (but not allow anybody else to take part). I went to museums, cathedrals, castles and medieval towns.

But what I loved best was breathing fresh, clean air and seeing greenery and blue sky, waking up to hear birdsong, rather than grey concrete, graffiti and hearing sirens.

It's so important for children to learn there is a world outside their home for themselves, not just in books or on the telly - and school trips, including ones with hostel accommodation, are perfect for that.

Angrybird

One person's acceptable risk taking is another's unacceptable. Allowing my dc to go on these activities would have been foolish.
They have all competed/ were competing at the highest level in their extra curricular activities and any injury would have put them at a huge disadvantage, might even have cost them their place.