Mandatory school trip

[WolfOfOdin]

Just a quick question

Should parents have to pay for a mandatory school trip that all children must attend?

Unenforceable, there is no such thing as a mandatory trip. Schools can arrange trips to support the children's learning but they don't have too so they can't make children attend.

you are acting entitled and horrified!

No she isn't @Mrsjayy

any educational trip must be accessible to all pupils, so they can't make anyone pay.

BUT schools basically have no budget for trips, so the only way of running them is to have parental contributions.

The wording shoudl be along the lines of:
We are asking for a voluntary contribution of £X per child. If not enough people pay the trip will not go ahead.

It is illegal for them to ask each parent for more to cover those who don't pay too, so if it costs £10 each, but they know that some children won't pay, they are not allowed to ask for £12 each to cover the extras.

As to compulsory, they will push very hard for every child to have permission to go, as it is seen as being an essential part of the curriculum. They would work hard with parents to get permission, and where necessary divert TAs etc from other classed to cover children who need more support when on a trip

They can’t make you pay, but if the trip is not a requirement of the course (just enhances learning) then they can leave your child behind. I take year 7, year, year 10 and year 11 out every year. It’s clearly stipulated that pupils in KS3 and GCSE geography must be given the opportunity to do fieldwork. Because this is a legal requirement of the course we cannot ask for any money at all. All pupils are expected to attend (unless unwell). The science department run a trip to Chester zoo, but this just enhances learning it’s not a requirement that they go so only those who pay are taken (there’s help available for low income families).

That should be year 7,9,10 and 11

Mrsjayy are you reading the same thread or is this some weird cross post comment? Please, as I asked you before, point out where you are seeing such things from me?

Or perhaps you are projecting because you are "horrified" that I would ask for info on something I dont know much about

Unenforceable, there is no such thing as a mandatory trip. Schools can arrange trips to support the children's learning but they don't have too so they can't make children attend.
Some trips are mandatory. We have some GCSE and A Level courses that have compulsory fieldwork elements.

Of course, I'm sure someone could refuse but then they'd be missing a key requirement for their course.

At no point have I said "how dare they" or said "it's a free school" or (bizarrely) mentioned that I don't understand why the school would want to take my child on a trip.

I think you're letting your imagination run away with itself MrsJayy

You can only be asked for a contribution, payment can't be a condition of attending a trip during school hours.

This is an England thing. In Scotland trips are not defined as an essential part of the curriculum. If you don't pay, your child does not go. None of this "contribution" stuff.

You're getting an unfairly hard time in places on this thread OP.
It's a reasonable question.

Thank you Lola I'm unsure as to where people are getting the idea from that I'm outraged, it was a simple question, a few people who work in schools have replied and given some good info.

You cant win on mumsnet sometimes, if you ask a question you get rude responses, if you dont ask a question and then make some sort of faux pas you are branded ignorant. We learn by asking questions.

Actually, I think their wording is terrible. The Governors should have Finance policies that cover this. Is it a rogue teacher who has misunderstood things? Or is the Head in charge of it? I would query the Head. Then if it's him/her taking this line, Can you photocopy and send it to the Clerk to Governors asking them to investigate.
If they are this casual with this aspect of things what else are they being casual with? Safeguarding? Challenging attainment and progress results? Etc. That would be the worry for me.

It’s interesting wording.

One of my DC has a school trip coming up. It’s an educational trip based around this terms classroom topics. It’s the sort of trip that’s not essential but that will enhance learning.

The letter basically says “The class will be going on an educational trip to xxx on date, the cost is £x per child, to be paid before the trip, any questions contact the school”

They don’t use the words mandatory trip or mandatory payments anywhere, but nothing about the trip or the payment suggests that either is voluntary on the part of the family.
Although it’s not like they can force people to pay. I suppose they could leave children behind if their parents don’t pay, or even cancel the trip if not enough people pay?

Having said that, I know they’re providing free pack lunches on the trip for children who qualify for free school meals, so I suspect that although they haven’t said so, they’re prepared to cover the cost for families who really can’t afford it.
We can afford the payment, so we have paid it.

@StormGlass the school has to provide a packed lunch for children on free school meals.

I've always wondered this. Our letter says a voluntary contribution of xx but you have to go onto School Ping to confirm attendance and it won't let you do that unless you pay. Really winds me up.

The wording is totally wrong and actually I would raise it with the school. Just because the OP can afford it doesn't mean all families can, and some who are struggling may feel they have to pay money they can't afford or keep their children off school that day.

Some schools don't help themselves because they communicate to parents in quite an aggressive and demanding way.
Mostly parents are willing to help out, do long as requests/demands aren't constant and wording of letters is polite.

I honestly think some posters are reading a totally different thread to me!!
The OP has asked a simple question and has remained calm with measured responses to such wild accusations
Entitled and Horrified??? Come on!!

The school the sibling was at were completely different and said they had a special fund for cases like that and not to worry at all.

The special fund is probably the class teacher or the Head.

prampushing I know, I've not once felt outraged in the slightest, or acted entitled, I was just curious as I haven't come across this before

Brokenlightfitting you needn't worry. When I found out, after the fact, I paid it.

I always pay the full amount, even when that's more than the voluntary contribution, because shitty school funding is a disgrace. But would feel irritated to be told it was compulsory.

I don't know why so many people are being hard on the OP. She asked a perfectly reasonable question. OK, maybe you think she should have known the answer, but she didn't, so she asked, in a perfectly civil manner. I expect WolfOfOdin knows plenty about some things that her detractors are clueless about.
As for her being outraged, I don't see that myself. But she should be. We all should be. Because what is happening in our schools is outrageous.
It is outrageous that the government declared that all 16-18 year olds needed to stay in education or training, thus increasing the numbers wanting 6th form places without adequately funding that provision.
It is outrageous that headteachers and senior management teams are having to pick up significant classroom teaching workloads without any decrease in their management work.
It is outrageous that staff in schools are not being replaced when they leave.
It is outrageous that school sports teams, orchestras, even libraries and the like are needing sponsorship from private firms.
It is outrageous that teachers like my niece provide basic materials like pencils and glue sticks for her class and takes in food on a daily basis for hungry children.
It is outrageous that parents like my husband spend their weekends doing repairs at the village school because the perimeter is insecure and there is not enough money to fix it.
It is outrageous that one of the technology rooms at my children's secondary school was refurbished thanks to fundraising by staff and clients of a local company as the school couldn't afford it.
It is fantastic that we have people willing and able to do all these things and more, but they really, really shouldn't have to.
And if we all just accept it, and then pile on anyone who dares say "Err, is this how it is supposed to be?" how is anything going to change. Yes, its inevitable that we have to pay for things, and with the current government we are likely to pay for more. Most of us can and will pay. But that doesn't mean we should stop talking about it and challenge the situation if not for ourselves and our own children, for those who cannot pay.

Yes, OP has been entirely reasonable.

If they are this casual with this aspect of things what else are they being casual with? Safeguarding? Challenging attainment and progress results? Etc. That would be the worry for me.
Now THIS sort of response would be an example of overreacting and trying to manufacture a situation.

I agree with you MAFIL. There are things to be outraged at in education, especially funding issues and the knock on effects.

But the OP isn't being entitled or outraged. She's calmly asked a question she didn't know the answer to and has listened to posters.