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Original poster

School trip for Y3 child is £22. Is this expensive or is it just me?

69 replies

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 22/04/2022 17:35

I know they've missed loads because of covid etc etc and that the cost of fuel and things has gone up. But I've just spotted this on my parentpay and my heart's sunk a bit. It means that we probs won't be buying as much in our weekly shop next week but I'm sure for some families this will represent a real stretch.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 22/04/2022 17:36

Do they not let you pay in instalments

NoSquirrels · 22/04/2022 17:38

Depends on what the trip is, and so on. It is expensive but it can also be good value. Hard to say.

We’re rural and school trips are always this much as coach hire is so costly.

Dealwithit · 22/04/2022 17:38

Pay in instalments or let the school know it’s difficult

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NightLightComfort · 22/04/2022 17:38

Is it by coach? If so, then I would say it was very reasonable as coaches cost a fortune.

Original poster

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 22/04/2022 17:39

Hmm it didn't say that on the parentpay letter but I might ask. The trips not until early July. It just seems a bit insensitive of school to load this on us the same week that they are increasing the school dinner prices!

OP posts:

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 22/04/2022 17:40

I don't think it's particularly expensive. But our school always had an option of paying in instalments if needed.

FairyCakeWings · 22/04/2022 17:40

We can’t tell you wether it’s expensive or not without knowing what the trip is, but I don’t think £22 is too much to ask parents to pay for their children to have a fun and educational day out. Its usually the transport costs that bump up the price of school trips.

If you can’t afford it then talk to the school, they will probably let you pay it in instalments, and if your child is PP then you can ask if that money can help pay for their trip.

Rhondapearlman · 22/04/2022 17:40

I don’t think that’s expensive but it’s all relative. If you’re struggling then it could be out of reach. At my daughters school they had capacity to allow children to still go on the trips if a parent couldn’t afford to pay. Is this something you could ask about.

confusedofengland · 22/04/2022 17:41

It seems about standard to me. My Year 6 & Year 8 Dses both have residentials coming up costing £350 & £450 respectively 😬

If you talk to school I am sure they will be able to come to some arrangement with you if you will struggle to pay. Agree it must be really hard for some families, especially those with multiple children.

SnowingInApril · 22/04/2022 17:41

Depends what it’s for.
A short day trip somewhere local = far too much.
Entry to an attraction, transport and lunch = reasonable.

NoSquirrels · 22/04/2022 17:42

It’s better they’ve told you in loads of time for the trip (a couple of pay days) than leaving it last minute.

If your DC is Yr3 you’re probably just not used to it!

SockFluffInTheBath · 22/04/2022 17:43

How long until it has to be paid/ could you put a bit aside each week?

When my DC were small money was tight and I put away a few pounds here and there when I could to cover surprises from the school.

LetsGoCrazyPurpleBanana · 22/04/2022 17:47

Not at all. We have to fork out £355 for a 3 day trip and £50 for a cub camp this month :( Daughter is year 5.

Kanaloa · 22/04/2022 17:53

I think it just depends what it is. My kids have had some school trips I’ve declined because the price seemed very high for what the trip was and I didn’t feel it was very sensible given that we are in such a deprived area. But I just kept them home that day and they missed the trip. However, if it was good value I’d try and scrape it together.

Louise0701 · 22/04/2022 18:00

I don’t think it’s expensive at all. I’m assuming it’s not a full day trip? Very cheap if so.

i suppose it depends on the area you live and the families the children come from. Where my DC go this wouldn’t be an issue.

OctopusSay · 22/04/2022 18:04

If there's a coach involved the vast majority of it will be to cover that.

However, the school can't require you to pay for a trip during the school day, only ask for a voluntary contribution. If it's going to cause hardship tell them you can't pay. They can't prevent DD from going, although may have to cancel the trip if too many parents are unable to contribute.

NeedAHoliday2021 · 22/04/2022 18:04

dc Year 6 trip is £250 (year 5 was £325) and I have twins so it’s double. I do wonder how some families manage. £22 sounds reasonable depending on what the trip is but that’s coach plus activity I assume?

DrPhilYourGuts · 22/04/2022 18:05

I wouldn't say expensive, not because of our financial circumstances, but in comparison to other trip fees we've paid in the past decade this is at the lower end. I can't think of a trip under £20! Even the odd free trip requires this in spends/equipments/lunch.

AxolotlEars · 22/04/2022 18:06

if we can't afford it we would just say so. Our daughter does get PPP so I know they use that money to fund things. I don't think there will be a chance she will go on the Year 6 residential unless they take it out of the PPP

ReadyToMoveIt · 22/04/2022 18:07

What’s the trip? My year 3 had a one night residential a couple of weeks ago which was £100. My year 2 has a farm trip coming up which was £20… very reasonable I thought as that includes the coach there and back, a packed lunch and entry to the farm.

TheChosenTwo · 22/04/2022 18:13

It’s recently been coach insurance which has pushed prices up for everything.
£22 with 3 months notice is, I’m sorry to say, very reasonable!
I’m guessing it’s transport and/or an entry fee.
Ds just went on an overnight stay (one night, left at the end of the school day and was back at lunchtime the next) and it was £110 - we got about 6 weeks notice of the trip and it had to be paid within a month.
It was an optional enrichment trip but most from his year did go.
I’d guess that your dds one is in school time and it’s encouraged that everyone goes (or at least pays!).
Your school would more than likely be happy to receive the money in instalments. Just speak to someone.

Goatinthegarden · 22/04/2022 18:19

I think that’s obscene. I teach in a Scottish school of mixed affluence and we have a policy of not asking for more than £20 per child from parents over the whole academic year (excluding the final year residential which we partially fundraiser for).

I’ve worked in very affluent areas and still we had parents who looked affluent to the outside world struggling to pay for school things. We don’t know a family’s financial circumstances, so I would never assume a family could just fork out.

This year (since August) I’ve taken my class on two museum trips, a botanic gardens trip, a pizza making class in a chain restaurant, an outdoor adventure activity, a cinema trip, the beach and a football stadium. I have asked for a total of £2-odd for bus money from parents (Scottish children now have free bus passes, so won’t even need to ask for that now). We’re also done several weeks of workshops with dancers and artists at their local studios.

We are lucky in that we’re based in a city centre, within walking or bus distance of lots of things, so zero transport, but there are plenty of free things available for teachers to book if they search hard enough. I have teaching friends across the city and we all share contacts and make the most of what is available. I needed to hire a coach for one of the outdoor activities and we were able to cover it from the parent council fundraising.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 22/04/2022 18:19

DDs have attended a few different schools so different approaches to trips

One school had its own buses. Trips were cheap. They also had funding from an external source to support the curriculum.

Another school had lots of FSM children. They did lots of fundraising for trips to minimise costs.

Current school can be a bit Magic Money Tree but the trips are genuinely good value... £17.50 for a day trip to Alton Towers for Yr6 for example. Residential is camping in tents the school owns.

Coach is likely to be a big part of the cost.

ChoiceMummy · 22/04/2022 18:22

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 22/04/2022 17:39

Ours have just had their trip which was that price and literally had 2 days notice to pay!
On top of 4 sponsored events this year alone on top of the usual bring 50p/£1 in for this and that and constant requests for contributions for sales etc!

I really do think that they're out of touch.

FabFitFifties · 22/04/2022 18:23

What type of trip?

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