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Original poster

Paying for school trips

294 replies

Workinghardeveryday · 17/09/2022 09:47

I was under the impression that no child could be excluded from a school trip even if it wasn’t paid for?

We got a letter on their first day of high school advising there is a school trip for RE in less than two weeks time.

I rang to give consent, to be told I had to log onto Parent Pay, make my payment of £30 each child and give my consent there.

I explained I don’t use Parent Pay and would give my consent over the phone or via email.

I was advised this is not possible the deputy head rang me, she advised she wouldn’t want my children to be excluded from the trip (twins so £60!!) unless I pay.

OP posts:
Original poster
Workinghardeveryday · 17/09/2022 15:40

holidaynightmare · 17/09/2022 15:33

This is why trips can cost so much because the parents that pay for their children end up subsiding those who don't or won't and it's unfair on parents that do pay

If your child is eligable for pupil premium the school gets funding by to cover it otherwise pay up!!!

Have you read all my posts?

we are not eligible for any help.

not a voluntary contribution, no payment no trip.

and fyi, I have always paid for all school trips for all 3 kids, this is the first time

OP posts:
SunflowerOrange · 17/09/2022 15:45

It really is a good idea up above to start putting money aside on parent pay. Just small amounts will add up, and then it will be there when the "next thing" comes along.

We had some money refunded after a residential trip cost less than planned and I left the money there so it was "ready" for the next thing!

Original poster
Workinghardeveryday · 17/09/2022 15:48

@SunflowerOrange thank you, it is a good idea.

I worry that one of the twins in particular would spend it on crap in the canteen! Could they do that?

OP posts:

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ClocksGoingBackwards · 17/09/2022 15:53

I have not once said I won’t use pp actually.

You haven’t said you will either! You have said repeatedly that you ‘dont’ use it, and said that you have never needed to before as if it justifies why you won’t now. This is a completely separate issue from being unable to pay for the trip.

I have no interest in arguing with you, I’m trying to help you realise that by refusing to sign up to parent pay and expecting the school to continue to take consent over the phone, you ARE being a difficult parent. If you’re going to choose to be difficult, then you can’t be surprised when they don’t fall over themselves to help you pay for your children.

Why can’t you just set up the account and then talk to them separately about your struggle to pay for the trip? If you did that, I’d expect them to be polite and helpful. But if you aren’t willing to do your bit, why should they?

lunar1 · 17/09/2022 15:59

Are there really no closer places of worship! That's seems a crazy amount for this trip.

Ivchangedmynameforthis · 17/09/2022 16:06

I work in a secondary school in a deprived area OP and when organising trips we have to give parents the option of a payment plan where they can pay weekly. We even do this for trips which are between £5 - £10. We also fundraise in class and use that to deduct from the price we ask parents for. Could you maybe as the school if this is a possibility for you (payment plan not fundraise)

Maytodecember · 17/09/2022 16:08

Parent Pay or no Parent Pay, isn’t really the point.
£60 is £60 you don’t have and I don’t think a Head should be suggesting you ask family to contribute ( who may well be in the same rocketing fuel/ food / rent/ mortgage crisis we’re all in atm)
Id have explained to my DDs that I couldn’t afford it, hopefully next time, and tell the school they’re not going. Sometimes life’s difficult and the school should understand this.

UpsilonPi · 17/09/2022 16:12

We had a trip sprung on us at short notice and another parent asked if she could pay over a few weeks. It was something like £60 and she normally would have the money but was stretched at that particular time. I think this is a fair compromise if it's about planning and short notice.
If it's not just about short notice and you are struggling to find money for extras like this, then you do need to let the school know so your kids don't miss out.

I tend to have a few quid in a saving account for this type of thing. Sometimes I know a trip is coming up, but we are not asked to pay until quite close to the time, and that can mean needing £30-40 "by the end of the week" every now and then.

CornishTiger · 17/09/2022 16:12

£30 to a place of worship. An hour away.

What exactly is so amazing about this particular place that makes it so vital. Surely there are so many other immersive opportunities online they don’t need to be herding 200 pupils there.

The lack of notice is bad too. Many family budgets can’t just magic up £30 at short notice.

Iwantthesummersun · 17/09/2022 16:18

You may never have needed it before but you certainly should be using it now. The amount of time spent in school offices counting money for trips/ lunch/ etc is outrageous. Parent pay cuts down massively on unnecessary admin, freeing up time make make other aspects of day to day school life run more smoothly. Also, as a class teacher, collecting money etc took ages and was a right faff. Someone always lost it or at
least some of it. Parent pay means I never have to do this now so stops wasted classroom time.

ForestofD · 17/09/2022 16:19

You can add small amounts of money for the canteen, OP- and if it is the same as our system, you can see what they have bought.

Now my DD is older, I just put £25 on for her to spend but when she started, I put enough for 1 weeks proper meals and she was expected to use that. No money for drinks as the school is really good about providing chilled water to drink.

sanityisamyth · 17/09/2022 16:23

Workinghardeveryday · 17/09/2022 14:46

@ClocksGoingBackwards

okay, if I am coming across badly I apologise. Not well today, temperature feeling pretty poorly.

my dd16 has just left the same school and always took cash for trips, art supplies, gcse books etc, it was never an issue at all. Consent was always over the phone.

it’s hardly lazy, I need to get the cash out and take it to the school, much harder than pressing a few buttons!!

How long is it going to take to call 200 students' parents, probably more than once if they're not in/don't answer the phone? It's so much easier to do everything online.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 17/09/2022 16:24

Where l used to work parents were not given the option of not using Parentpay. They had to buy some special card thing and pay by that.
In the digital age we live in Parentpay makes everything much smoother and faster. Also by laying you are also giving consent.

Tgeg switched to Parentpay about 8 years ago and every parent had to have it under the home school agreement.

User135792468 · 17/09/2022 16:29

Workinghardeveryday · 17/09/2022 10:03

I told them we were really stretched and I couldn’t afford it, very short notice.

it said on letter it was to cover travel costs of the bus and insurance. It’s an hour away for goodness sake!

I just didn’t know they could exclude children anymore if they couldn’t afford it 🤔

Are you serious? You didn’t realise that if you don’t pay for something, your child can’t go free of charge? You expect other parents to fund your children… the sense of entitlement is astonishing.

sheepdogdelight · 17/09/2022 16:31

my dd16 has just left the same school and always took cash for trips, art supplies, gcse books etc, it was never an issue at all. Consent was always over the phone.

IME schools have become way more automated/online over the last couple of years. Exacerbated in part by Covid. I've noticed my DD's experience in terms of having to do things online is entirely different at her school that that of DS who was 2 years older. I suspect it's very likely the school did not enforce online payments with those already in the school, but they are starting as they mean to go on with new Year 7s.

Anyway, this isn't an issue with ParentPay. If you could pay in cash, you presumably couldn't rustle up the money any better. Just say your DC won't be going. They will probably have an onsite alternative.

timeofillusion · 17/09/2022 16:46

lunar1 · 17/09/2022 15:59

Are there really no closer places of worship! That's seems a crazy amount for this trip.

Possibly a synagogue? Or a mosque? (Formerly most likely)

AMindNeedsBooks · 17/09/2022 16:54

Out of curiosity, do teachers have to pay towards the transport as they are obviously using it too? Or do they get paid to go while children of families who can't afford it miss out?

CatLadyDrinksGin · 17/09/2022 16:55

Workinghardeveryday · 17/09/2022 15:48

@SunflowerOrange thank you, it is a good idea.

I worry that one of the twins in particular would spend it on crap in the canteen! Could they do that?

No- you can add money to the parent pay account then move it to other for trips or lunch money. It won’t go into the food part unless you actively put it there. Just download the app, it’s no hassle, you can pay by card for each item, you don’t even have to store your bank details on there. Amazed you got one child through school without it- did she never go on a trip or have a snack at school? Or buy art supplies etc?

DownToTheSeaAgain · 17/09/2022 17:04

AMindNeedsBooks · 17/09/2022 16:54

Out of curiosity, do teachers have to pay towards the transport as they are obviously using it too? Or do they get paid to go while children of families who can't afford it miss out?

The idea that teachers should pay to do something that is part of their job, often outside of school hours is nuts. They'd just refuse to go on trips if this were the case.

User135792468 · 17/09/2022 17:10

AMindNeedsBooks · 17/09/2022 16:54

Out of curiosity, do teachers have to pay towards the transport as they are obviously using it too? Or do they get paid to go while children of families who can't afford it miss out?

I can’t believe some people are so dim that they make comments like this without any sense of irony at all.

ClocksGoingBackwards · 17/09/2022 17:10

AMindNeedsBooks · 17/09/2022 16:54

Out of curiosity, do teachers have to pay towards the transport as they are obviously using it too? Or do they get paid to go while children of families who can't afford it miss out?

😂 that’s like asking if train drivers have to buy a ticket before doing their job!

And guess what, teachers don’t even have to pay when they give up their own time to take other people’s children on residential school trips!

Original poster
Workinghardeveryday · 17/09/2022 17:17

User135792468 · 17/09/2022 16:29

Are you serious? You didn’t realise that if you don’t pay for something, your child can’t go free of charge? You expect other parents to fund your children… the sense of entitlement is astonishing.

Show quote history

No I expect the school to pay obviously.

have you read all my posts? No?

I have always paid for all trips including the voluntary payment ones.

do not try and insinuate I don’t pay my way like some do, you don’t know me do you.

It is an educational visit the school have stated they need to attend in school time. So by me not paying they cannot attend and it will affect their education. How is that fair exactly?

I am all ears…

OP posts:
Original poster
Workinghardeveryday · 17/09/2022 17:18

CatLadyDrinksGin · 17/09/2022 16:55

No- you can add money to the parent pay account then move it to other for trips or lunch money. It won’t go into the food part unless you actively put it there. Just download the app, it’s no hassle, you can pay by card for each item, you don’t even have to store your bank details on there. Amazed you got one child through school without it- did she never go on a trip or have a snack at school? Or buy art supplies etc?

Show quote history

Good to know, I will work this out when I download, thank you

OP posts:
holidaynightmare · 17/09/2022 17:19

Workinghardeveryday · 17/09/2022 09:47

I was under the impression that no child could be excluded from a school trip even if it wasn’t paid for?

We got a letter on their first day of high school advising there is a school trip for RE in less than two weeks time.

I rang to give consent, to be told I had to log onto Parent Pay, make my payment of £30 each child and give my consent there.

I explained I don’t use Parent Pay and would give my consent over the phone or via email.

I was advised this is not possible the deputy head rang me, she advised she wouldn’t want my children to be excluded from the trip (twins so £60!!) unless I pay.

I don't get your issue with not using parent pay? It's less hassle than drawing cash And most schools are now cash free and sensibly so - it's 2022 not 1962!!

You cannot assume your kids can go on a trip you can't pay for - your children your responsibility

And why should other parents subsidise you not paying for your own kids - that's not fair at all and your view is coming scores extremely entitled
Our school say "the trip is x amount, those on pupil premium please contact the school officer" everyone else consents and pays online.

I'm not sure why this is such a weird concept??

fucap · 17/09/2022 17:19

Out of curiosity, do teachers have to pay towards the transport as they are obviously using it too? Or do they get paid to go while children of families who can't afford it miss out?
They don't have to pay towards transport.
No, they do not get paid extra. It's part of their job.
If they had to pay to go they wouldn't go.
I taught for 10 years, never had to pay to go on a trip, never got paid extra, even for the residential ones in the holidays. But I spent a small fortune on my own money equipping the classroom because the schools I worked in were so stretched for resources. There were no glue sticks, coloured pencils, pens etc... never mind an adequate number of books for the children to read. No games, counting resources etcetc.