Paying for school trips

[Workinghardeveryday]

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.

Already stated more than once I do not expect teachers to pay out of their own money, school should, not the parents

Schols can’t afford teachers or heating bills though.

So that’s what we say @Porcupineintherough ? Welcome to the world. That’s it?

Shin pads can be picked up very cheaply. I paid under a fiver for my lads last week.

I would try speaking to the head and see if there's anything else they could do, if not then they just won't go on the trip. I'm a lone parent so I completely get how frustrating it is to get requests for money at last minute. It can knock your budget out on a tight month.

You need to get parent pay though, schools will soon be cashless. All trip etc. Will be paid for on there so better off setting up an account now. It takes a few minutes.

To be fair to the OP I think many parents don't know exactly how bad school budgets are and how they are struggling to afford the basics, let alone help out with the financing of school trips.

But it is hitting all of us, @ilovesooty , so the school can’t not be aware of it. We’ve had updated safeguarding training in relation to the cost of living spiralling out of control, so even if you do genuinely live under a rock or with your parents and walk to school, or something, I really don’t think there isn’t an adult in the land who can’t look people in the eye and say ‘we know things are tough right now.’

If the cost of things is genuinely such that it’s a ‘don’t pay, don’t go’ situation then I really don’t think schools should be demanding a not-insignificant amount of money from parents at a time like this. £30 is a lot of money. I don’t think the OP is the one who is being difficult here. I think the school are being exceptionally obtuse not to realise the position they are putting families in.

Couldn’t have said it better myself

I'm assuming that secondary schools work to different rules because in primary we were absolutely not allowed to charge for curriculum events within school time.

Ask for a contribution yes but not a charge.

We also could not increase the contribution request to accommodate children who couldn't/wouldn't pay.

Cost of trip (transport, entry etc) divided by number of children. That's it.

It was the schools responsibility to make sure they could fund any shortfall or cancel the trip (or not offer it in the first place)

Obviously this excludes residential trips etc

OP I would contact the school again and state your position.

If there's no traction I would make a complaint. That's too much money on a moments notice for something they say is compulsary.

@Soapboxqueen Thank you, that is good to know.

Apparently the Head is aware and repeated it has to be paid for prior to the trip or the cannot attend, it would be such a shame as it is an educational trip they really should go to….

@Soapboxqueen i must admit that was what I was always led to believe as well, but I don’t know if the rules have changed.

I don’t think trips should be cancelled for the foreseeable, but I do think that it is only fair and reasonable to give as much notice as possible and offer instalment payment as an option to parents. I also think that a quiet sort of ‘if this may prove difficult for you at this time, please contact Mrs X to discuss’ is also only fair. I don’t believe anyone doesn’t know or can’t imagine how bone crushingly humiliating it is to admit you’ve no money. Giving parents a named person - hopefully someone with a bit more sensitivity than some of the posters on this thread - is one way of alleviating this.

Perhaps I should ask staff to contribute towards the heating bill for school after all they are benefitting from the warmth.

Your comment is honestly the most ridiculous and faintly insulting I have read for a long time.

Trips are stressful for staff. They take a lot of organising and the actual time out of school is exhausting as you are on high alert all the time.
Be nice if they got extra pay for ensuring the pupils got additional experiences rather than it being suggested they pay for the privilege

I've scan read so apologies if this has been stated but on residential trips you usually get free places for teachers so according to the age of the children they'll state how many adults they want. It's not paid for by the children.

Neither is all their extra time worked paid for either 🙄

Apart from the fact you are very rude, my point was - if pupils have to pay x amount to cover buses, are the teachers paying for themselves or the school? Less money for the students to pay per person if they are. The trip is for the pupils but they are happy for some to miss out if their parents don't earn enough.

That goes for everyone laughing at me because I believe all children should have the same experience no matter what their background.

Which is the same for any salaried job. I can't believe how many are fine with children missing out. If you don't like working on a salary or teaching, choose a different career.

I don't think any of us are saying it's "fine" for children to miss out. It's merely a fact that if their place isn't paid for - no matter who by - they can't go.
That is the state schools are in right now.

Ok, so who is paying the teachers places? They are already being paid for their role. Are the schools covering that or is the cost for transport being only spread across the students? Some who can't afford it but possibly could if the cost was less and not paying for the teachers too. I really don't think I've asked a difficult question.

So you're saying that teachers should pay for the privilege of accompanying trips and find alternative employment if they find that unacceptable?

Since it's not my trip, I'm only guessing - but the teachers will likely get "free" places at the venue. The parents will be paying for their transport and cover. Schools do not have money to spend on trips. If the parents don't contribute, there is no trip. If I'm directed to go on a trip, I'm certainly not going to pay to go! I'd rather be in school.

I'm not sure why you're bring so arsy with me, frankly. You might not like the answers but that's the situation in schools. There is no spare money. For anything.

No. I'm saying that if it goes outwith school hours then that's part of your salaried job which you signed up for. The school should pay their part in my opinion to reduce costs for innocent children who aren't old enough to have a paid job.

As for accompanying trips being a privilege, I'd imagine it would be a break from classroom stresses. But not for the children they're supposed to be helping when they aren't allowed to go because they don't have enough money.

Anyone who thinks a school trip is a "break from
the stresses" has never organised a school trip.

I'm not being arsey. It's about transport costs and how they are distributed. I don't expect teachers to pay out their own pocket, I'm saying the school or education department should cover that part then it reduces the cost for the kids. The venue places are nothing to do with it.

OP, unfortunately given previous posts if you don't pay quickly your children will miss out. I'd raise it with your local education authority .

Schools have no spare money.
We are no longer taking part in sports events because we cannot afford the fuel for the minibus to to the next town.
Hiring coaches and drivers is hugely expensive. I costed a trip before the summer - the bus alone was £900. I'm not going ahead.

It appears that the poster knows little or nothing about teaching responsibilities or the state of school budgets.

So because it's not plain sailing you think it's ok to single out 'poor' children? Think most of have had to plan an event for 30+ children for birthday celebrations. Unpaid I may add.

When there is a trip with a venue cost (gallery, centre, museum, etc), there is typically no teacher cost as it's a free adult place per x children places.

With regards to transport, the difference it would make to the cost to parents is marginal. If we were to take the cost of 51 seater coach as, for example, £800, the difference between the school playing a "teacher share" of the transport and the cost being split across the number of children equally works out to be about £1.50 per child. That £1.50 is not making any real difference as to whether or not a parent can afford it. However, it would become a cost of about £70 per trip for the school. That would make a difference to the school, especially once you factor in all trips, all year groups, across all of the school.

Trips are not a break from classroom stress. They are a pain in the arse to organise and stressful to run.

Oh do give over! Where have I - or anyone else - said that. You're making things up to suit yourself now.