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Original poster

cost of school residential - higher than normal?

51 replies

Frazzled2207 · 19/10/2022 16:25

We have just had a letter about the year 6 school residential which is October 2023. Two nights in a location around 2 hours away (travel by coach).
£230 and apparently this is less than the actual cost as partly subsidised by school.
We're very lucky to be able to afford it but am shocked at the cost. Not yet clear what the children will be doing but various outdoor activities most likely.
Wondering if this is normal or higher than average. Am certain that many families just won't be able to afford it. Understand that the cost this year was considerably less.

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 19/10/2022 16:26

The coach there and back may well be a big factor. They are expensive anyway and fuel prices have gone up a lot this year.

blusteryshowersaway · 19/10/2022 16:30

I think that price is good. 2 nights away, transport and activities probably includes food too. I think that’s reasonable.

han01uk · 19/10/2022 16:31

That's pretty standard price. Our letter came this week. 2 night option £290, 4 night option £450. That doesn't include travel costs, which for a 1.5 hr coach journey is apparently £900 in total (which the PTA have "kindly" offered to pay!). Not sure what to do, the short one seems rubbish value. Perhaps suggest to your school they look somewhere closer to home, or apply for funding to cut the cost if there will be many families who will struggle to pay. That's what we have suggested this week.

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ZeroFucksGivenToday · 19/10/2022 16:32

Similar to ours for yr5. They've gone somewhere else other than PGL as the cost has gone up stupidly apparently.

£240, two nights away. 8 activities included in the day, 2 in the evening. All food/drink/ coach travel etc.
i think it's a reasonable price when you think what is included.

vinoandbrie · 19/10/2022 16:32

Ours is one night (as the children are younger than year six) and is £180!

WeeblesWibbleWobble · 19/10/2022 16:35

Ds has one, 30 min away. 2 nights £340 that was 8 years ago
Dd has one 3 nights, 1 hour away. £415

MintyIguana · 19/10/2022 16:39

Our y6s are on their residential now. It was £320 for 4 nights and we've been able to pay in monthly instalments over the last year.

Whatthetrolley · 19/10/2022 16:39

Ours is £280 for 3 nights on the coast.

I nearly posted about the amount of money school have asked from me in the last 10 days, over £120 all due by 1st November and that's only £40 for the residential

wanderlove · 19/10/2022 17:56

My daughters is £260 for 5 nights in the North York Moors, about an hour from home. Seems really good value ….but they have to go in December which might explain why it’s so cheap!

whattodo2019 · 19/10/2022 18:06

Sounds pretty decent value.

BooksAndHooks · 19/10/2022 18:07

We usually do 4 nights at an activity camp for around £350. But that price was with parents taking them and picking them up. Coach on top would have made it incredibly more expensive.

For a similar trip for year 7 it is just under £500 with coaches.

theduckinatree · 19/10/2022 18:09

My Yr 6 daughter is currently on her school residential. Four nights at a dedicated school residential activity centre an hour away, it cost £225.

SkankingWombat · 19/10/2022 18:44

Compared to PPs it seems in line, but it is much more expensive that our y4 residential: 3 nights on a PGL-style break is costing us £160. It is only 30 mins down the road however, so perhaps that has made all the difference? I know from sitting on the PTA (and getting the funding requests!) that coaches are massively pushing up the cost of all school trips at the moment.

Anniefrenchfry · 19/10/2022 18:49

How much do you think it should cost for two nights accommodation, meals, activities and transportation. Good gracious.

Paramummy3 · 19/10/2022 18:50

Ours was £250 for 2 nights

AriettyHomily · 19/10/2022 18:57

Dts was £480 (each) for 4 nights last summer

WeeblesWibbleWobble · 19/10/2022 19:01

Also it gets worse in seniors.
Barcelona £780 open to y10, 3 nights
Skiiing open to y7-10 £1300, 7 nights ( £60 to hire jackets, gloves etc)
Ardeche y9 £650 5 nights
Wales £800 5 nights Y8

I can't remember the y7 one think was camping? Ds didnt go as we were in spain.

No abroad ones in y11 due to exams.

I was lucky that his df paid half.
Then he saved for most of his spends.
And always had a while to pay.
However his last one was cancelled due to covid so refunded.

daisyjgrey · 19/10/2022 19:02

Prepare yourself for the secondary school ones!

ForestofD · 19/10/2022 19:07

That's not too bad.

Transport and insurance will be a big cost.

We paid for ours monthly and the school usually gives us plenty of time to pay.

HonorHiding · 19/10/2022 19:09

Our Y6 residential was earlier this month - £320 for 3 nights including coach travel abt 1.5 hrs each way.

PuttingDownRoots · 19/10/2022 19:09

Considering the per pupil cost of a day my Yr5 is going on is £50 (but PTA are paying £15 of that per kid) its good value.

surreygirl1987 · 19/10/2022 19:11

Sounds cheap!

FistFullOfRegrets · 19/10/2022 19:16

@Frazzled2207 I think it's pretty standard now. I'm not surprised with the cost of food & transport etc

its a lot if money though & will be completely unaffordable for many which will increase the cost or stop the schools doing trips.

Lozzybear · 19/10/2022 19:17

Ours was £181 for two nights. Quite close to the school though so coach can’t have been very expensive.

Xmasbaby11 · 19/10/2022 19:17

I think that's high. Dd is currently on her y6 residential now which sounds the same.£185