Page 15 | £1800 for a school trip

Patchw0rk · 2023-05-25T13:55:03+00:00

Is it just me, or what are the school thinking?! DC desperately wants to go of course- all their friends are, of course 🙄and we could possibly afford it with a lot of hard work (on my part, overtime!) but we could take the whole family away for that. DC is 13 so old enough to understand about money really but so wants to go. It's a week skiing in Canada. I want them to have brilliant life experiences but it's just so much money. I just think school have lost the plot. Could they really not have come up with something more reasonable for a y9 trip?

Squirrelsnut · 27/05/2023 19:25

As a teacher, I'm highly amused/baffled by those thinking that those greedy, lazy teachers are arranging trips for their own benefit.
When you've run one, come back and comment again.

Sugarfree23 · 27/05/2023 19:38

HerMammy · 27/05/2023 19:21

Ski trips are quite MC, how many kids from low income homes will be skiers or keep it up, it's by its nature appealing to a certain demographic.

There are a whole bunch of WC kids between the MC and the Low Income kids.
Does it matter if kids don't do it again? It makes the trip and 'once in a lifetime' experience.

My cousin did the school ski trip 5 years before me, has never skiied since and still says it was the best holiday ever. Why they haven't skied since is probably a combination of money and non-skiing friends.

Robinni · 27/05/2023 20:04

mumyes · 27/05/2023 18:42

Bonkers.

Sounds like a teacher fancies going skiing in Canada.

Tone deaf by the school.

@mumyes the teachers I’ve known to do it have to go out and scout the location to assess whether it is appropriate for the kids and submit a report.

Canada may have been chosen for guaranteed snow. A lot of the European resorts have been having issues with quality of snow and even paying for snow machines, it’s a crap experience and not worth paying for.

Though it might be a few hundred more at least the kids would be guaranteed good snow for skiing.

The major cost is the ski pass and tuition. Possibly ski/boot/salopette/jacket hire as sometimes the school trips include this.

mmgirish · 27/05/2023 20:24

I'm going on a school trip soon. The kids are paying around 4K each!!! It isn't a state school btw.

Luckyduc · 27/05/2023 20:32

There's usually only a limited amount of space on these trips and it's first come first served basis. Most of the year group won't be on the trip....usually only 30 spaces! So no, they've not lost the plot....they are making available opportunities that some parents will want for their kids and others won't. Everyone's budget is different. I deliberately decided to have just the one kid with things like this in mind and being able to afford these experiences for him.

ecosystem · 27/05/2023 22:24

£1000's of pounds for a school trip- really!!!!
Ridiculous.

Catingle · 28/05/2023 00:11

We paid the same amount this year for five days skiing for FOUR people.

The DC get the experience of time away from their family through scouts/guides trips which generally cost well below £100.

Despite the fact we could afford it on paper in practice I’d find it hard to justify this kind of expenditure.

BungleandGeorge · 28/05/2023 00:14

Catingle · 28/05/2023 00:11

We paid the same amount this year for five days skiing for FOUR people.

The DC get the experience of time away from their family through scouts/guides trips which generally cost well below £100.

Despite the fact we could afford it on paper in practice I’d find it hard to justify this kind of expenditure.

Including ski school, equipment hire
and lift pass?

Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 00:23

Catingle · 28/05/2023 00:11

We paid the same amount this year for five days skiing for FOUR people.

The DC get the experience of time away from their family through scouts/guides trips which generally cost well below £100.

Despite the fact we could afford it on paper in practice I’d find it hard to justify this kind of expenditure.

Same length of time?
Fully catered?
Ski school ?
Lift passes ?
Supervision?

You can't compare to Guides and Scouts which are generally tents and rely on volunteers.
Not every child gets the chance to join guides or scouts and not every group has enough volunteers to be able to run overnight trips

Zoomom · 28/05/2023 03:53

Unless it’s whistler and area or BANFF and area this is not value for money. Please don’t tell me it’s mont tremblant! I see groups of brits there and it blows my mind why they don’t just go to the Alps which is down the road by comparison and better skiing. I still have yet to get a good answer on why there are so many brits skiing there. I grew up on the east coast of US and tremblant was my “local” fav for east coast skiing but pales in comparison to resorts in the west and the alps. East coast resorts are notoriously hard pack snow and freezing! Either it’s a blizzard and your face will fall off if you’re not dressed and wrapped in 10 layers, or you’re skiing on sheer ice! I used to dream about getting to ski in the alps, no idea why people fly across the Atlantic to ski on the east coast- either keep going to the west or detour back to the alps! Do not pay £1900 for your kid to freeze their face off when they could go to the sunny alps for cheaper. No idea why the school would organise a ski trip to Canada even if the resorts are whistler or banff when surely the alps would be cheaper and of equal quality. They’re kids and likely mostly beginners- they could ski in Bulgaria for much cheaper and it would be fine! Think they have lost the plot! Would not pay for this and complain to the school asking for a proper reason they aren’t going to the alps for less. Bit of a rant- I’d be fuming if school asked me to pay that amount for them to ski across the Atlantic when there is world class skiing in Europe.

Stepbystep100 · 28/05/2023 04:46

My parents weren't well off but said I could go on one school trip. I waited each year because I dearly wanted to go year 5 skiing (yes, year 5 secondry, I'm that old!)

All I remember is seeing the price (would have been 1982) and not taking the letter home because of the cost.

Skiing has always been the expensive holiday option.

PeloMom · 28/05/2023 04:58

It does sound unreasonable- how much notice do you have? However, my school organised a 2 week trip across a few countries when I was the same age as your daughter and the cost was quite high (that was 30 years ago 😱). My mom had, I believe, about 9 to 12 months notice and the school was putting all instalments to collect interest ( the interest ended up covering a nice chunk of the total amount from what I remember). I went on the trip - only 3 of us went from my class in the end- and was truly a life defining trip. It opened my mind to the world outside my country, the opportunities out there. To say it was memorable is an understatement.

FeloniusGru · 28/05/2023 05:52

It’s not a new thing though. I did a week skiing with Canada in school 20 years ago and as I recall it was a similar price even then. State school, deprived area. And the trip was still full! I had a great time though, some wonderful memories from that trip that I’ll never forget.

Noodles1234 · 28/05/2023 06:44

It is a lot of money, but a lot of secondary schools offer skiing and I hear Canada is the best place to go. Far better than Europe or USA (I have not been just what I’ve heard). It’s a hue operation to go on flights etc so in a way impressive the school are willing to do it.

know what you mean, we could not afford it!

puttingontheritz · 28/05/2023 08:04

Britain is insane. Where I live education is much more equal, and school trips mustn't cost over a certain amount, 400 euros, for state schools. There are grants for very low income families. They somehow survive not going to Canada skiing...

jackstini · 28/05/2023 08:14

Our dc's school does a European ski trip every year

It's not a holiday we would ever do as a family as DH & I are not interested (or probably capable - both have dodgy ankles after injuries!)

We told them they could each go once within the 5 year period they were there and they both went in year 9 - cost was £900/£1050 (2020/2023)

They had the most incredible time, learnt to ski and will now likely go with friends when older

I couldn't go when I was at school and wanted them to have the chance

It's a lot of money but actually incredible value for Canada, which is a fabulous country to visit

Robinni · 28/05/2023 08:16

Zoomom · 28/05/2023 03:53

Unless it’s whistler and area or BANFF and area this is not value for money. Please don’t tell me it’s mont tremblant! I see groups of brits there and it blows my mind why they don’t just go to the Alps which is down the road by comparison and better skiing. I still have yet to get a good answer on why there are so many brits skiing there. I grew up on the east coast of US and tremblant was my “local” fav for east coast skiing but pales in comparison to resorts in the west and the alps. East coast resorts are notoriously hard pack snow and freezing! Either it’s a blizzard and your face will fall off if you’re not dressed and wrapped in 10 layers, or you’re skiing on sheer ice! I used to dream about getting to ski in the alps, no idea why people fly across the Atlantic to ski on the east coast- either keep going to the west or detour back to the alps! Do not pay £1900 for your kid to freeze their face off when they could go to the sunny alps for cheaper. No idea why the school would organise a ski trip to Canada even if the resorts are whistler or banff when surely the alps would be cheaper and of equal quality. They’re kids and likely mostly beginners- they could ski in Bulgaria for much cheaper and it would be fine! Think they have lost the plot! Would not pay for this and complain to the school asking for a proper reason they aren’t going to the alps for less. Bit of a rant- I’d be fuming if school asked me to pay that amount for them to ski across the Atlantic when there is world class skiing in Europe.

@Zoomom would agree Alps are normally better, however a lot of resorts have been having huge issues due to increasing temperatures. School may have been advised to go for Canada for this reason.

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/19/snow-machines-fleece-blankets-inside-ski-industry-battle-with-climate-change-alpine-resorts

Snow machines and fleece blankets: inside the ski industry’s battle with climate change | Snow | The Guardian

<strong>The long read</strong>: Hundreds of ski resorts now stand abandoned across the Alps. But some scientists believe they have found a way to keep snow on the ground – and that it could help vulnerable communities all over the world

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/19/snow-machines-fleece-blankets-inside-ski-industry-battle-with-climate-change-alpine-resorts

Catingle · 28/05/2023 08:40

BungleandGeorge · 28/05/2023 00:14

Including ski school, equipment hire
and lift pass?

Show quote history

Yes including all that - although I just checked it was actually just over £2000 and we spent extra on food. Small European resort, not Canada!

Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 08:47

Tell us where, and I'll get it booked ASAP.

A few years ago I considered adding an extra child to our ski trip I couldn't do it for much less than £1000, flights, transfer, skipass, ski school and hire.

Catingle · 28/05/2023 08:49

Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 00:23

Same length of time?
Fully catered?
Ski school ?
Lift passes ?
Supervision?

You can't compare to Guides and Scouts which are generally tents and rely on volunteers.
Not every child gets the chance to join guides or scouts and not every group has enough volunteers to be able to run overnight trips

Show quote history

I’m not saying that’s it’s the cost of an equivalent trip (Europe not Canada etc), or that the school trip is not a fair price for what’s being offered.

However if the main objectives are to give my DC experience of skiing and of the independence that comes with going away without their family, then I can do that for much less than £1800 for one person.

Catingle · 28/05/2023 08:54

Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 08:47

Tell us where, and I'll get it booked ASAP.

A few years ago I considered adding an extra child to our ski trip I couldn't do it for much less than £1000, flights, transfer, skipass, ski school and hire.

Norway over Easter holidays. Dirt cheap EasyJet flights to Oslo, train to resort. Free lift passes for children 6 and under. Norwegians not on holiday so had the slopes to ourselves. Throughly recommend.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 28/05/2023 08:54

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 27/05/2023 13:40

It isn’t the teachers. I have recently organised (a non-residential) trip. The cost, should you have been able to access it yourself ( and you couldn’t as it only open to schools), is £23 per person. But then you add on the hire of a coach and it becomes £43 per person. If you looked at the website, you might assume the school were profiteering but the incidental costs have increased a lot the last two years. This insane idea that teachers are getting a free holiday and bumping up your costs is crazy. It is really, really hard work and no one is going to pay for the ‘privilege’ of working, are they? Honestly, the easiest option is to say no and if there aren’t enough people, the trip won’t run. But you have to accept it might run and some children will go - just organise a family event instead of that really upsets you though.

Show quote history

No not the school or the teachers.

I confess my ignorance here and please correct me if I'm wrong, but I presume these trips are booked through specialist travel companies?

Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 08:56

Tell me where, and was it term time?

I agree Europe is cheaper than Canada but can't see where your getting a ski trip for £500 a head for 5 days.

That's £100 a day, lift passes are circa £35 a day, ski-school probably £40, ski hire £ 10 = £85.
£15 left for accommodation, food and travel.

Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 09:21

@Catingle out of the 4 of you how many bought ski lessons & liftpasses?
Because they are a huge cost to a teens ski holiday, lots of resorts charge adult prices from age 12.

Catingle · 28/05/2023 09:21

Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 08:56

Tell me where, and was it term time?

I agree Europe is cheaper than Canada but can't see where your getting a ski trip for £500 a head for 5 days.

That's £100 a day, lift passes are circa £35 a day, ski-school probably £40, ski hire £ 10 = £85.
£15 left for accommodation, food and travel.

Norway, not in term time - Easter holidays. We went after the Easter weekend which is the last hurrah of the ski season for the Norwegians - they were all back at school/work. So we had hefty discounts on ski hire and lessons because it was end of season.

Children had free lift passes, adults didn’t need lessons. Flights were £20 each. Accommodation was £80 a night for an Airbnb apartment.

it’s not the Alps, far less Canada but perfectly met our needs for a first ski trip for the DC.

£1800 for a school trip

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