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Original poster

£1800 for a school trip

468 replies

Patchw0rk · 25/05/2023 14:55

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?

OP posts:
Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 09:25

So it's not in any way a comparable holiday.
If you weren't paying for lessons for 2 or lift passes for the other 2.

School kids can't really stay in an Airbnb and self cater they need somewhere that has catering. So that adds to the cost.
And last week of the season can be a gamble.

However I may look at Norway for our family trip.

Robinni · 28/05/2023 09:31

School kids can't really stay in an Airbnb and self cater they need somewhere that has catering.

Agree, the hotel usually has to be inspected and meet criteria to be considered acceptable by the school.

And you then present it to the parents as a viable option worth their money based on this.

Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 10:19

Trying to sort food, for 60 people assuming a coach worth of teens and staff that requires a professional level of catering. The shear volume of food, the dietary requirements (allergies, veggies, general preferences). Nipping into the supermarket isn't going to cut it.

Also on a school trip you need to have evening entertainment sorted too - or you'll end up with teens getting into trouble.

I'm sure they could do it cheaper than long haul flights but it's never going to be a cheap holiday. Ski costs alone aren't cheap.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
Catingle · 28/05/2023 10:20

Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 09:25

So it's not in any way a comparable holiday.
If you weren't paying for lessons for 2 or lift passes for the other 2.

School kids can't really stay in an Airbnb and self cater they need somewhere that has catering. So that adds to the cost.
And last week of the season can be a gamble.

However I may look at Norway for our family trip.

My point wasn’t that I think a school should be able to deliver a school ski trip for the same budget - only that I would choose to spend £1800 on a ski trip for one child when that’s most of the budget for a family trip.

But yes have a look at Norway - it’s not the obvious place for a budget trip as Norway is ridiculously expensive in many respects but skiing can be well priced.

raincamepouringdown · 28/05/2023 10:21

Catingle · 28/05/2023 08:54

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.

Show quote history

Yep, Norway, that's where we go as well when we take the kids skiing.

MushMonster · 28/05/2023 10:26

I think it is rather crazy:

  1. The price! Too high for so many families
  2. No way I would take a whole year to do a high risk sport. I bet you they come back with a broken leg, arm or whatever
  3. I would not consider this trip of enough educational value for a school trip
Honeyroar · 28/05/2023 10:35

When I was cabin crew I asked a group of teachers with a load of rowdy kids on their way to ski in Canada why they were going so far and not Europe. They said the main reason was that the time change worked fantastically well for them - the kids were nodding off at 7/8pm in Canada, whereas in Europe they spent all night patrolling corridors trying to keep them all in bed! Made me laugh, and I could see their point as I’d had to do the same when I worked with horses and kids came for camps. Plus the snow was better.

CruCru · 28/05/2023 10:55

I’ve read the OP’s posts and a few of the others (but not all).

£1,800 is a lot to pay for one school trip … but it may be reasonable for skiing. I remember the school ski trip (30 years ago) costing £500. Theres been some inflation since then.

Having said that, it was undersubscribed. A couple of teachers tried to convince me to sign up (I was well spoken so they thought I would be well off) and, when I said “But it’s £500, I’m not even going to mention it to my Mum, she’ll feel bad” said that actual £500 was very reasonable for skiing. It might have been but 14 year old me couldn’t afford it.

Sugarfree23 · 28/05/2023 11:43

@Honeyroar that's funny 😁 I remember on my school ski trip, in the evenings we had a Austrian night / disco, outdoor ice-skating, sledging, and a couple of other activities that I cant remember I'm sure it was on the logic of keep them busy and out of trouble.

LouLa7 · 28/05/2023 17:31

I know it’s a lot of money but if you can somehow afford to send him then I would say do it . I went to Canada on a skiing trip with school and when I was 15 (I’m now 32) and it was one of the most memorable times of my life to date. It was amazing and I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to go. I totally understand it’s so much money and not necessarily affordable to many, which is a shame, but it’s a great experience being offered and worth every penny.

Original poster
Patchw0rk · 28/05/2023 17:43

Just checked- it's Stoneham Mountain Resort

OP posts:
user1485851222 · 28/05/2023 17:56

A local school girl near where I live, is raising funds to pay towards her school trip, parents paying half, she is being given Christmas and birthday money towards it from relatives. But is litter picking around the area, beauty spots etc, with her dad assisting her. She has set up a blog and reports on her litter picking she had been doing it on a weekend for months. People are donating to her cause. She has hit her target. Maybe your daughter could do something similar...

Bellie710 · 28/05/2023 17:56

Our school have just announced a trip for my DD's year for £4500!!

It also says this can be paid in manageable instalments! I mean what the absolute fuck are they thinking! This is a state school for 2 weeks to Borneo.

The fact that this has been approved by the school is unbelievable there is no way on earth that I would send her on that trip, I thought the last one to Japan for £3500 was bad they have obviously learned nothing!

LaDamaDeElche · 28/05/2023 18:04

Patchw0rk · 25/05/2023 15:03

It's a state school! We're in a nice town but also has big pockets of social housing etc too. (Sorry unsure how to word that)

I went to a private school, and we only went skiing in France! That's a bit excessive for a school trip, especially when there are good resorts in Europe. Skiing is pricy though wherever you go.

Mammajay · 28/05/2023 18:05

I wish parents would complain to the head and boycott such trips. They have no place in a state education school programme imo

NoHunsHereHun · 28/05/2023 18:15

DDs Y8 ski trip (private) to a Nordic country is costing £1800, they chose there instead of Canada as the more cost effective option. If your trip includes everything, it’s actually incredibly good value, but absolutely not accessible for every child.

Iwant2stayanon · 28/05/2023 18:18

WTAF. Do they think people are made of money.

LovelyLisa2 · 28/05/2023 18:19

My daughter has been on a few over 1.5k. Our school has cut back on trips now because of the environment. It is a lot of money.

kthnxbai · 28/05/2023 18:26

It may be good "value" but I feel its rather insensitive to put parents under this sort of financial pressure just now.

Stressedmum1966 · 28/05/2023 18:26

Seems about par for the course my daughter (community school) has just been on a 4 day one for £1500. We could pay by instalments and students had the opportunity to do fund raising? Cake sales etc and deduct their sales from the cost of the trip. The school also fid fund raising for those who struggle to afford to go.

Like others I have tried to given my 4 opportunities I never had. It isn’t always possible.

Mummyto2rugrats · 28/05/2023 18:40

Ours was the same but they only do it every other year and I think school had a shock how many wanted to go as they went Feb 1/2 term this year but you had to apply march year b4. Anyway only 4 per year group allowed normally 1st come 1st served rule ended up names out of the hat I don't mind admitting I was relieved our DD name not pulled ! But then she did the French trip instead thank god only £700 for 5 nights
Waiting the football trip news as I know DS will want that as this year they did Barcelona and they got to play competitions at the stadium as well as see Barcelona
Costs do not go down when they leave nursery no matter what people say if you want to try and give every opportunity but at least you can say no as nursery fees are necessary
Oh and yes state school here too
Football trip and ski trip every other year same with music tour
French trip yearly, Spanish and German exchange every year
Those with young kids keep putting the money you pay for nursery away as you'll need it for uniform and trips

TinselTinsel · 28/05/2023 18:55

I paid similar for my son to go on a school ski trip and did lots of overtime to pay it. He understood it was expensive for me so he was reluctant to say he wanted to go. Having grown up piss poor so i didn't have these opportunities, and knowing I could never ask I always told him to always askk me, no matter the cost and I'd do what I could. He loved it and it was worth the overtime and lack of sleep for me!

Robinni · 28/05/2023 19:13

user1485851222 · 28/05/2023 17:56

A local school girl near where I live, is raising funds to pay towards her school trip, parents paying half, she is being given Christmas and birthday money towards it from relatives. But is litter picking around the area, beauty spots etc, with her dad assisting her. She has set up a blog and reports on her litter picking she had been doing it on a weekend for months. People are donating to her cause. She has hit her target. Maybe your daughter could do something similar...

This is not uncommon. You’d find half the kids to have parents cover it (whether just handing it out, or saying it is for bday/Xmas that year). Others have a combination of parents, grandparents, other family members and their own hard work going towards the cost.

yumscrummy · 28/05/2023 19:23

That doesn't look like a good resort - great value if the resort was good with great slopes but that looks like a local, weekend resort for skiing!

Robinni · 28/05/2023 19:25

Mummyto2rugrats · 28/05/2023 18:40

Ours was the same but they only do it every other year and I think school had a shock how many wanted to go as they went Feb 1/2 term this year but you had to apply march year b4. Anyway only 4 per year group allowed normally 1st come 1st served rule ended up names out of the hat I don't mind admitting I was relieved our DD name not pulled ! But then she did the French trip instead thank god only £700 for 5 nights
Waiting the football trip news as I know DS will want that as this year they did Barcelona and they got to play competitions at the stadium as well as see Barcelona
Costs do not go down when they leave nursery no matter what people say if you want to try and give every opportunity but at least you can say no as nursery fees are necessary
Oh and yes state school here too
Football trip and ski trip every other year same with music tour
French trip yearly, Spanish and German exchange every year
Those with young kids keep putting the money you pay for nursery away as you'll need it for uniform and trips

@Mummyto2rugrats I completely agree - nursery stops and in steps school uniform, after school activities, whopping bday party bills, endless expensive days out and school trips/activities!!

The football trip will be amazing - I hate football and visiting Barcelona and the nou camp is one of the most memorable things we did pre children. It’s so good!! Very much worth the money.