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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:
Otherland · 25/05/2023 16:17

EarthlyNightshade · 25/05/2023 16:11

This is lovely and I really hope your DC gets to go on a nice trip.

Show quote history

Aw, thank you. Me too. I'm on track so far for dc1. 🤞

Otherland · 25/05/2023 16:18

IhearyouClemFandango · 25/05/2023 16:17

There wouldn't tend to be any provision under the fsm scheme or whatever because it isn't a curriculum trip

I was just wondering how schools identify which children to help finance such trips.

TerfIngOnTheBeach · 25/05/2023 16:21

Skiing in Canada is madness for a school trip, what happened to Italy on a coach which was always the preferred cheapest option at my DC's school?

The cynic in me thinks the teachers who normally accompany the children on ski trips fancy somewhere a bit more exciting. 🙄

Canada is a long way for a beginners ski trip, and I would guess most state school kids would be beginners.

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GulesMeansRed · 25/05/2023 16:22

Tell the school no.

Ours tried this, one of the PE teachers had a mate out in Dubai so arranged a school trip to take teams over to play netball/soccer against the local kids. This was about 6 years ago, definitely pre-pandemic and it was coming in at about £1800 for 5 days.

The catchment area for the school is the stereotypical middle class leafy suburb, and parents have money. But the general consensus was that it was a ridiculous amount of money for 5 days, that the kids would be playing sport inside in a hall because of the heat and they could do that in Dundee or Durham as well as in Dubai.

Lots of cross emails and phone calls to the school and it was quietly cancelled.

lanthanum · 25/05/2023 16:22

The schools don't usually select who goes on the ski trip (except out of a hat). But those are the families who really benefit from the ski trips. It would be good if schools could prioritise them over those who will get opportunities to ski with their family anyway, but it would be very difficult to do that.

GoalShooter · 25/05/2023 16:22

Crazy to go to Canada when you can ski in Europe! My DC's ski trip this year was just under £1k (in France).

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 25/05/2023 16:22

Tbh I couldn't afford to take the whole family skiing in Canadad, it would cost thousands.

I agree, for a school trip its outrageous, but if you break it down per head it's not bad value and in my case would give them an opportunity I could never afford to do as a family unit.

WeeWillyWinkie9 · 25/05/2023 16:23

This is when you tell your child to roll up their sleeves and get fund raising if they want to go. Offer to pay half if they raise the other half. Teaches them a valuable lesson.

WestwardHo1 · 25/05/2023 16:23

The world has gone mad.

WestwardHo1 · 25/05/2023 16:23

WeeWillyWinkie9 · 25/05/2023 16:23

This is when you tell your child to roll up their sleeves and get fund raising if they want to go. Offer to pay half if they raise the other half. Teaches them a valuable lesson.

And absolutely this!

Foxesandsquirrels · 25/05/2023 16:24

I don't think it's an unreasonable cost for skiing in Canada. The Austria or Italy ski trips are normally in the £1200 region. I think this is quite cheap tbh esp if everything is included.
My only concern would be jetlag. 1 week isn't going to be that enjoyable as it's so far away.

Fandabedodgy · 25/05/2023 16:24

That is obscene

gogohmm · 25/05/2023 16:25

My dc are adults now and £1200 ski trips were being offered when they were that age (about the same in inflationary terms). The £3200 trip to Borneo and the £2200 diving trip to Mexico were worse. Needless to say mine didn't get to go to any of those, I paid for 5 days in Paris, that's it (and they were fortunate to get that!)

gogohmm · 25/05/2023 16:31

Ps when the ski trip letter came home I managed to book a cheap hotel half board in aviemore for 4 days, ski passes for 4 for 3 days ski lessons for both kids each morning and plenty left for petrol and lunches. Family holiday for the same price basically (we did stop in York on the way back as an extra treat)

Bagpuss2022 · 25/05/2023 16:31

It is a lot but like you we want our kids to experience things we never did I had a horrific childhood so we do overcompensate
bit for reference ds1 want to New York for 5 days £950 this was 8 years ago, DD actually brought back a trip letter yesterday £520 for 3 night trip to France December this year loads of activities and a day in Disneyland Paris she’s going bit short notice and only 3 instalments allowed
I do think it disadvantages those who can’t afford it but what do schools do stop
puttinf on trips there will always be someone who can’t afford it wether it’s £50 or £2000

Otherland · 25/05/2023 16:32

lanthanum · 25/05/2023 16:22

The schools don't usually select who goes on the ski trip (except out of a hat). But those are the families who really benefit from the ski trips. It would be good if schools could prioritise them over those who will get opportunities to ski with their family anyway, but it would be very difficult to do that.

Oh I see. Thanks for explaining. Yes, it would be ideal if they could pick the kids who otherwise won't ever get such a trip in their childhood. If DS doesn't get in, or indeed if no such trip is offered to him during his schooling, I'll gift him the £1500 I'm aiming to save for when he's 18 and able to take himself. I just really hope he can go with his school friends.

Creative33 · 25/05/2023 16:32

That is crazy!! Does this cost cover the teacher attendance too or do they fund their own flights/stay etc?

Dedodee · 25/05/2023 16:33

24 years ago ds asked to go on the school skiing trip to the US.
It was £700 then and only half board.
We could have afforded it if we had scrimped a bit but I said no.
I still regret it.
If you can afford it let him go.
Ds never asked to go on a school trip again.

Thursdayschild1 · 25/05/2023 16:34

DorisElward · 25/05/2023 15:15

You can say no. That would also be educational.

This.

ukgot2pot · 25/05/2023 16:34

Jeez, F that OP. That's ridiculous!! Plus, think about all the extras you'll have to be paying - warm clothes, thermals, ski stuff etc (unless school will provide??) spending money needed.

Maybe compromise with a cheaper trip as a family?

Miyagi99 · 25/05/2023 16:35

Of course, they’re not paying, it’s their job!

Otherland · 25/05/2023 16:35

WeeWillyWinkie9 · 25/05/2023 16:23

This is when you tell your child to roll up their sleeves and get fund raising if they want to go. Offer to pay half if they raise the other half. Teaches them a valuable lesson.

I have no idea how my child would fundraise anywhere near that kind of money. How?! (We have precisely zero family, so he's got no grandparents to ask, and I can't imagine any of my neighbours or friends stumping up, they are all in the same boat I am.)

PamTheExam · 25/05/2023 16:36

We paid 600 for Yr 8 week's skiing in France and I thought that was top end - 1800 is insane!

Nonylonneeded · 25/05/2023 16:36

Personally I think there should be a cap on school trip prices, end of. Skiing in Canada doesn’t sound like an important part of any curriculum and I think this should be the focus of school excursions.

Foxesandsquirrels · 25/05/2023 16:38

PamTheExam · 25/05/2023 16:36

We paid 600 for Yr 8 week's skiing in France and I thought that was top end - 1800 is insane!

That's an extremely low amount. This would've been subsidised by some sort of grant.

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