Quick straw poll - Y6 residentials would you allow your child to go abroad?

[Crunchymum]

I am sure some primary schools already do residentials abroad, so would be good to hear about them, but if your school do not but were considering offering it, would it be a yay or nay?

Yes

I think there would be many y6s without passports and therefore it wouldn't be a good idea as that would add ££ to the cost.
I feel y6 residentials should be something that all y6s can aspire to go to.
It may also be the first time away from home without parents for some.

In secondary not everyone goes on trips so they can do abroad things without it being obvious who does / does not go.

My younger one wouldn't have wanted to go if the y6 had been abroad, but then happily went on a y7 Paris trip having had a good y6 trip.

So, on balance, Nay.

Yes.

I went to France in the 70s on a school trip in Y5.

Yes, if I could afford it.

I think a school should only offer this if they know most of the parents can afford it and they can cover or contribute to covering it for the children whose families can't, however.

The onus is on the school to be sensitive.

Yes - DT’s went to EuroDisney

Yes. Ds did with cubs too age 8/9

My daughter was in Year 5 when they did 3 days in France.
She didn't go as she HATED the 3 days at PGL in Year 4.
Also she doesn't have a passport and I thought it was very expensive for the length of the trip.
Out of a class of 29 it was 8 that didn't go.

Just to add the proposed costs put forward have the abroad trip as £100 less than the UK trip (so that would be passport costs I guess?)

The PGL abroad is cheaper by £100! Although this is currently a proposal so costs could change?

yes, one just went to France this year and had a great time

Yes, DS's school planned to do this in Y6 (but was cancelled due to Covid).

For me, no. it's just too far away if there is a problem. All of our primary school residential were within about 90 mins or less from where we live by car.

Yes, DC2 did this and loved it. But we already had passports for everyone due to having family in lots of places.

Probably not. Dd would have been abroad once then, never flown, and it would seem like a huge leap for her first trip without her parents to also be abroad. It would depend on the particular residential though.

I think you do also need to consider travel time and stamina of the 10/11yos.

And the extra responsibility on the teachers if anything goes wrong or someone is ill (e.g. a parent won't just be able to come and collect in the same as as if they are 2hrs down the road).

Managing the kids on the ferry.

I wouldn’t want it to be honest but if lots were going I’d probably allow it and worry the whole time

Yes I'd allow it.

I'd prefer UK though.

Yes I would.

But I also wouldn't recommend it. Residentials should be easily available to everyone and even if cheap, there are way too many families who would not be willing/able to sort passports etc which would make this very difficult to manage.

At least at secondary foreign trips are entirely optional.

This is my issue, my older child was poorly on their PGL a few years back and although I didn't need to collect them another child was very ill and had to be collected (and the year before that a child broke their arm and had to be collected!!)

I was beside myself once they told me my child was unwell, despite the teacher calling me to reassure me etc. This was less than 2 hours door to door.

Yes. I went to Belgium for a week in Year 6, although that was in 1986. There was a choice to be fair, Belgium or a week away in the UK (or neither)

The abroad option is cheaper, but passport costs would bump it up.

My DC will need a passport (but they need it anyway for our family holiday next year so not an issue for us)

Yes daughter went to Spain on a water sports holiday in year 5. France year 6.

Yes. Most schools around us go to France in Y6

My DS's school does 5 nights in Paris in year 6. They build up by doing 2 nights locally in year 4 then 4 nights 2 hours away in year 5. It is the same every year so parents know well in advance re cost and passports and can consider it.

My first DD did it and my second will too. Passports are easy to sort out. My girls loved their trips - my younger DD is Y4 and got a space on the Y6 trip this year as the take up was lower than usual and she loved it and cant wait to go again with her “true” cohort.