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 but I would rather they were within a 2-3 hour drive away,

Yes. The school makes the application. There will be a fee, but nowhere near as much as a passport.

Absolutely yes. My two have benefited hugely from school trips both here and abroad.

Yes, my daughter went to France in Y6 for 3 days/2 nights. The school has been doing it for a few years.
All those who already had passports used their own, and any without went on a group passport organised by the school.
It was well organised and really good value, with a lower rate for FSM children and a discretionary fund.

That’s nice. The kids who couldn’t afford the residential in primary (admittedly not abroad) back in 06 just had to lump it and stay at home. One girl in the whole class

I absolutely would.

My DC go to an international secondary school, where the Year 7 week-long residential is to France. About 90% of the 250 pupils go. So although it is optional & a great week is put on for those who stay behind, it is pretty obvious who doesn't go - contrary to the experience of some PPs.

Our school builds up so 1 night away in Y2 close to school, 2 nights in Y3 a bit further away, y5 is 4 nights in wales and then Y6 is over on the ferry to France for 5 nights. It’s a good way to go about it.

Is that a private school? Seems like a lot of expense

Amazed any school would even attempt this with the numbers of neurotic parents around now.

Not a private one, it’s the local one that I am governor for. Costs are kept as low as possible and paid monthly over the year to make it manageable. Passport costs are not an issue as a collective passport for a school costs £39 for up to 50 pupils.

I don't think they're old enough myself. Ours weren't at all well cared for on the Y6 residential. They're too young to advocate for themselves, I feel it should be close to home. Think broken bones being ignored and no water all day in 30 degree heat.

Ours was paid for over the year too. It was still a lot of money

I agree that it’s a massive responsibility to take children away, especially abroad and you have to make sure that there is a decent amount of staff going.

My children’s private school do marvellous trips away - think New York, Norway etc. but they always take 2 matrons with them, both qualified nurses, who they dont count in the ratios. It only takes one poorly or injured child and then you have less adults focused on the children than you need.

I would feel really uncomfortable with my child being abroad while I'm here
I'm not sure I would let her
Never mind the cost which is another matter anyway!

nope

Hard no tbh. My daughter's school is a bit of a shambles with communication and after five years of it so far I'm not keen on the residential as it is.

This is very true and I don't think its going to happen as most of the parents have already said they'd rather the more expensive but closer trip.

Yes, mine is currently in France on a school trip and having a great time

@lilacbreeze most Primaries round here do residentials from about Y3. Younger classes may do a sleep in school hall/classroom for a night type thing, then build up the nights each year until you get to Y6 residential. Y6 one can be abroad (coach/ferry no flying)

Pupil Premium can be used to supplement trip costs for relevant families.

DS did a residential for Y3/4 in Isle of Wight which obviously involved a ferry (but no passport). We don’t live near the South Coast so that was quite a trek

This. I personally would, but I would think it was exclusionary and therefore poor of the school.

Info on group passports

www.gov.uk/collective-group-passports

If they've never gone abroad without parents how will they cope when they head off with mates at 17/18? Or even festivals etc in this country at 16.

Yep. When my DS was Year 6 he went white water kayaking along Dordogne for 10 days with his school and it was the making of him. He came back more confident and he made a couple of new friends from other Year 6 classes he's still good friends with almost 20 years later.

My 16/17 year olds don’t head off for festivals etc so that’s not an issue for us. I’m not sure a school trip to France would be a help though, to be honest.

Possibly. Dd1 just went on a three day trip in year 5 and loved it. But she went abroad on holiday with us for the first time a couple of months ago and even though she enjoyed it she kept feeling very homesick and said that she felt really weird about the distance from home. Unexpected from her as she normally takes all stuff like that in her stride. Even though I would be absolutely happy for her to do a trip like that at 10/11, I would be a bit worried about her.