Would it be wrong to only pay half of DS school trip cost?

[Shirtbuttons26]

DS is going on a school trip. Its costing 45.00. Would it be wrong if I only paid 20.00 /25.00? I am on a low income and I'm juggling things a bit at the moment. I have another child at the school as well so I have been paying out for 2 children.

The school rang me saying i need to pay by tomorrow.

It does say contribution but I feel wrong for even thinking about it.

Theres 2 classes to a year groups, in ds school 60 children so 2700

My daughters school has 2 classes so 60 kids and they hadn't had a school trip for this year or last year. 9 people had not paid for this year's summer trip so we had to overpay so the trip could go ahead a afford s the school said there was no other funding. I asked if the 9 kids could be kept in school in different classes if their parents had not paid. The school said no due to class sizes. So the remaining parents clubbed together so kids didn't miss out. I understand some parents could not afford the trip but some of the parents could and chose not to pay. (I work at the school and saw the list) atleast you are contributing something but there still might not be extra money

I'm not sure how it works. I'm pretty sure it would come from some type of funding. I know some people on here satd they put extra in so I guess that money would go into a pot. But i don't think actual whip rounds from other parents. That would mean telling parents shirtbuttons can't afford the trip and its confidential so they can't.

Oh i didn't think they could ask other parents for a whip round because of confidentiality? I do think theres a big difference between won't pay and can't pay though.

As a primary school governor, I do know this happens but obviously without mentioning names. Parents are asked for an additional contribution towards the shortfall. Schools will never allow a child to miss out however.

Ive only seen the names because I work at the school and would never share that information outside of who needs to know it eg trip leader and office/finance team. One of the PTA ladies organised a whiparound and paid it to the school. No names mentioned by the school but in the parenting WhatsApp groups who knows?! I do think there is a big difference between can not pay and choose to not pay but the outcome is the same, the money needs to come from somewhere

Demand you go there?
There are plenty of schools - go elsewhere, but it won’t be any different there.
i went on school trips in the 70s/ 80s.Nothing has changed. If schools stopped school trips it would be really sad and students would miss out.

I genuinely don’t see why school need to provide trips and they should just be banned - panto at Xmas, the local farm, the zoo, the local mosque / temple / synagogue / chocolate factory / science music / nature reserve

what annoys me is I’m really good at finding vouchers / discounts etc to take my kids to these places myself and they almost always come with a free return visit/free return for a year and yet school then arrange a trip there it’s twice the price and no return visits

I have refused to pay before …school wanted a “contribution” for a coach to take them on a visit to a local temple ….it was 2 miles up the road (same road the school is on actually and there is a bus stop outside both locations….) the school constantly spouts off about being environmentally friendly and yet refused to consider taking the kids on the bus! (We are not in London by the way and I regularly see primary school kids on the tube!)

I work in s school and trips are costed with no profit made. Coaches are really expensive at the moment which massively influences the cost. If the trip is within school times we can only ask for contributions but rely on everyone paying to allow the trip to go ahead. Any shortfall has to be paid from school funds which are very limited now and take money away from other things.
We have cancelled a trip in the past due to not enough contributions being received, this was for a class where we felt that parents were choosing not to pay thinking their child would go anyway. I think speaking to the school is important and offering to pay a proportion is also a good start. The school shouldn't have to chase before you take action though if you knew you wouldn't be able to fun it from the beginning.

The other parents wouldn’t know which children they were subsidising but they do get asked.

It's one of the expectations that schools provide a cultural enrichment. Trips to a panto might not be that high class, but is usually more accessible and child friendly than a full on theatre show, especially if it's a local am dram group. Likewise all the things you list a lot of children may not experience.
Some secondary schools now list what they will ensure all children achieve by the end of their years at school, this could be what many people take for granted like going on a train, going to the theatre, being able to visit a zoo, a night camping.

Return tickets unfortunately often have a lot of Ts & C's, while annual passes are different. The local theme park and zoo both allow school trips to use passes, so those children just have to bring their pass along and pay a reduced fee for the coach. As someone else mentioned the costs are all broken down into entry tickets and travel.
Attractions that do a free return often link this to the family ticket, don't always have photo id of the child (or take a bank card as the proof).

Also while a public bus is likely to be cheaper, have you ever tried taking 60 kids on a trip. There would be no seat belts which is the first issue in terms of risk assessment. Also how many buses have space for that many and could you guarantee they would all get on.

I do have a great memory from sixth form where we went by train to a conference but had to get the bus there. The teacher had to ask for about 20 bus tickets and the reel of them printing out was quite amusing. We all had to squish on and I am sure we were standing (as we were also running late so had to get on that bus!). Not sure the driver was that impressed either!
Maybe with a small group of sixth form students it would be fine, but not a two form entry at primary school!

Do you know if the non-paying parents actually wanted their kids to go on the trip, though?

Is it that they fully expected them to have the trip but just to not have to (or be able to) pay for it; or might it be that they just don't think it worthwhile, and thus poor value and not wanted in the first place?

Ask kids at my school in year 11, what the highlights of their school experience has been and the majority will name a school trip.

Dear Original Poster

I want to start by saying you are definitely not the first person in this position, and you certainly won't be the last. Well done for reaching out, and please do speak to the school. They will do their best to assist.
❤️
I find it appalling that certain members on here are so quick to pass judgment and hide behind a screen to attack others. This site is supposed to be a community for support and information, not a platform for slating people you do not even know. What wonderful human beings you must be!.
It is unfair to make accusations without knowing the full story here.
It is getting to the point that most threads I read on here now have a fair chunk of nasties. Why do some people feel the need to kick someone when they are down?!
The OP asked for advice on a sensitive topic, something that is clearly upsetting and worrying her - reaching out for advice not bitching!
I hope you get this sorted and if your kids do go they enjoy their trip.
Have a great summer. 🌞
Take care. 🌞

I don't understand. What do you mean by go there?

Apparently consent was given but no payments.

Agreed, in fact some of the snarky comments on this thread have frankly been breathtaking. My only hope for those posters is that they don't hit hard times themselves 😏

I had the opposite reaction and put a hundred quid on our Pupil Premium voluntary donation tab. Hopefully I've sent someone hard up roller skating or whatever 🙂.

That was a lovely thing to do Phineyj. I've worked in a school finance capacity before and had to have some emotional conversations with parents in difficulty. Our HT made every child matter and we made every provision we could to ensure that children could participate in trips and activities, and not feel left out.
These things are important, good schools will pull the stops out for those children and assist parents as much as they can.

They used to do this at my children’s junior school. All us other parents were told not enough parents had ‘contributed’ - so those of us who had already paid the full amount had to pay even more to cover those who didn’t otherwise the trips wouldn’t go ahead.
be mindful in senior school from Y7- this didn’t happen as if you don’t pay the full amount yourself your child dosnt go.