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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be cross about paying for school trips....

108 replies

fulltimeworkingmum · 19/11/2010 18:58

..for DC's when other children can still go whether their parents stump up or not?

We received a letter from school about an upcoming trip to the theatre for DD. It stated the cost (£7) and then stated that " no child will be disadvantaged because of a parent's inability or unwillingness to pay"

I have no issue at all with people who really cannot afford it (though £7 is only a little more than a packet of ciggies) the bit about "unwillingness to pay" has really cheesed me off. The school does not clarify this any further and I am left with the impression that we who are prepared to pay are subsidising those who are not.

When I was at school in the eighties - a while ago , I admit but still within recent memory, if your parents did not pay for the trip, you did not go, end of story.

DD is in her first year at school so this is all new to me.

OP posts:
TankFlyBossWalk · 19/11/2010 20:23

Agree with you, Waterloo. Some people just think that the world owes them a favour.

School trips are great experiences for children and are subsidised for those who can genuinely not afford them.

RunawayChristmasTree · 19/11/2010 20:23

I do get a bit fed up with having to pay out for the school trips when there was one mother in DS1s class who never put a penny in to the school from the day her child started till the day he left and would happily tell you so.

I have managed to pay for every trip either of my DSs have been on as I would feel so bad for them if they missed out, I do admit though to refusing to pay additional money for others to go as I struggled to pay for my own children I don't see why I have to pay for everyones,

waterlooroadisadocumentary · 19/11/2010 20:25

Well if you struggle to pay it would be daft to pay extra, if you can afford to do so it seems a rather sensible thing to do. You benefit children in your own community and if you are at a school like my dd, where quite a few parents could not pay, it makes it more likely that trips go ahead.

missmapp · 19/11/2010 20:26

As a teacher i have paid for children to go on trips as their parents cant/wont and it isnt fair for the child to suffer. i know children have often been to places before, but going with the school is different, they love the coach trip, talking with friends and generally sharing the experience with someone other than parents.

waterlooroadisadocumentary · 19/11/2010 20:30

Yes missmap I have done the same and know many other teachers who have done the same. It is quite common. I had a boy in my tutor group who was studying history and lived it. He wanted to go on a battlefields trip and could not afford to go. He had never been abroad. Paying for his trip has been one of the most moving things I have ever paid for and has been the highlight of my career. He also realised that there are good people out there who care, it restored his faith in people.

miniwedge · 19/11/2010 20:32

I can't afford the school residential trip in March having been made redundant and then taking a job at a much lower pay.

I wrote to the school and asked to pay over the school yr, they wrote back and said not to worry, it's sorted for you.

I am incredibly grateful, have always paid up until now. If everyone did this however, school trips would stop altogether.
If dd was not funded for this trip she wouldn't have a trip out for a very long time#
Trips are not a necesity but they do make a big difference to children whose family are in difficulties.

If you can pay then either do so or bow out.

MeowyChristmasEveryone · 19/11/2010 20:33

At a local primary school, my teacher friend has told me that there is an anonymous parent who not only pays for their own child to go the trips the school offers, they ALSO separately send an envelope with the correct amount of cash for the teacher running the trip to be able to fund a child who wouldn't normally be able to afford the trip.

It hasn't been the case that they've donated the funds for a ski trip, but last summer was a Y5 overnighter, which was priced at about £35, for 2 days of activities too.

I think the staff of the school have a good idea which parent it is, but they would never make them so uncomfortable as to make it publicly known that this is their practice.

THAT is charity.

miniwedge · 19/11/2010 20:34

I can spell by the way, I just can't type. Blush

SE13Mummy · 19/11/2010 20:34

If your child attends a regular state primary school you can only be charged for the cost of your child's entry/travel for that visit. Many schools do not have 'hardship' funds and they do not receive money to pay for visits.

So, if you are able to pay for a visit but choose not to you are probably reducing your child's chances of going on trips later in that academic year as the teacher simply won't be allowed to take the class anywhere that costs anything.

As a teacher I love taking children on trips - we went out today to a local, free museum and park by public transport. I couldn't believe how many of the children hadn't been to either before (it's a 10 minute bus ride from the school)! It was a history trip and the children loved it - there's no way they'd have learnt so much if I'd dressed up as a Tudor (whilst simultaneously having to manage some pretty tricky behaviour, interruptions, phone calls etc. etc.) and done the same activities but minus any of the oil paintings or artefacts. Today's trip wasn't part of the curriculum per se but it definitely enhanced the children's learning of it.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 19/11/2010 20:34

There is a lot of bollocks on fb at the moment moaning about money from CiN going to poor families. Because they CHOOSE to be poor apparently.

I fucking despair, I really do.

nameymcnamechange · 19/11/2010 20:35

Its absolutely astonishing how mean-spirited some quite well-off people can be.

waterlooroadisadocumentary · 19/11/2010 20:37

I agree namey and meowy

OhCobblers · 19/11/2010 20:37

that those children who couldn't go then get to go (obviously)

40deniertights · 19/11/2010 20:49

A couple of people here are quite unbelievably selfish. To say that "we have lots of dc"- well they were always going to cost more than having one or two.
Re:school trips. Residential trips are not compulsory and usually there are plenty of children who do not go, so that is not necessarily a major problem.
As for day trips, they usually link to curriculum, but even if they don't education is not just about exams, but about broadening horizons. It will be cheaper for many parents to fund their child on a trip to the zoo, rather than pay for themselves and the child. Ofsted take a dim view of schools with no visits so I don't think schools can stop them really.

TankFlyBossWalk · 19/11/2010 20:58

I agree with soggy's "we have lots of dc" quote. Oh, you chose to have lots of children so everyone else will have to subsidise their education. Amazing.

TankFlyBossWalk · 19/11/2010 21:01

Sorry! I meant I agree 40denier, not soggy!

soggy14 · 19/11/2010 21:12

TankFly what choice do I have? If I do not send them to school then it woul dbe n unauthorised absence and if I do send than then there is no alterntive supervision provided.
Want2be I agree - we pay an allocated mount for education. The school need to use this budget not ask parents for extra. Either it is educational in which case it should come out of the budget or it is a jolly in which case it should not be in school time.
Spongecakelover but I want t choose whether I give an experience to local familes or money to Africa, not have that decision made for me.

waterlooroadisadocumentary · 19/11/2010 21:16

Of course there would be alternative supervision.

TankFlyBossWalk · 19/11/2010 21:19

What choice do you have?? You pay for your children of course! Like everyone else who can afford to does!

HappyMummyOfOne · 19/11/2010 21:20

Agree that some posts are very selfish, if you choose not to pay for a school trip out of principle then at least have the decency to not send your child.

I imagine there are very few that can truly not afford a day trip, schools would far rather have it paid in instalments than not pay it at all. Every one gets CB (at present) and most get CTC so no reason not to pay.

Original poster
fulltimeworkingmum · 19/11/2010 21:29

Thank you HappyMummyOf One - a voice of reason. So many people with persecution issues on here. As on OP, I do not agree with seeing off little children for a good day out just besause they cannot afford it but I just get seriously annoyed about those who can pay but choose to abstein and still let their children take advantage of the excursions on offer.

Oh, and the thing about the ciggies - some people are pleading poverty at DC's school but pushing expensive buggies and puffing away on cigarettes at the school gate... NICE!

OP posts:
goingroundthebend4 · 19/11/2010 21:31

waterlooraod

Of course there would be alternative supervision

Not always dd school is going to pantomime if your dc not going we been told to collect at 1pm.And it was spelt out that no pay no place

DD will be going as have found the money , but £10 and i will feel it

Oh and op i dont smoke so doesnt meant me giving up pack of flags oh and dont drink either as for large flat screen tv lol mines 20 inche tv

goingroundthebend4 · 19/11/2010 21:32

opps that fags not flags

pastaplease · 19/11/2010 21:36

I agree.

Soggy14, it's very selfish to have had "lots" of children, but then not pay their way even though you claim to be able to afford to.

Very rude indeed to the other parents.

DinahRod · 20/11/2010 09:20

goingroundthebend, I'm not sure that's allowed - schools have to make provision.