to wonder what's wrong with PGL in this country

[Treblesallround]

School has organised a trip to PGL in the South of France. It costs £695 and they are going by coach so all day on the bus each way. Why the fuck can't they go to PGL in this country? We can't be the only skint ones, surely?

What's PGL? Is it 'team building'?

Outdoor activity type place fluffy. They've been to UK ones and sounds identical, but in France and twice the price

I share your frustration. My DD's school organised a French trip to Quebec of all places! France is 22 miles away and they went to Quebec! They don't even talk proper French there!
I've had a word with the school, who say that they cater for all budgets with the different trips they offer, but try telling that to DCs if you can't afford to let them go on a trip that all their mates are going on.

Some schools just prefer to go abroad , the same things are available in this country .

My son is going to PGL in the Isle of Wight in a couple of weeks.
Cost £300 for 4 nights with the school.

They always go to the Isle of Wight

PGL is this country is great.

If you time it right you can get a 2 for the price of one deal.

I can't understand why schools don't go for cheaper trips.

YANBU.

Last year, my son's school offered a £900 ski trip; a £1400 ski trip (to New England!); a £250 weekend in Belgium; a £450 French exchange; a £450 break in Spanish exchange and that was just to his year group!

Crickey! £700 is allot of money to ask when it could be so much cheaper locally. DDs school takes the year 7s to a place about 20 miles away (Grendon, if anyone knows it) and we pay a very reasonable sum.

I'd be having words OP :( No way we could afford that and it's sad for your DC to miss out. Is it a new idea, or is this the venue every year?

Last year was skiing at £950, so I suppose we should think ourselves lucky this year (didn't go skiing, not going on this one). The website has a notice from the head chivying us up to send in deposits. Apparently it's an important part of the curiculum and a wonderful opportunity that will have to be cancelled if we don't get a move on, so I guess we're not the only plebs!

3 words and I will win - I won this earlier this year

Lake District - £600

That's another thing - they bang on about how educationally worthwhile these trips are. They will help with GCSE work etc etc. I asked whetehr that means that my DDs are disadvantaged if they don't go, and the school says no, not at all. So what's the point then? Fun? Bloody expensive fun!

Sorry but i would not be paying £700 for one memeber of my family to go on hoilday went to euro camp this summer for £750 for a week with 2 adults and 2 children

And can i add dont be fooled the cost is to bank roll the parents that are not paying

My child is going on a day trip to france its costing £80 a ferry for four only costs £60 so i am not sure what the frigg is going on i paid up as is usually do but i was pissed with a big P not a small one

And this is for one day ffs what wrong with the tower of london

Perhaps the teachers are planning a Christmas booze stock up Fishwife

I think I got lucky, DD's 4 night trip was £177.
I only had 6 weeks notice (not school's fault, I moved her schools), but that sounds a bargain compared to some of these.

wowsa £300 for IoW? I organised the guides trip there 3 years ago and it was £125 for 4 nights and coach travel was included from Bristol area. I did negotiate a great deal from them though. We all had a great time, and the food was fab, even the fussy eaters had nothing to complain about.

The whole thing with proms, trips is just getting out of hand and the school has just introduced a summer uniform why cant they just were short sleeve shirts

But we pay take it up the arse and no doubut it wont sodding end when grand kids come children are no cheap and i should of hot chickens instead

(sp) got

We pay, we take it up the arse.

Yep, that sums it up very nicely for me, Fishwife. Succinct, and apposite.

My oldest went on a year 6 trip to PGL in the UK this year. Loved it. I want to go!

These trips that cost squillions of pounds make my blood boil

I had a stand up argument with one of my really good friends who happens to be a teacher at a bog standard high school. Her school had organised a trip to Chillie at a cost of well over £1000 and she just couldn't see my point of view that a lot of families wouldn't be able to afford it and if they coukd many would have to forgoe their family holiday. She just kept reiterating that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I have asked for a breakdown of the costs before now. Schools usually use travel agencies which specialise in organising school trips - so there's one avoidable cost for starters.

I think it's fair (as a Brownie Guider) that the cost of the accompanying adults is factored in - I'd expect that. Though with Brownies, Guiders are expected to pay for their own food whilst away.

But they don't seem to make much effort to travel cheaply, as far as I have seen.

We My DM forked out £700 for my DD to go on an exchange to America last year (exchange, so not even any hotel costs involved). I was really pissed off when, a couple of weeks before they travelled, we were asked for another £25 so the school could get everyone matching hoodies for them to travel in. I put my foot down at that, so they gave her one foc :). I just thought that was ridiculous. When I complained, the school said it was the kids' idea.

God, don't get me started on the over-priced hoodies, 'spending money suggestions' and clothing lists.

Speak for yourselves about taking it up the arse!

At DDs school they always seem to choose the moste expensive accommodation. Ski Trips are £1400. There is a £450 trip to Barcelona next Easter and I think it is only 4 nights. DD isn't even doing Spanish. She is not going.