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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Be P***** Off at yet another expensive school trip

852 replies

meah · 28/09/2012 12:58

Hi, my ds has is now starting yr 9 & dd yr 8, in yr 7 a school trip was offered but cost was in the £300s (i forget exactly how much) being so expensive i couldn't afford it and it left both kids gutted when well over half of the kids in their yr got to go. ive just recieved another school trip email (not sure which yr not that it matters) offering a ski holiday trip, abroad for 6 nights for £680. which would be fantastic if i where loaded!! Why cant schools offer school trips that are affordable to all like they're supposed to instead of making those whos parents cant afford it feel left out!!! Angry

OP posts:
alphabite · 28/09/2012 13:18

Should all the children miss out because you can't afford it?

ClippedPhoenix · 28/09/2012 13:20

This is something OP that actually makes my blood boil. All trips should be capped at around the £250 mark.

FunnysInLaJardin · 28/09/2012 13:20

Is it the sort of school which would expect its parents to be well off? If not then the odd expensive trip would be fine but not lots and lots.

ClippedPhoenix · 28/09/2012 13:21

Why should the more priviliged kids get to go and the ones who's parents can't afford it not?

Mrsjay · 28/09/2012 13:21

I hate school trip letters but mine go or they don't DD1 never got to go on the sking trip dd2 didn't even ask I do let them go on some but some I can't afford or don't think it is worth the money yes children are dissapointed but they get over it or just lump it you can't magic the money out of thin air ,

Mrsjay · 28/09/2012 13:22

and yes capping school trips is a good idea,

Pourquoimoi · 28/09/2012 13:24

Our school has 6th form trips for over £2k!!! (State comprehensive). I gather the kids are encouraged to fund raise for them though rather than just expect the parents to pay.

scurryfunge · 28/09/2012 13:24

Will there be other less expensive trips throughout the year? I'm not sure children are that bothered about not going though.

ChessieFL · 28/09/2012 13:25

Tricky one. I'm on the fence about this. Yes it's a shame when your kids can't go. But as Alphabite says why should all children miss out? I hate the thought of going skiing so it's something I would never want to do, so if my DD wanted to do it and could go with the school I would be really pleased that the offer was there so I didn't have to take her (which would cost more as I would then have to pay for the whole family to go instead of just her).
I think as long as there are some cheaper trips that you can afford then it's ok. But if all the trips are that expensive it's not fair.

Pourquoimoi · 28/09/2012 13:27

Clippedphoenix - whether you like it or not, richer people have more choices - that's life. Doesn't make it fair but that's the way it is.

Playing devil's advocate, If you turned it round, why should the richer kids not have the opportunity to go on the trip because some people can't afford it?

Mrsjay · 28/09/2012 13:28

Mine have been on school trips trips to London theme parks but I can't afford to pay for the Holiday type ones our school go to Italy and it would eat into our own holiday fund iyswim, but once they have been they don't get to go the next year

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/09/2012 13:30

Why shoudo the children whose parents can afford it, or who can budget better be denied opportunities because others can't afford it?

The school is there to offer opportunities to all it's pupils. They all deserve to be taken into consideration, it pisses me right off when people who can't afford things think the schools plans for education and opportunities should revolve around them.

Should my ds never get the opportunity to learn to ski because we couldn't afford a skiing holiday for all of us? Or because my husband is a clumsy sod who would undoubtably break a limb if he went up a ski slope?

These things are often much cheaper than they would be if families had to pay for all of them to go privately. It's great that schools offer these opportunities, long may it continue.

When nearly half the kids in the year don't get to go, no one is being left out! If it were three children out of one year group staying behind, you would have a point. As it is, you don't.

Mrsjay · 28/09/2012 13:31

Im not sure if I am agreeing with the OP or not Confused

ClippedPhoenix · 28/09/2012 13:32

Why on earth should any school take kids for a 3 grand ski trip?

Clippedphoenix - whether you like it or not, richer people have more choices - that's life. Doesn't make it fair but that's the way it is
Pour - your attitude absolutely stinks.

By the way, I could afford it, just think its ludicrous and very very unfair.

QueefLatina · 28/09/2012 13:34

My DS is 15 and goes to an inner city Academy. In the 11 years he has been at school there has never been a school trip further than 2 miles away.

We could afford it but there isn't the option at his school. I wish I'd realised it when he started at the school as I feel that he has missed out.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 28/09/2012 13:34

But it's not a compulsory trip is it - they are offering it and I should imagine at that price there will be a lot of kids that dont go.

My DS did an activity trip for year 6 - it was £260 and the school gave us a years notice and allowed us to pay in installments.

In answer to people saying why should the kids who cant afford it miss out.....well, thats just life isn't it and the sooner they learn that the better. Why should my DS miss out just because some others can't go!

DS goes into year 7 next year and some of the trips look amazing....Italy, Spain, even New York. Brilliant opportunity for him and good luck to him too !

worldgonecrazy · 28/09/2012 13:35

DD's school organises fund raisers for all the school trips so that everyone who wants to go can go. It's much fairer than parents continually having to fork out, and the children learn the value of money as they have to organise and decide upon fundraisers themselves. Of course, the richer parents can pay £100 for a cupcake!

MrsMangelfanciedPaulRobinson · 28/09/2012 13:36

DD1's school does offer expensive trips but they're not compulsory and I just tell her no when she asks to go. In theory we could afford it, but I refuse to spend the cost of a family holiday on a school trip for one child.

porcamiseria · 28/09/2012 13:36

YANBU

who has this money floating around? serously!!!! screwed

ClippedPhoenix · 28/09/2012 13:37

Yet another stinky attitude from Betty I see.

Mrsjay · 28/09/2012 13:38

mostly the school don't expect the money right away they spread it over months,

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/09/2012 13:40

Why is that a stinky attitude Clipped?

It's no different from the OPs attitude really. No one wants their child to miss out on opportunities that other their age may have. But why is OK for someone on a limited income to not want their child to miss out but for someone who can afford it it's wrong?

porcamiseria · 28/09/2012 13:42

I am not badly paid but where on earth do people find £850, for a school trip! jesus thats a family holiday

feeling poor now!!!!

Zavi · 28/09/2012 13:42

I don't think it's unfair that these opportunities are available to other children.
I do think however that you need to manage your children's expectations better so that they don't end up feeling disappointed.
My parents could never afford to send me on school trips - even fairly cheap ones! - and I just got used to it. I didn't expect to be able to go when trips were announced. No disappointment there.
Also, it's a good motivator for your kids to do better than you so that they can afford school trips for their own kids further down the line.
That's what I've done.

Sparklingbrook · 28/09/2012 13:42

Ds1 has the opportunity to got to Morocco with the school on a Geography field trip next Year. £1000. I am umming and aahing TBH.