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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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!!!

OP posts:

whois · 28/09/2012 21:22

Oh, and I am sure that anyone who is complaining about these optional school trips gets in touch with your DCs school and offer to arrange a cheapo inclusive trip somewhere local. You might realise how hard it is.

I agree with the race to the bottom and pension analogy. My life is shit, yours should be too.

Portofino · 28/09/2012 21:25

Presumably your life is not shit then Whols?

whois · 28/09/2012 21:25

How do you know that most people cant go Portofino? Mostly it is a case of don't want to / parents have other priorities like a family week.

Have to say, there was actually a bigger % take up of the ski trip at my state school than at my private school where no doubt 95% of the parents could have afforded it!

whois · 28/09/2012 21:26

How do you know that most people cant go Portofino? Mostly it is a case of don't want to / parents have other priorities like a family week.

Have to say, there was actually a bigger % take up of the ski trip at my state school than at my private school where no doubt 95% of the parents could have afforded it!

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/09/2012 21:26

It's not only a handful that can afford them though. In the original post it was said that 'well over half' of the children went on this trip.

Lots of children have parents that can afford these trips, it doesn't seem fair on them that to be denied opportunities, when it has been pointed out numerous times that these trips are the only chance some children have to go on trips like this.

Opportunity in life isn't always equal and it isn't in schools no matter how much you want to try and believe that it is. Opportunities that children have in school are different from the day they start in reception because of what the parents do and don't provide for their them.

Portofino · 28/09/2012 21:27

Mine isn't at all - and I can afford to send my dd on trips at my whim or hers. That does not mean that I think it is FAIR that schools should propose or run them when it means that a substantial number of pupils get left out. It is NOT fair, it is NOT RL, it is NOT character building. It is exclusive bollocks.

Portofino · 28/09/2012 21:29

RL isn't fair. That is true. This is SCHOOL. Where all children HAVE to go to hopefully receive a fair and equitable education that is not influenced by how much cash their parents have.

whois · 28/09/2012 21:29

Presumably your life is not shit then Whols?

Nope, it's not shit thanks for asking. This week was especially nice as it was a 4 day week after a camping trip last weekend. Had a lovely weekend away despite the rain and the cold.

The two weeks before that I might have given you a different answer as I worked 70 to 80 hours both those weeks. On the plus side, work pay for tea and a taxi home when you stay that late. Always look on the bright side and all.

Looking forward to my March ski trip too which was booked this week

Portofino · 28/09/2012 21:31

And your point is?

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/09/2012 21:31

If enough people get 'left out' then they stop being left out and just start becoming a different group. That's like me complaining that I'm 'left out' of Mensa. No, I'm not left out, I'm part of a substantial group of people that cannot access Mensa.

Portofino · 28/09/2012 21:34

Are you implying that I don't work or something? Because I do.

GoldShip · 28/09/2012 21:34

Outraged that's a bit different surely? You don't go to a school filled with Mensa students who could potentially be rubbing your noses in it...

School should be the one place where children can feel equal. Where money isn't an issue. I find it a crying shame that even at school they're being affected by their parents income.

Portofino · 28/09/2012 21:36

Outraged, Mensa is an entirely different thing, as is being able to sing well enough to join the choir. It is about a child's abilities. Trips are about PARENTS income and priorities. It is entirely different.

noblegiraffe · 28/09/2012 21:36

There aren't many schools filled with kids going on an expensive ski trip either.

Portofino · 28/09/2012 21:38

And I am feeling totally fucked off with Whols comments about her 80 hour week and skiing trip.

Portofino · 28/09/2012 21:40

Noble - at my dd's school ALL the children go skiing for 2 weeks in Switzerland in year 6. ALL of them! It is part of the national curriculum.

whois · 28/09/2012 21:40

And your point is?

Me? I didn't really have one. I just replied to your question that currently my life is not shit.

Why is it fair to miss out on something because of a parental choice such as not liking skiing (or not wanting a family holiday trenching in Peru) or nt beig able to e.g disabled parent, or otherwise healthy parent with a dodgy knee?

I don't understand why that is fair, but to miss out because of money is not fair?

Spare a thought for the child who has a single mum and and a disabled brother who can't travel. A school trip like this would be amazing for them. Or the child with a parent who is scared of flying. Or whatever or whatever. Or the parent who can't take any holiday as they are fighting to save their family business during the recession.

Cash is not the only limiting factor in life.

noblegiraffe · 28/09/2012 21:40

If trips are about parents' income and priorities, then why are people on this thread only crying for the children with low income parents?

No one seems to be arguing that no kid should get to go on a ski trip because some parents don't give an arse about skiing. Yet that kid might be just as disappointed at being denied.

Is it not about the kids, in that case, but the parents and their feelings. In which case maybe they should get over it, as their kids inevitably will.

RobynRidingHood · 28/09/2012 21:42

My sons selctive school runs heavily subsidised day trips and activites at the end of the summer term for a fraction of the real cost - which the local comp charge full price for thus excluding by financial means those who often can't afford to let their children have different experiences. The selectice school on the other hand makes sure all have access.

Portofino · 28/09/2012 21:43

No the point is IF THE TRIP IS OFFERED BY THE SCHOOL everyone should have the opportunity to go. You can do what you like in your private life. The SCHOOL should not offer trips that are not accessible to all.

Portofino · 28/09/2012 21:44

I really do not see how hard that is to understand.

noblegiraffe · 28/09/2012 21:44

porto how awful for those kids who really don't want to go skiing.

No?

whois · 28/09/2012 21:45

noblegiraffe I think that is the point I am trying to make, only you pit it more eloquently.

"Noble - at my dd's school ALL the children go skiing for 2 weeks in Switzerland in year 6. ALL of them! It is part of the national curriculum."

Wow. What country is this? I would LOVE that for my children. Can't possibly be the UK as even moderately well off people are avoiding skiing in Switzerland at the mo due to the awful fx rate.

spoonsspoonsspoons · 28/09/2012 21:45

How would you make a trip accessible to all outside of term time? There'll be children who can't go because it clashes with family holidays/visits etc.

RobynRidingHood · 28/09/2012 21:47

How can everyone have the opportunity to go? Not every teacher wants to go away on residential trips. if you have a year group of 180-200 you would be hard pressed to find 20 teachers that wanted to go away over night. You also have accomodation problems. A trip of 20-40 children is much more managable.

The local comp can't get a minimum of 10 pupils to go to Italy for a long week end (and its cheap) being offered out to Years 10-13 in a reasonably affluent area.

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