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

[meah]

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!!!

Although I do think school trips should be organised to maximise value for money. One year the school ski trip was to Lake Tahoe rather than the normal coach to a small resort in the alps. Not exactly about widening participation that trip!

What Porto just said.

Outraged no one is saying that you can't spend your own money on your own children, or indeed on gel nails if you like. But responding to this thread by saying 'I worked for my money' is spectacularly missing the point.

So what if you worked hard for your money, and I just sat on my arse picking my nose all day? Should your child be given more opportunity by the state as a reward for your hard work? And should my child be penalised by the state because it has a feckless mother? And if so, why?

Outraged, but it's offered within school. It isn't like private piano lessons. If a school offers 'optional extras' then all children should be able to access it if they wish. Which of course they can't if there is money involved.

You sound very keen for your children to maximise their potential at school and take every opportunity they can (of course you are, you are the same as me in this respect and want only the best for your children) and you see a value in school trips.

So why is it okay that a pupil in your child's class (whose parents want only the best for their child) will never, ever be able to experience a school trip and maximise their potential because it is beyond the financial reach of the parents?

What other parts of participation in school life is so totally dependent on the parents' ability to pay?

whois I've not seen anyone say 'not everyone can afford to go so optional school trips shouldn't be offered at all. '. But I have seen people say that optional school trips should be made available to all. Not quite the same thing.

Anyway, different strokes and all that. I'm off to bed. It's been interesting!

No one saying "no one goes on school trips" just that poor pupils should get to experience a trip away too. Surely they need it more than anyone.
Just the experience that it is a big world would help. It is interesting that no one seems to do trips to poorer places. Maybe it would help all our children to meet poor ones in Russia, southen Italy or Greece . Educational and cheap.

Spend your money on your kids if you want to.

If you want to there is a whole frigging internet of opportunity

Why in the name of God's arse do you need the school to make the booking for you?

Dont be so lazy. Dont expect the school to provide chaperoned travel for your child. Do the job yourself or actually pay for someone to do the job for you.

If the trip actually matters then the school should be moving heaven and earth to ensure that everyone can be included.

If the trip doesnt actually matter then those of you who are sending your kids are lazy mugs and shame on you.

As one of only 3 'poor' children who didn't go on the 1st yr secondary school trip to france, I can confirm that it was a hugely embarrassing and mortifying experience to be sat in a classroom with only 2 others with a substitute teacher for a week, with everyone Asking why we hadn't gone. And that was nothing compared to the comments from my classmates!

But according to some on this thread, its tough shit. I suppose my disabled mother didn't try hard enough to get the money together .

I can well afford to send my own dcs on school trips, but it breaks my heart to think of the poor sods left behind, and I disagree with the practice completely.

sosweet I agree totally with your comments. I feel shocked by the selfish, me me me attitudes on this thread. People should be ashamed.

I do agree with BlueCanary's sentiment.

It isnt about whether or not I can afford to send my DCs. It is about doing the right thing.

My DCs dont go on these headline trips.

YANBU. It's incredibly divisive.the worst thing are these world challenge 'expeditions' where the children aged14 or 15 alledgedly fund raise the money themselves Yeah right. The parent has to sign a dd form and the money comes out of their account whether or not then child raises anything or not, so the parent has to be wealthy enough to underwrite it.Plus hate supporting these fundraising things.Why should I contribute to a rich kids holiday?

Hmm...I'm not sure what I think. My more exotic school trip options consisted of France, Italy, skiing in Austria and Switzerland, three week Italy trip, New York, Germany.

I couldn't go to all of those - we couldn't have afforded it. year 6 I had a day trip to France, year 7 I didn't go on the french trip - it was expensive and my family planned to go on a break to Scotland instead that week. Year 8 I missed out on Germany - a shame but my parents weren't keen on exchange trips. Year 9 there was a Christmas market trip in Germany. I didn't go to that either. Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 I went skiing, year 12 I also went to France for Geography and year 13 I went to France for photography.

I was fortunate that I went on many lovely school trips and gained a lot from them. Skiing in particular I gained a lot from. My parents wouldn't have gone skiing, I was awful at sport generally but skiing was for me - it was the one sport I could do well and with confidence. I would never have known that had I not had the opportunity. With this in mind I really think that these trips are important.

I also don't feel I missed out by not going on the trips. It was a little disappointing at the time but I understood that money didn't grow on trees and I couldn't just get all that I wanted! I guess that taught me a valuable lesson. When it came to my year 11, 12 and 13 trips I paid myself a little which was a good lesson and also probably why I got to go on more trips. I didn't pay for it all but it was good to feel I'd paid for some of it myself!

When I have children of my own I hope I can afford to pay for them to go on some but not all - I want them to learn the same valuable lessons that I learnt.

I think it sucks that some kids will never get the chance to go on these trips and see their class mates head off for fun. We have a primary trip next year. It's only 5 days in a caravan in Wales but it's over 320 quid. Most of the kids are going and I hate to think of the few who can't go though think the school trys to help out those who are struggling. It's a huge amount of money for some folk, especially if they have several children all hoping for trips.

Not so bad maybe at a bigger high school where mst kids in the year won't be going on the trips.

i think it is a good thing ,as its message is, work hard in school get a good job and you can achieve these nice things in life.it s giving them the confidence they can have good things in life .if childrens parents cannot afford it it encourages them to have a work ethic so they can have these things.
may be your child could raise some money washing cars ,cutting grass eg for neighbours ,family?

Think it just makes these kids feel like shit and confirms where they stand in life. A tough lesson for young children to learn.

The world challenge trips come in at £4000 .You'd have to wash an awful lot of cars to make that kind of money.

'work hard in school get a good job and you can achieve these nice things in life.'
incredible naive POV. What if you have a disabled child or end up as a carer to parents, are injured/ ill so you can't work, can't get a job in the field you are qualified in etc etc

i have had a serious ilness myself which resulted in a major operation.i am a person who always looks on the positive side of life.there are many disabled people who acheive well in life david blunket ,paralympics to name a few.i just dont look at life in a negative way .i see positives for all.
harvest-it was just an example there are lots of other ways--sell raffle tickets to work colleuges and in your street eg .there is many ways to raise money.x

I'll sit on that bench with you betty.

I've known since the day my children were born (and I have twins) that they would be offered school residentials once in high school. You either save or budget accordingly or say no. It's not that hard.

And yes mine will all be going. They appreciate its because I and their farther work bloody hard so are able to reap the rewards of our labours which I think is a damn good message to pass on.

And agree with you bethjoanne. My 12 year old daughter has already got a Saturday job as well as set up her own car washing round.

@ some attitudes on this thread! there's an awful lot of 'I'm alright Jack'.

My Ds is in year 10, has had numerous trips to go on, but he's not been abroad on any of them ~ I was going to say yet but tbf, it's unlikely he'll ever be able to go. Barcelona in Feb is the latest. Two nights for £340, plus a passport, plus spending? nope! no way can I do it..that'd be around £500 for two nights in another bed. Of course I'd love him to go; it's supposed to help with his Spanish, but he can't :(
I think the year group have gone on around 4/5 trips abroad since year 7 including America, Belgium and France. And yes, his year group have yet another stick with which to poke him .

I'm quite interested in the ages of all the posters that went abroad with their schools because up until I left school in 1980, the only school trip 'away' was a week in the Isle of Wight in Junior 4 (year 6). I felt extremely privileged to go, but there were no trips abroad in secondary school.

And I didn't think a 12yo child was allowed to get a Saturday job northcountrygirl, they aren't down here in London and my family up in Yorkshire say the same for their Dc's .

I am quite fed up with those people who say 'I work hard, so my kids go. Good lesson for the others to work hard so later their kids can go (they can't go clearly, because their parents must be losers)'. You should be ashamed of yourselves!

Are you the bankers - or your Dh are bankers? Bailed out by the British tax payer and still rewarding yourselves handsomely for your dishonest acts?

Are you successful business lawyers ripping off the state?

I would like to know why you think you are so successful? I would like to know if you are one of the many I have come across at dinner parties who is also proud in relation how much tax you can avoid with your miserly schemes?

I am proud to pay my tax as I consider it part of a decent society. I know it is a good thing, although I hate the fact that middle incomes pay a higher relative tax rate than the very well off, because the very well off dive into legal and often illegal tax avoidance.

I have come across too many very well off people in the UK who are utterly immoral. Give me the attitudes on the Continent any time, much more inclusive and very interesting what is happening in France. Those people on this thread who consider that they are so much better than anyone else - well, you are a shocking lot and you have way too much power in this country. No, I am not jealous of 'your success' I simple despise you.

I believe in a civilised society, this is not civilised. We should try to work for the good of all children, that is part of a civilised society.

I was one of five kids and we were told from the day that the oldest started secondary school that we could each go on one trip. This was in the mid eighties. I chose to go skiing at age 15 and loved it. I couldn't go on anything else and knew this. It was disappointing but hey ho.

I don't get these egalitarian attitudes. Should everything be priced so that everyone can afford it? All handbags have to be under £10? All shoes for a fiver?

My husband is a banker but his bank didn't get bailed out. He works ridiculous hours, I work too and yes, I do see the payoff of some of that work being that we can afford treats. However I plan to take a similar attitude to my parents and let the DCs choose one each. We pay more tax than some will earn in total so I don't think our contribution to society is in question.

At was one Hell of a rant, and so much of it totally bollocks. No-one on this (generally civilised) discussion has said the things you are accusing them of.

A straw man arguement is no arguement.

Blue Canary I can confirm that it was a hugely embarrassing and mortifying experience to be sat in a classroom with only 2 others with a substitute teacher for a week

Which is awful, but wouldn't happen these days as school trips in term time are voluntary contribution only, and lodgings for residentials are free if you're on free school meals.

Don't forget the pupil premium for disadvantaged students which can also be used to provide extra-curricular experiences.

Why are people acting as if the half of students in the OP's trip who didn't go didn't go because their parents couldn't afford it? There's no indication of that at all.

My school is running a day trip in a couple of weeks for Y7. Just like all the posters are saying on here would be ideal, it's local and voluntary contribution only. Accessible to all, you might think? Over 5% of kids aren't going and will have to be supervised at school while the rest go. It's certainly not because of cost and yet they're still not going. Some parents haven't given consent. Maybe the whole trip should be cancelled for their sake because they can't all go?

Lol at if you work hard you will reap the rewards. What a naive statement and I strongly suspect half of those who made that on here are living off their husbands anyway. My poor single mother worked horrendous jobs for minimum wage all her life. No way could I have gone on the French exchange or ski-ing trip (all that was offered back in the 80's). DH and I are in reasonably well paid professions and we don't work anything like as hard as mum had to. i find it disgusting that we are paid so much more than people in manual jobs and that our DD can go on these trips and their DC can't. I won't be sending her to the ridiculously expensive trips on principle.