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!!!

I don't see why all trips should be accessible to all. Only those that are compulsory should be accessible and most schools have a fund to help those who genuinely can't afford to pay.

Ds is at private school (stonking scholarship). I am sure there will be trips that I cannot afford even though I have a reasonably good income. I don't expect others not to go because ds cannot.

I can not longer be arsed batting away your nonsensical irrelevant examples LaQ.

Yes you're right, that's just the same. You win.

Unless you live on a kibbutz (do you OhSiena?) then throughout life you will come across examples of difference, finances being one of them. It doesn't bother me that most of the people I know have a higher income level than me and their choices are different from mine. If I was to analyse every apparent injustice in my life I would be very sad and bitter person.

The fact is, though, that there isn't actually the option for the whole form to go on these trips anyway.
Out of a year group of, say 120, there may be 30 places offered so even if 115 have the means to go, it's still a lottery as to who gets in first.
What does it matter whether the remaining 80 pupils didn't get a place because they hadn't signed the form in time or because their parents couldn't afford it?
They're not all being discriminated against, are they?

You are quite right OhSiena, I want state education with private extras - why not? Private schools get private extras- why should they get that privilege? I would have thought that state schools need the extras far more than the private sector who could easily follow the argument that they will do it anyway.

In my DSs school it was first come, first served and so even if you had the cash you didn't necessarily get the place - and that was unfair since mine got the school coach and were dependant on that for time whereas those who lived near the school could get in earlier.

It seems that I am in a lose, lose situation. According to OhSiena, they can only be offered it if they are privileged in the first place, so if I struggle to afford fees they have to watch others go on trips because we can't afford extras - yet in the state system they can't go because everyone can't afford it - despite the fact that mine do without a lot that is the norm so that we can afford it!

On another thread 50p is being argued about so therefore you can't let them buy art books because not everyone wants to!

Luckily successful state schools will continue offering all the extras and not let their pupils be disadvantaged because their parents can't afford the private sector. I chose a comprehensive with lots of facilities, lots of opportunities and lots of extras - in addition to good teaching - it was a good choice.

I would hate a system where only 7% get the extras because they are already highly advantaged by birth and have bought their way out so they can do what they like and you say -' well of course Joe Bloggs you could ski with the school if your parents could afford the fees'!

I think you can't really ask more than my DC primary school does.

Keeps expensive trips to a minimum, plenty of warnings about expense years in advance, trips have obvious educational benefit, pay by installment is encouraged and DC that can't go aren't to feel left out as much as possible.

It also does closer much cheaper trips which ask for voluntary contribution - pretty much everyone pays even the one struggling financially tend to pay at least something.

Another nearby primary school with basically same financial catchment area can't do these trips as so many of the parents don't pay so they end up nearly always canceling which upsets the DC. I've heard from parents there that now the school really aren't trying to arrange any more. A large number of parents at that school have the attitude they shouldn't have to pay for school things.

I have to say by secondary schools DC should be aware stuff costs money and not really be so disappointed as the younger primary aged DC.

Well I'm going to throw this one into the equation. DS friend is NEVER allowed on residential trips, he;s 17 now, still not allowed to go - because the family is strict {insert religion of your choice because I'm not singling his out} - the family are far and away the most affluent in the entire school

So my son now can't go on a school trip, due to some MN reasoning, because of one highly observant family?

Can't be arsed to read whole thread - sorry.

In the school I taught, we used to run a Y6 trip to France. It was about £180 per child, and they paid in installments. It was a brilliant trip for the children - they got to mix with French kids their own age, visited all sorts of beautiful places, used the French they had been taught at school etc. The staff used to kill themselves to ensure that the children had the best time they could.

It was stopped after one of the parents (father of six) complained and complained and complained and complained to the Board of Governers and even to the local paper that his children were missing out because he couldn't afford it.

The things I wanted to say to him

ohsiena FWIW I have been following your posts and nodding vigorously in agreement. I gave up posting up thread partly cos I haven't had time and partly cos I was repeating myself.

I think it's an ideological split and people will never come to agreement about it.

I don't know why you've come in for such a pasting though. Some posts have been downright hectoring and unpleasant to read.

If you take money out of the equation there will always be reasons why some go on trips or do activities and some don't. I think cost is a red herring here. It's a bit like saying that everyone can afford private school fees if they just economise a bit. There are plenty of dcs who wouldn't want to go on a ski trip even if it was free. Does that mean it shouldn't be offered in the first place?

bisjo. IMO the ski trip shouldnt be offered. It is a distraction and an irrelevance in the context of a state school. The school should not be involved in arranging holidays for a small number of students.

If you want your kids to go on a ski trip then if you go onto your local high street. There you will find any number of travel agents who will be happy to help.

There are companies which offer escorted travel for children. PGL springs to mind. You can book direct, have all the choice you want and if my previous researches still hold you wont pay significantly more than if you booked via the school.

You dont expect the school to organise your kids dental appointments so why are they supposed to organise your kids holidays?

When I was at school the annual ski trip was a by-word for drunken inappropriate behaviour by students and staff alike.

Ski trips will be under the sports curriculum. I dare say trips to Rome should be banned because history is just so yesterday ?

If a trip is necessary for the curriculum then it should be available to all. If it isnt then it is just a holiday. Parents should book these directly themselves.

There are companies which offer escorted travel for children. PGL springs to mind. You can book direct, have all the choice you want and if my previous researches still hold you wont pay significantly more than if you booked via the school.

but if they go through the school, then they will go with a group of people they know which is infinitely more preferable.

As a child, I never got to go on any of the expensive school trips, ie the abroad ones.

I accepted that my parents couldn't afford it. I accepted that some kids were lucky that their parents could.

Can't say I was really that bothered by it. Can't even remember feeling particularly jealous either. I certainly didn't begrudge other kids being able to go.

We all have to learn that sometimes life can be unfair.

"If a trip is necessary for the curriculum then it should be available to all. If it isnt then it is just a holiday. Parents should book these directly themselves."

^ This