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!!!

Personaly i feel its hypocritical of schools to say that one of the main reasons for introducing ridiculous school uniform policies is to
"protect children from social pressures to dress in a particular way",
then offer expensive trips that only well off families can afford!!

So, because it's harder now should we all stop trying to get on in life then?

Yes, Betty, that's exactly the point.

Of course we should try.

And part of trying is encouragement and exposure to different activities and lands. Surely you can see that the only way to have a true meritocracy where effort triumphs is to at least try and level the playing field (if it hasn't been sold off) at school?

And the majority of people who cannot afford these trips are working hard, in order to provide a decent standard of living.

So we are trying to work our way up or whatever it is we are supposed to doing.

And another spot on from meah

Trips cost what they cost. Schools don't make a profit from them but they offer them as opportunities. If it's curriculum based and related to coursework for example, the school has an obligation to meet the cost but if its a leisure trip like skiing it would be harder to make the argument. I did once successfully petition the governors to make a special one off payment for a student to come on a trip to Israel that was about £700 for a week, but generally, I am afraid it is just how life is. Should shops not have things that cost more than xx in the window as not everyone can buy them? Kids are generally pretty good about this kind of thing and understand the deal.

what the frig is everyone on about now

But it ISN'T only well off families that can afford these trips, meah.

People save, grandparents chip in, kids get paper rounds.

lol thanks

Clipped - we're all on snakebites now and have veered in the other direction!

But what about the parents who really aren't well off, and have to scrimp and save to send their child on a school trip maybe once in 6 years

This should never be the case

What zavi said.

Right, bollox, I'm shutting shop early and going to the pub!

But it is the case.

this should never be the case

It is their choice though - who are you to say that they shouldn't?
I cannot understand the position of being able to afford opportunities for your kids and not offering them. My parents (private school and grammar educated) could have afforded to send me and my siblings private. But out of a desire to support their political views, they sent us to the state comp. Where we were all bullied for being clever and a bit geeky.
My parents are lovely people, but this one thing I will always resent them for.

There is no way in hell that the school could run a ski trip for all the kids, even with fundraising etc, because they wouldn't be able to staff it. Staff who volunteer to give up their holiday time to take the kids skiing are not in abundance, so the ratios wouldn't be met. At my school, even all the kids who can afford it don't get to go, it's names out of a hat.

If I'm 'stinky' for thinking that it's not actually that much of a hardship to miss out on things occasionally, then that's bullshit because I was one of the kids who would never in a million years have got to go.

Kids who are shit at sport don't get to go on the cricket tour, kids who aren't in the choir don't get to sing at the cathedral, kids who fail their exams don't get to continue to sixth form. Kids never get to do everything.

limeted space meaning its a first come first served thingy so those with quick access to £100 for the min deposit get the spaces

You know, I remember my brother going on a ski trip, but I didn't go on any school trips, except for a weekend at an adventure training type place that was about 5 miles from home.

I remember my French O level class going on a trip - but I didn't go.

It didn't even register on my radar (until now). Either i was spectacularly oblivious, or I didn't care. Maybe I didn't even know about it until after the fact?

I wonder how disappointed the kids actually are? Or is it just the parents? I think if this becomes an issue when DD is of age I would be more likely to brush it off rather than make a thing of it. Hate the thought of DD believing she could do something, rather than understanding all along that she couldn't.

The DC primary does give a lot of notice and old does trips in last 3 years.

They get more expensive - and TBH we'll have to see when we get there if we can afford them. Problem is if we pay for one DC we'll have pay for the other 2.

It will be a struggle but there is some educational value in the trips and I'm glad the option is there. I do remember missing out on a lot of trips in secondary - I suppose I learnt money wasn't always there when needed.

However a nearby Junior school - and this is a deprived area - has a trip to India costing over 1000. Parents get really upset and feel they are depriving their DC but I can't see why a cheaper tip couldn't be done.