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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that expensive school trips should be banned

654 replies

Nicola10 · 06/06/2013 20:03

Year 8 pupils have, today, left for a school trip to France. Very exciting for them, yes, considering that they will be going to a theme park, as well as educational stuff. But, for the rest of the kids, whose parents could not afford it, including my twins, they have to do normal lessons.

The cost for each child is £400 each!

OP posts:
FoundAChopinLizt · 07/06/2013 12:20

I would happily ban proms too. What's wrong with just finishing your exams and going out or having a party? I hate commercialised, manufactured celebrations.

I am a tightwad and hate wasting money.

bumbleymummy · 07/06/2013 12:21

Hully - people are enjoying those 'special privileges' because they can afford them. The same way that some adults enjoy 'special privileges' that others can't afford. Do you object to that too? Should people not be able to go on holiday if their next door neighbour can't afford to go on one?

D0oinMeCleanin · 07/06/2013 12:22

We get lots of warning about them. DD1 will be going to London next year withe the school for the night. Just one night. To the tune of £260 Shock For a bloody night. A. Single. Night. Did I mention it's just for the night?

Where the fuck are they staying for £260 a night? Hmm

I've told dd1 I'll send her on the train to stay with her Godfather and he'll drop her off at the hotel in the morning. She was not impressed.

FoundAChopinLizt · 07/06/2013 12:22

Oh and ban leaver's tops, too. It's like you can't mark an occasion without buying stuff.

CloudsAndTrees · 07/06/2013 12:25

And no one should try to make life better for everybody, not just the few?

I know it's a few pages back now, but you said this twice Hully, and I don't get it. How is taking something away from everybody making things better for everybody? Confused

Stopping trips would make things worse for the vast majority and only slightly better for the very few. It doesn't make sense.

And can we stop assuming that all the children who go on these trips are 'rich kids'? They are not rich FFS! They just aren't so poor that they can't afford to save anything.

BaconKetchup · 07/06/2013 12:26

D0oinMeCleanin

What activities are they doing? They cost money, as does transport, getting there and back.

BaconKetchup · 07/06/2013 12:27

CloudsAndTrees I've already mentioned the 'rich' thing, apparently it's a useful word and meant in relative terms Hmm

D0oinMeCleanin · 07/06/2013 12:28

I don't know Bacon. We'll get a breakdown of the costs when it's their turn to go, it won't be until this time next year. We've just been given a approximation of the price so we can start preparing for it. I am aware that some of the money will be petrol, entry fees and food etc. But £260 for an overnight trip, is excessive imo. Especially when you take into account group discounts etc.

MadeOfStarDust · 07/06/2013 12:32

Our primary school did a leavers prom and printed hoody etc - DDs wore their party dresses (New Look) to the prom and walked there, and didn't buy the hoody - why, where would they wear them? Things don't have to cost the money if you don't buy into that crap... The PTA provided each child with a yearbook on the last day - for nothing (well - the summer fair profits)

Normal school trips are also not compulsory - not everyone buys into them - "if they can afford them" is not always the only reason people don't go.

Elquota · 07/06/2013 12:33

For those that scrimp and save, find raise or simply beg off relatives this may be the only chance the children get of a holiday or trip abroad.

And for some, no amount of "scrimping and saving", or "begging off relatives" who might be equally as poor, or washing car windscreens at £2 a go will be enough.

What about their only chance of a holiday or trip abroad?

Elquota · 07/06/2013 12:34

How is taking something away from everybody making things better for everybody?

If it was required that fundraising had to take place until everyone was able to take part, then that would benefit everybody.

CloudsAndTrees · 07/06/2013 12:36

Why is it "dumbing down" to offer every child the same opportunities in school?

Because if the only opportunity that some parents can afford is nothing, then there is no opportunity for anyone.

That is dumbing down the chances open to many because of the few.

Remember that those in education now are our future doctors, engineers, architects, builders, nurses, teachers, social workers, police, health care assistants. They are people we need for society to function. I would like to be taught, cared for etc by people with as much life experience as possible. That includes traveling!

CloudsAndTrees · 07/06/2013 12:38

Bacon I've already mentioned the 'rich' thing, apparently it's a useful word and meant in relative terms

Ohh! Relative terms! I missed that. That's ok then Hmm

If it wasn't so stupid it would be funny.

ubik · 07/06/2013 12:39

back in the olden days when i was at school we had trips within the UK.

Everyone paid a small amount except kids on school meals who were subsidised by school and by what the other parents paid. Everyone who had permission went and for some of the children in my class it was the first time they had been out of the city.

A sensible policy would be to choose a trip which is a sensible price, work out cost per head, and cost of children on free school meals and then fundraise to ensure everyone who wants to, can go. This may mean travelling within the UK, perhaps to the western isles to experience different culture, wildlife, sports and fun. Or Wales. Or London or Edinburgh to go to the castle and art galleries etc

The only reason they organise these long-haul expensive trips is because it looks good for the school.

Also as someone on a limited income can I just say that it's a damn site easier to save £150 for a school trip that £1,500 which is our family budget for a holiday for all of us.

ubik · 07/06/2013 12:40

damn site??? damn sight

CloudsAndTrees · 07/06/2013 12:44

If it was required that fundraising had to take place until everyone was able to take part, then that would benefit everybody.

No, not really. Schools already have to fundraise for basics. If that had to be diverted completely into paying for everyone's trip, which it would if some didn't cover the cost themselves, then everyone would lose out.

My ds's school is currently fundraising to re do some class rooms because they are crumbling apart. If the government won't find these things properly then fundraising (meaning parents) has to. Unfortunate, but that's the way it is. I don't want my children to be taught in crumbling buildings with out of date text books and crap IT equipment that could be paid for by fundraising because a very small proportion of children have parents that can't send them on just one trip throughout the 7 years they are at secondary school.

Andro · 07/06/2013 12:44

If it was required that fundraising had to take place until everyone was able to take part, then that would benefit everybody.

In a deprived area where a lot of people are poor (I'm sure they exist so I'm not being completely hypothetical) who would you fund raise from?

squidworth · 07/06/2013 12:46

Fundraising for all would equate to a bigger divide between catchment areas and could result in closure to before and after school activities of which some parents rely upon. Children can already lose out by where they live to introduce activities on a all inclusive just reduces what is available.

Elquota · 07/06/2013 13:00

Fundraising for all would equate to a bigger divide between catchment areas

Could the LEA provide a "weighting" of funding to poorer areas to go towards these extra activities? If that's not possible then I don't think they should happen at all - schools should live within their means and find creative ways to find interesting outings in this country which benefit everyone. If it's not language related then there is no educational reason for going abroad.

ubik · 07/06/2013 13:00

But what we are talking about is big expensive trips...

When i was at school there was also a local authority grant for trips so children who were on free school meals got a grant towards the cost. Of course in those days we were going to Stratford upon Avon to watch Shakespeare, not jetting off to Florence.

It's common sense that the smaller the cost of the trip, the easier it is for everyone to go. Schools in deprived areas need to be able to devise trips which are fun, education and low cost. This can be and is done.

Elquota · 07/06/2013 13:02

Excellent post ubik.

CloudsAndTrees · 07/06/2013 13:13

Ubik, absolutely! Schools should organise low cost trips. But they can do that at the same time as organising other trips too. Otherwise they are only catering for a minority, when they could and should be catering for the abilities of everyone.

I would 100% agree that schools are in the wrong if they only organise trips that cost upwards of £600/£700.

There is no good reason why they can't do both and serve all of their students well.

vintageclock · 07/06/2013 13:15

YANBU. Children whose parents are comfortably off can go on holidays abroad/exchange trips whatever without doing it in a way that makes schoolmates from lesser well off families feel bad.
School trips abroad are not a necessary part of education. Yes, travel broadens the mind but kids have plenty of opportunity to go abroad during school holidays if their parents so wish.
School trips should be designed so that al of the kids in the school can afford them and no one is made to feel excluded.

CloudsAndTrees · 07/06/2013 13:17

If it's not language related then there is no educational reason for going abroad.

That depends on your definition of educational.

Personally, I think just going to an airport and getting on a plane that lands in another country is educational. I think being in another country away from your family is educational. Dealing with a different currency and seeing different customs and traditions is educational. Maybe not educational in the traditional academic sense, but educational none the less.

Technotropic · 07/06/2013 13:18

I think most schools do organise more than one trip. Mine have the opportunity to go on 4 or 5 throughout the year and also have myriad of short courses (ranging from £3-£300).

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