To think that £350 is an excessive amount to pay for yr6 school trip ?

[Lousylo66]

Ds1 is in yr 6. Going through his school bag I have just found details of their school trip at the end of summer term next year. Apparently they will stay in a chateau in northern France for 3 nights. Sounds great, lots of activities, visits etc but just don' t think we can afford it. They are asking for a deposit by 11 October and then
5 x £60 monthly payments after that, but then you have to factor in spending money and everything else so it's probably considerably more expensive. I do know that several kids didn't go on it last year and felt thoroughly left out before and after the event - seemingly lots of class time devoted to it in preparation. Nothing else is laid on for the unfortunate ones who can't go, just same old school routine.
Ok ,maybe it's our fault that we sent our kids to a school in a nice affluent area but what's wrong with a good old PGL holiday where they can try activities they've never done before. Just wondered if anyone had any advice, am in two minds to take kids out of school camping on the days the trips in progress. Sorry for the rant.

[mysteryfairy]

It's an average amount to pay for a school trip at that age but I can imagine it feels like a lot if it will be hard to find.

My DD has actually been on 3 trips in the last five months each costing that...one at the end of Y6, one with guides and one just happened at the start of Y7. The guides one had a very drawn out payment schedule to help make it affordable - £40 here and £50 there. The amounts were so small I was astounded to be told I'd paid it off. I think the school by offering a similar payment schedule are actually making it as easy as they can. Both our school trips were one cheque at short notice which is more painful.

I would send him if you possibly can. My DD rated guide camp as her very best week of the summer and possibly ever. This was despite going on 2 family holidays and away with my parents as well during the course of the summer all to considerably more exotic locations.

[Dontletthemgetyoudown]

Pgl for three nights on the Isle of wight was £240 this year. So the price for France seems ok. Perhaps speak to school and arrange to pay as much as you can afford withthe school covering the shortfall?

Spending money is usually limited to £10-20. You shouldn't need to buy anything specialist like walking boots for the trip like you often have to with pgl trips.

[VivaLeThrustBadger]

DD's trip was £390 for 3 nights at PGL 30 miles down the road. For France it seems a good price, though I'd question the benefit of going to France. An activity centre is an activity centre......maybe it was cheaper than PGL though?

[livinginwonderland]

Sounds about right to me.

[Loa]

Similar trip at my DC school is over £450 this year.

It is a lot but I think that is what is costs.

[FrameyMcFrame]

DD had a ski trip last year yr 7 £950
This year it's Holland for 5 days, £450.
It's a state school.

[talkingnonsense]

Ds1 German exchange, so no living costs, was £400- he isn't going!

[WhoNickedMyName]

I think the price sounds about right.

If at all possible, let him go. Do the school have a hardship fund? Would they let you pay less but over a longer period of time?

[QueenofLouisiana]

Ok, I would point out to school that if it is in school time they cannot refuse to take him if you can't afford to pay- or at least offer a trip of similar educational value. So my yr6 are going away for 2 nights to an outward bounds type place, we are getting a sports coach in for those who can't go to offer orienteering, additional sports etc. I would then offer to pay what you can afford each month towards the trip, if you don't have this chat the school can decide that you are simply not interested in the educational value of the trip and make no provision.
FWIW, we are charging about £120, 2 nights 3 days. No spending money needed. Scouts/ guides run camps far cheaper as the coaches are fully trained volunteers- none of them will be being paid for running events.

[HalfSpamHalfBrisket]

Y6 residential - Monday-Friday at an outdoor centre in the next county - £150.

[teacherandguideleader]

They can refuse to take him - as far as I am aware, the voluntary thing doesn't apply to residential trips - I am currently planning a residential.

[JakeBullet]

DS will be going to the Isle of Wight for five days next summer....it's going to be £350 but have been paying since June at £25 a month to try and get the figure down.

Our school do have a hardship fund for pupils who would benefit from going if parents cannot afford it. They will also pay for one twin so that parents with two children don't have double the cost.

[glamourousgranny42]

Sounds about right to me.
My son is going to France at a similar price. We knew it was coming up as its a regular school trip. Im really pleased because we couldn't afford for us all to go abroad so this is his first foreign trip and has been looking forward to it. Family have contributed towards the cost for xmas n birthdays

[whatever5]

I'm really surprised at how much people pay for y6 residentials! We live in a relatively affluent area and only paid about £220 for the y6 residential two years ago (two nights in the UK) . I thought that was bad enough! They now go somewhere nearer and cheaper.

I don't think that it's fair on Y6 children to organise expensive overseas residential school trips as many won't be able to go and will feel left out. It's a big deal at that age. They should save the overseas foreign trips for secondary school.

[ihearsounds]

What extras do you think will bump up the cost?

Spending money usually a limit of up to £20.

Clothes? What does he normally wear? He can wear these things.

He won't need any equipment. Everything will be provided.

Ok yes, you might need to spring for food and drink for the outward travel. Depending on lo you might need travel meds. But again, it wont be that much.

[donnie]

my dd's Y6 trip was to the Isle of Wight for 4 nights and that was £350. You will not get a school trip for much less, especially if they are travelling to France.

[Akray]

We are £270 for 4 nights activity break in UK, so trip to France sounds reasonable. The final year in primary always go so was expecting it. School gave us the details in August and it has to be paid by February 2013 ~ I've been paying £10 or so in a week, surprising how quickly it mounts up.

I have 5DC and this will be first trip, but know others will have to go too in future ~ will start saving now!!

[valiumredhead]

Sounds about right and a pretty good deal tbh. At ds's school the children who can't go also have a nice trip/days out.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

My DS's Y6 trip was for 4 nights in Wales and cost £350. We could also pay in instalments. One or two DC don't go each year but that is usually because either the DC or parents are excessively anxious about it rather than cost. If it's truly out of your reach talk to the school about subsidising you from their hardship fund.

[EnglishRose1320]

I think it seems like a massive amount- trips should be affordable to all pupils. It is horrid to be left out because of cost and the school needs to c

[EnglishRose1320]

Consider that when planning. I could never afford that for a primary school trip. The last school I worked in worked very hard to keep costs down- whole school residential was £2 for the infants that just stayed for the day, I think about £10 for the yr 3/4 that stayed 1 night and around £25 for the yr 5/6 that stayed both nights and three days. They kept the cost low by going to an activity centre they could walk to, the kids still loved it even though it was close and parents didn't have to get into debt over a school trip

[EnglishRose1320]

And some was obs paid for out of the school budget to make it inclusive for all