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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

141 replies

Lousylo66 · 29/09/2013 10:07

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.

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 29/09/2013 17:35

Scouts and Guides are usually attended in addition to school - and what do you know? Every year they go abroad! This year it was building a school in Africa, next year it's Switzerland...there is no escaping the expensive holidays abroad! Fortunately they go in the holidays, so the ones who can't afford it don't have their noses rubbed in it.

Don't agree with the No, it's not 'fair' to children who can't afford to go - but what in life is? The whole point of state education is that it is fair and it is inclusive (or rather, it should be), which is what I love about it.

soverylucky · 29/09/2013 17:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SirChenjin · 29/09/2013 17:54

I don't think that's the case here in Scotland. The children who didn't go to our primary schools' PGL trips went into another class and did regular lessons there. I understand from other threads here on MN that some schools in England have a different set up in that they ask for a donation and the cost is voluntary. Up here, if you don't pay, you don't go and you stay in school to be taught in another class.

moldingsunbeams · 29/09/2013 18:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Lousylo66 · 29/09/2013 18:52

Thanks for all your replies. A lot of food for thought !
Main issue for me is the fact that we live in the north of England so a least a day and a half will be spent travelling on the coach. I have spoken to Ds about how he will cope with all the chatter and group excitement about it and ATM he seems unfazed. Has never been away without us on hols before apart from on cub/scout camp so actually says he is more apprehensive about it than anything else. I think we'll play it by ear and see what his friends are doing Smile already had one on the phone asking what our plans are.
From what I gather, the last few years they've had to extend the trip to yr 5 to ensure sufficient numbers to make it viable Confused which makes me think there are issues with price. Tbh I also suspect a lot of the kids, esp boys would much rather try abseiling, kayaking that kind of thing rather than being dragged round a French market.

OP posts:
Animation · 29/09/2013 19:32

Think schools should consult with parents 1st and be more responsible before organising such trips.

TiredDog · 29/09/2013 19:40

Year 6 pupils at my primary were offered 5 days in France for £295. One day out of 5 was travelling there and one day travelling back.

Teachers raved over the trip and talked about how they had spent their half term touring the area and recceing outings.

Not enough pupils signed up and it was cancelled.

They had French week in school in previous years and dressed in french costumes, ate french food and studied all things french. Kids really got into it.

Did they decide to repeat this once the French trip was cancelled? No. Poor show by school.

minihahawithafringe · 29/09/2013 19:43

our dd will be charged £300 for a 3 day trip to the mainland, in year 6 Sad [ripped off]

Greenkit · 29/09/2013 19:49

I have just come back from Arnhem, Holland, where myself and three adults took 23 Army cadets on a 5 day trip (4 nights) with visits to various locations in Holland and Belgium for the battlefield tour.

The cost for full board, travel was a whole £95, next year will will need to put the cost up to £140 as costs have gone up slightly.

We take away cadets for 12 days for £50 full board

Schools are a bloody rip off

shewhowines · 29/09/2013 19:55

Ours went to the isle of wight for about £300. Expensive but fantastic value for money considering everything they packed in. It did seem that the few that didn't go was because of anxiety so I presume the hardship fund helped some.

It is a fantastic experience if you can afford it but I do feel that there is a lot of pressure for those that can't afford it.

It would be a shame for everyone to miss out though. The kids do get so much out of it.

Rudejude7 · 29/09/2013 20:08

DS went on a PGL for 5 days in this country and I thought the £350 was a bit excessive although everybody in Yr 6 went. I did seem to recall that it was a 'Voluntary' contribution though.

Heifer · 29/09/2013 20:13

Our school has their trip in Yr5. They go to Manor Adventure Mon - Fri and will be costing a max of £350. They used to go to PGL but apparently it's more expensive so have switched to Manor Adventure to help keep the costs down.

We have known about the trip since reception so have had plenty of time to plan, although tbh our financial situation hasn't enabled us to save anything. BUT I promised DD that she could go, so we will do whatever it takes. We are better off now than we were a few months ago so will just about be able to manage the £50 per month we need to pay until she goes. It's all the girls talk about from yr4. They have heard about it since reception and just can't wait.

Apparently only a few have not gone over the years and that was for culture reasons rather than financial.

The school has done everything it can to keep the costs down, changing the time of year etc and is letting us pay in tiny instalments as long as the key targets are met.

Original poster
Lousylo66 · 29/09/2013 20:14

What irks me is the presumption that everyone can afford it just because the school is located in an affluent area, no consultation or anything. A lot of the kids at ds's school are used to expensive 2 week trips to Florida etc so a few days in the lakes kayaking, scrambling would be probably quite exciting unusual plus confidence building. Have since heard that a least 3 other parents from sons friendship group are not going and in fact one of them has written a letter already to the school complaining.

OP posts:
WorrySighWorrySigh · 29/09/2013 20:27

I have to say that the argument that No, it's not 'fair' to children who can't afford to go - but what in life is? is quite frankly an invidious one. Schools insist on uniform so that, amongst other things, the poor and rich students look alike. Then schools go and offer trips at £100s of pounds which only the relatively well off can afford.

So what if this or that trip is a great experience? The places will still exist when the students are grown and can plan and pay for their own trips.

freddiefrog · 29/09/2013 20:48

My DD did a 3 night residential Year 6 in a chateau in northern France for £225, the school subsidised it by £50 per head and they missed the last 2 days of term

We were consulted and given various options - London, Youth Hostel in France, PGL 10 miles down the road but they were all the same price as the school got a better all inclusive group deal with the company who run the trips

About 25% of the class didn't go for various reasons, ££, parents didn't want their children away over night, didn't want them to leave the UK so the school put on a few special activities at school for them

Is there anyway that family and friends can chip in for birthday and Christmas presents?

Do you know what the activies are? DD visited a snail farm, a chocolate factory, went to a French market, etc, so apart from a French dictionary she didn't need any equipment and spending money was limited to €20

LaGuardia · 29/09/2013 21:17

£350 isn't a lot of money, is it? Obviously no boarders on the thread yet..........

WorrySighWorrySigh · 29/09/2013 21:21

It is a sod of a lot of money for a household which struggles to make ends meet.

mumofweeboys · 29/09/2013 21:26

My ds1 has just started year 1 of primary school. I've opened an extra savings account for school stuff as by sound of it, things will get expensive.

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 29/09/2013 21:31

I think I will have to start saving. DS is in year 3 so if I put money aside it will not be much of a shock

pointythings · 29/09/2013 21:51

DD12s trip to France was £340 - that's 3 nights in the chateau plus two nights in a hotel, all food, entry to Euro Disney, entry to all places visited plus transport. I think that's amazing value, really. The school do try to fund places for people who really can't afford to go.

But it's still a lot of money and I totally get that - we have told DD2 that yes, we can afford it, but should our employment situation change we may not always be able to afford trips like this.

WorrySighWorrySigh · 29/09/2013 21:55

Some families may be able to save while for others this is an unimaginable amount of money.

But also dont forget the children for whom staying away from home might be a nightmare:

  • the children with bedwetting or gastric problems such as IBD
  • the children with sleep problems
  • the children with health problems which need regular treatment

The children may have been able to keep these things private from their contemporaries in a normal school setting. A few days staying in a room with virtual strangers may well be more than they can cope with.

ravenAK · 29/09/2013 22:38

It seems reasonably priced to me, over installments. & for those for whom it is an 'unimaginable' sum, there's usually financial help.

I'm struggling with the implication that because some dc may have bedwetting issues etc (eg my 7yo dd1), the whole thing should be written off.

I'd just have a quiet word with the teacher in charge & ensure dd1 has pull-ups in her bag - she doesn't wear them at home, where she has an accident a couple of times a month, but no big deal to pack them if she's away from home. NOT a reason for her not to enjoy a residential trip.

TeaAndSconesTwice · 29/09/2013 22:47

We have a yr 6 activity trip in the uk for 5 nights for £350.

Scholes34 · 29/09/2013 22:51

What is completely bonkers here is the fact that a school wants to take a coachload of primary schoolchildren from the north of England to France. The idea of a residential is for the kids to have fun together, and that can happen just as well ten miles up the road.

TiredDog · 29/09/2013 22:55

Scholes has it spot on. I wouldn't drive for two days to have 3 days break. It's uneconomical in time alone