To be suspicious about school trip costs?

[SmiteYouWithThunderbolts]

Recently I (and a few other parents) have noticed the cost of school trips reaching ludicrous levels - far more than the entrance prices for the places they're going to and the coach fees. For example, this week ds2 brought home a letter about a trip to a local museum which costs about £3 per child. The letter asks for a £10 "voluntary contribution" from each parent and says, as always, that the trip will not go ahead without a payment from each child.

The last few trips have been similarly priced and we just cannot see how the difference between the entrance fee and what we're asked to pay is entirely taken up by the coach. From the brief research we've done into coach prices, they're nowhere near that expensive, so where is the rest of the money going? AFAIK, schools are not allowed to profit from school trips, but does this apply to academies too?

Please tell me if IABU and it's actually perfectly justifiable to ask for £10 from parents for a destination that would cost a third of that to go ourselves?

If the price is unreasonable, what could we actually do about this?

For context and to avoid drip feeding, there are other issues around the school and money, such as making extortionate PE kit compulsory at a cost of £32 per child (and only available through the school) and charging £1 for non-uniform days 3-4 times a term.

In 17 years I have never, ever, ever made a profit on a school trip. I cost the event, transport workshops or whatever and divide by the number of children attending. Therefore 30 children attending an event with a £4 entry and a £150 coach would work out at £9 per child. If it was £140 for the coach, I would charge £8.50 (rounded down from £8.66) Always rounded down. We often have non payers ( although fortunately not all at once!) What these people don't realise is that the money to top up shortfalls usually comes from the private school fund which teeters on the brink - thus stopping us making other "extra" purchases such as new books for the school library, Christmas treats for the children, etc.

Coach costs in London are extortionate. I rang several companies recently and for a day trip within the borough it varied for a 50/60 seated coach between £250-£350,

I work in a Scottish school and organise all the trips. There are two costs; venue and transport. Insurance is not added and presumed to be covered by transport company and venue anyway.

I add the costs together and divide by the number of children attending. For example yesterday I organised a trip which came to £10.91 per pupil. The headteacher agreed to cap the charge to children at £4 each, a subsidy per child of £6.41. Usually the maximum charge would be £6 although we did have a particular trip recently that was £8, but that is rare.

I do the letters to parents and do not ask for 'voluntary contributions', it is assumed that all parents will pay. Obviously there is always a tiny minority very tiny, thankfully children whose parents can't/won't pay but that does not stop them going on the trip. We have never had to contemplate cancelling a trip due to none payment from parents.

Our school trips never make a profit but they are educational and are an important part of the curriculum.

The school's annual insurance policy will cover trips. They won't pay out specifically for this trip

Doesn't seem that the OP has been back to tell us the result of her discussion with school. Funny that. Could it be that she was being completely UR and has now realised that implying the school was using her hard earned tenner for their own ends was out of order?

My dd's school has the same policy. I think this method subsidises those who can't afford the contribution (i.e. allowing their children to attend for free). This is fine by me - as long as it's being monitored properly to make sure those who really can't afford it are the only ones benefitting.
Who knows, I might have to take advantage one day myself.

The result of my discussion with the school was assurance that a breakdown of costs would be provided in writing next week. No issue and we had a perfectly pleasant chat about it.

FTR, I don't resent paying for trips at all, ever. I am very grateful for the number of trips my children's school organises - this will be the fourth trip this term that ds2's class have been on. However, given the other issues I mentioned briefly (the PE kit, chiefly) and my lack of personal knowledge of the inner workings of how school trips are organised, I don't think it was U of me to double check that £10 for this particular trip was justified.

Thank you for the information about what goes on behind the scenes. It's definitely illuminated a lot of issues I hadn't considered before.

In a country where education is free I don't think £10 for a school trip is unreasonable. Schools don't make money from this and are only trying to provide your child with the best possible education opportunities. on this one unreasonable, on the PE kit! I think the school is taking the "p".

ASking for breakdown not unreasonable

We also have to include £35 per hour cover teacher costs to cover cost of any teachers lessons. THAT makes cost of trips shoot right up. Usually by about £5-10 a pupil.

Free? I thought we paid for it with our taxes.

£32 for primary school PE kit is daylight robbery. At least ours was all stuff you could pick up in Sports Direct or Tesco for just a few quid.

£10 for the museum trip doesn't sound too bad. Does it include spending money for the gift shop perhaps? The school have to provide insurance for the trip too, and must also buy fuel, insurance and road tax (OK, Vehicle Excise Duty) for the minibus, so there is no such thing as a free lunch. They must also supply a member of staff to drive it and may have to hire in a cover teacher for children who remain back at school.