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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this trip is badly thought out and cruel to the kids?

33 replies

AndyWarholsBanana · 26/02/2014 10:01

DD is in y6. Recently, there have been a lot of changes- The previous head resigned(before he was pushed), there have been a lot of changes of staff etc.
My DS started in 2005 and, every year, their y6 school journey has been to this outward bound centre. The new head and exec head have now changed this and the plan is now to go to IoW. I have no problem with this and the kids are really looking forward to it. However, it's now come to light that there are only 40 places available for 57 DCs. Most years, there are about 6 or 7 kids that don't go for various reasons so this means there will be about 10 DCs who can't go.

These poor kids are going to have to spend a week at school knowing that all their friends are off having a great time and then have to listen to them all talking about and showing photos when they get back.

Apparently , they knew months ago that there weren't enough places, I don't understand why they couldn't book something else instead.
They've been together for seven years, It just seems a horrible way to end primary school.

OP posts:
Picturesinthefirelight · 26/02/2014 10:12

I think that's awful I really do. They should choose somewhere there is enough places for everyone. I bet the cost has increased too?

Nanny0gg · 26/02/2014 10:16

It's wrong and you'll have to complain.

As it's probably too late to cancel, I'd be asking what special things will be laid on for those left behind.

drivenfromdistraction · 26/02/2014 10:17

Absolutely wrong. They need to change it. I would be furious.

Balaboosta · 26/02/2014 10:18

The whole class should boycott the trip. This is no way fair. The year six trip is a massive bonding experience and a rite of passage. If there is any common bonds between the families, loads of you should protest together.

Financeprincess · 26/02/2014 10:20

I hope that everybody agitating for holiday prices to be reduced during the school holidays reads this and makes the obvious connection.

Which is, if you haven't spotted it, that if tour operators are forced to reduce their prices during peak times, more people will want to travel at the lower price and the operators won't increase capacity if there's no money in it. So there will be a lot of disappointed children in that case.

Stinklebell · 26/02/2014 10:22

That's awful

It should be open to everyone who wants to go.

Would everyone be willing to boycott it or complain?

Original poster
AndyWarholsBanana · 26/02/2014 11:00

The more I think about it, the more angry I get. I don't know how they'll choose who gets to go - I assume it'll be se sort of lottery but I can still imagine some of the kids who can't go will think they've done something wrong or that the teacher doesn't like them.

They're (mostly) lovely children and I can envisage some of the ones that go feeling bad for their friends so it will spoil it for them and mean that they can't talk about it in front of the DCs that couldn't go.

I'm a bit out of the loop at school as kids go to breakfast and after school club but I do know some of the parents that I can speak to. I honestly feel that the only principled thing to do is for everyone to boycott it but that means all the kids suffer because the school has cocked up.

OP posts:
Peekingduck · 26/02/2014 11:07

I think the only principled thing at this stage would be to speak to the Headteacher don't you? Get the full picture before you try to rally some sort of boycott.

bodybooboo · 26/02/2014 11:10

yep get your facts straight and then act.

on the face if it sounds horrible.

Picturesinthefirelight · 26/02/2014 11:10

Dd still 2 years later gets upset at the thought of a school
Choir trip she couldn't go on due to not enough places (it was names in a hat). She was the only one of her friendship group without a place.

Ds has just been on his big outward bound trip (they do it in year 5 at his school). From the money they enter the school this trip is talked about, looked forward to & it was so beneficial to him (he struggles socially)

Complain complain complain.

Nocomet · 26/02/2014 11:12

Utterly crap and the DCs and parents at our primary would have gone ballistic.

DD2 is annoyed enough at not getting a sport camp letter at senior school, before all the places were gone.

No way would here very tight knit primary group have stood for not all going in their end of year trip.

sunev · 26/02/2014 11:13

Dreadful. Could be a real knock to a child's confidence.

SeaSickSal · 26/02/2014 11:13

Totally wrong. Can you mobilize the other parents against this?

I would suggest parents all withdraw their kids from the trip until something is found that they can all go to.

AMumInScotland · 26/02/2014 11:16

Complain. Directly to the head first, to make sure you have all the facts. Then, if it's as it sounds and he doesn't see the need to change it, then raise awareness amongst the other parents.

It sounds like it will spoil it for everyone, for some to miss out for no good reason.

runningonwillpower · 26/02/2014 11:17

This does indeed need challenging.

If the school regards this as an educational activity there is no legal justification for excluding some of the children.

If it is not an educational activity, then what is it?

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 26/02/2014 11:17

The Y6 school trip never has enough places in our school so not everyone can go. Normally there are enough children who don't want to go so no-one who actually wants a places misses out. Although I am sure at some time there must be more who want to go than places and I don't know what happens then.

I suppose because it has always been like this everyone knows and there is no complaint. If it has now changed for you and everyone wants to go I can understand why people are upset.

AlpacaLypse · 26/02/2014 11:19

I can't believe this - surely no school would dream of depriving 20% of a year group of the chance to go on this?

As a PTA we donated money most years to help ensure that children from the poorest families still got to go on this. In the seven years I was involved, only once did a child not go, and that was because his mother decided he wouldn't enjoy it and withdrew him. (She was a very strange woman but that's a whole other thread!)

Even the vile little bully who was excluded more often than not still got to go.

paulapantsdown · 26/02/2014 11:19

That is ridiculous. Either they all go or none go.

Sunnymeg · 26/02/2014 11:21

I would be writing a letter to the governors about this. The school staff have made an ill informed decision about the trip. I also believe ( though am not completely sure) that the school have to offer outward bound, overnight stays to children in Year 6. Whilst I am sure that there will be a few children who won't want to go, DS didn't go on his school's year 6 trip - just not his sort of thing, to assume that 17 children won't want to go seems madness. The school are meant to help out for this sort of thing if there are genuine financial difficulties, so children cannot be excluded on grounds of cost.

woodrunner · 26/02/2014 11:23

It sounds like a truly awful mess up. But if it does go ahead, there are ways to minimise the distress. Yes they love that OB trip, but they also love and remember any end of term stuff laid on for them. A lot of the bonding is done through this. You can go to town on Yr 6 picnics, discos, swimming parties, games days etc. Lay on a few events afterwards that are for everyone and do lots of group photos etc as well as presentations of Leavers tee shirts or hoodies, so that they all have some key shared memories. It's not a solution. it's really unfair on those left behind, but if you can't change the school's plans do your best to lessen the impact of the trip as The Event of Yr 6.

Floggingmolly · 26/02/2014 11:25

Shockingly bad. The highlight of Year 6 at our school is the PGL trip, it's a brilliant end to their 7 years together before they go off to (different) high school.

Take it to the governors.

Quoteunquote · 26/02/2014 11:27

What a stupid vile unfair thing to do,

When choosing a trip, Surely the first requirement would be, Can they accommodate all of us.

Tell them to think again.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 26/02/2014 11:29

That's awful. Complain.

figgypuddings · 26/02/2014 11:30

I would pull the school up about exclusion.
This is shocking.

Blueskiesandcherrypies · 26/02/2014 11:33

That's outrageous! You should definitely kick up a stink, I know I would.

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