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

[AndyWarholsBanana]

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.

Also, it is my understanding that it is part of the curriculum that ALL students are offered a minimum of three nights residential somewhere before the end of year six. As such, the school would need to be able to make provision to offer this to all students.

You don't actually know what's happened though, whether it's the school's fault or not.

At my primary the centre we went to in Yorkshire was heavily oversubscribed. Any bad behaviour resulted in a school going to the bottom of the waiting list never to return... If the school kept going they got next year priority.

Then the council opened a second site, and, as everyone still preferred the first site told each school which one they were eligible for. My school (few years after I went) got given the new site.
I know the school appealed against this, and requested to go onto the waiting list for the original site, but had to put up with it.
However they didn't tell the pupils and parents this. They presented it as "we have a wonderful opportunity, lovely new site, our new place!" No point telling the children before they go that they thought it was second best is there?

Also the original site used to squeeze any number of children in. My dsis' year took over 45, and had overflow children sleeping on blankets in the corridor, which they loved. Then came (well after my time)health and safety and fire regulations and suddenly (quite reasonably really) they were only allowed to take number of children there were beds for-30. And I believe there were some schools who were told at very short notice that they couldn't bring all the children.

Is it possible they asked the year and less than 40 said they were interested? I know for dc's residential there have been years where several have decided they don't want to go. One year it was quite a surprising number, because several didn't want to go without friends.

I doubt you will get enough support for a boycott, most people will be persuaded by their dc saying they really want to go. What you will just do is show the school that they were right to only go for 40 places because fewer wanted to go, if you persuade a few.

I still remember trips that I had to miss in school and that's 25 years ago, very unfair of the school when the trip is for anyone, there's bound to be upset for those who don't get places. Have the school offered any alternative for those who can't go or are they expected to go to school as normal?

How are they choosing the 40 who can go? Is it first come first served? What if more than 40 pay the money on the same day?

It sounds totally shit and I would definitely complain - something along the lines of exclusion as others have said?

That is just so totally wrong. Complain to the governors and the LA. Whole class should have the opportunity to go on the trip. If not possible to accommodate whole class then half should go one week and half the other. That would be just about acceptable but not ideal.

I will repeat my normal advice.
DO NOT complain to the governors or the local authority unless you have first contacted the Headteacher. How can anyone make a complaint when they haven't first established the facts? How can anyone escalate a complaint when they haven't first contacted the person responsible to see if the problem can be rectified.
Simple rule of complaining in schools - follow the process.

What a barrel of shit!!
Yes complain...they are out of their minds to think this is in any way acceptable!!

But yes...get the lowdown first of course!