To think school trips are too expensive?

[lucyhoward]

My son has just come home from school for half term with a letter about a school watersports trip in France next summer. Whilst I am sure it will be great fun I am not sure whether we can justify the £500 price tag. By the time we have sent spending money and paid for any kit they will need we will be lucky to have change from £600 I imagine.

Is this even something schools should be getting involved in? Surely holidays should be a family thing?

No, I get what you're saying - I suppose I was wondering more about the longer trips of a week, or 2 weeks. These always take place in school time up here - when DS1 went to Rome and the Amalfi Coast I know that he just had to make the lessons himself, but I'm not sure what happened to the classes whose teachers were away on the trip. I'm guessing they had some sort of supply cover, but given the difficulty and cost associated with bringing in supply teachers I imagine they were probably covered by other teachers in the school?

Each year my DCs have lost two week's of language lessons as both the French & German trips are accompanied by both the French & German teaching staff.

None of my DCs have been on the language trips as they are expensive and have a reputation for being badly organised and little more than shopping and theme park trips.

My friend used to rant and rave about the cost of these sort of school trips yet happily forked out to buy her DC expensive ipads and similar gadgets and designer clothing .

I personally think that school trips are great value and a good opportunity for my DS (an only child) to have a much more exciting holiday than going away with DH and I - this year he is having a couple of decent school trips and DH and I are happy to pay for them, he has to save up his own money for 'spending' money. But I would never be happy to spend more than £50 on a Christmas or birthday present & and have been called 'cheapskate' on Mumsnet before now because of the choice of how I spend my money . In a million years I wouldn't buy my DS (or myself for that matter) 'designer' or branded clothes or shoes unless from a charity shop.

School trips aren't necessarily good value at all - eg someone upthread said that her school offered a trip to Japan for £7K. The Scouts here are currently offering a trip to Japan for less than half of that.

This, that fairenuff posted
^Actually, I think that might be where the different perspectives from posters are coming from. I do not feel guilty if I can't afford to give my child something that another child has.

My ds wanted a ps4 last Christmas and I said ok until I checked the price. Then I told him we couldn't afford it and to think again. There are loads of things that other children have that we don't, due to finances. And there are probably luxuries that we have that others can't afford.

There will always be someone richer and someone poorer. Understanding and accepting that is how to make our children happy, not begrudging others^

Personally I think travel and residentials (and Scout Camps etc) are invaluable experiences, so we put money to those - but usually on the "how much pocket money do you give your teens" threads, I'm the skinflint. Certainly on Style and Beauty thread (on the odd occasion I pop over there) I'm at what people spend on clothes. Then there's all the children you see with gadgets too many to count, when still under 10. Then there's people that buy their dc cans and bottles of drinks from shops when we have perfectly lovely water in our taps for free. Then there's all the threads asking how much you spend on your weekly shop, which vary hugely. Of course I could go on and on, but I suspect you get the picture. These trips are an opportunity. My dc have been on some, and not been on a whole lot more, but that in itself is part of a learning curve that sometimes we don't have the money for something, but life goes on.

See - I disagree with that. State schools are supposed to be inclusive educational establishments, not travel agencies providing trips for a small number of kids who can afford them.

This idea that kids whose parents have no hope in hell of affording the trips should just learn to suck it up and accept that there are haves and have nots is just awful. What should be happening is schools should be looking carefully at whether or not the trips are directly linked to the curriculum, whether they are affordable for all, and what they can do to support all children to attend - not providing jollies for a small number of children (and I include my children in that - I'm under no illusion as to the 'value' of these trips).

We always said that our DCs had to pay half for off curriculum trips. Reduced the requests dramatically. They went on 1 each during their time at secondary school.

I am always saying no to the DC, or save up.

School should be a place I shouldn't have to say no I can't afford it.

Same goes for learning to play an instrument and after school clubs.

Luckily so far the most expensive trip was £6 which is easy affordable for most, as we normally get 6 weeks notice and £1 a week isn't a lot for the majority.

In my family case it was the car got written off, so had to get 1 on HP, then a few months later DH had a magor accident in work and had to take out a loan to cover sickness ( since got out of work insurance) so each month now is a struggle.

I organise residential school trips.

Installments & Pupil Premium mean that they aren't usually out of anyone's reach.

I've known students say, for example, 'I'm already doing the Paris trip, so my parents have said no to Rome' - which is fair enough.

However, it's part of my role to ensure that students who have a valid educational reason to be on a trip (ie. they do GCSE Classics & there's a trip to Greece) don't miss out because their parents will struggle to fund it.

As other posters have pointed out, one dc on a school trip is going to be a heck of a lot cheaper than the whole family doing whatever it is. Given that I don't fancy skiing, for example, even slightly, I'm glad my dc will have the opportunity to do it through school.

Most schools do get involved in this. In 1975, aged 12 my parents paid for a school trip - a week in Paris. Our French teacher was enthusiatic and knowlegeable. We did everything, The Lourvre, Notra Dame, Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe Monmartre (sp) Eiffle Tower. All on the Metro Carne. It was so culturally significant and awakened an interest in European History and literature for me, I can remember it with such detail. We would not have gone as a family, but bless my parents they recognized what an opportunity it would be. Fast forward 25 years and our ds was enjoying school skiing holidays. After two years we decided that was enough of a good thing. It's a nice thing to be able to afford, but if it's at the expense of family activity then the added pressure is unacceptable. You should be able to guage how sucessful/well run previous trips have been before you commit.

Many moons ago I went to a 'well off' school but was in the minority as a student from a working class family. I signed up for gold duke of Edinburgh (amongst a tiny handful) and after doing the various elements and training for the expedition, it was suggested that our final trip would be in Europe - the expense of which immediately ruled out my involvement. It would have been easy for the school to arrange for me to join another local duke of ed group for my final expedition but they, I and the handful of other pupils involved instead fundraised furiously.

Despite our best efforts, I still didn't have the means to make up the shortfall. The head teacher called me in, asked me what I was good at and offered me a 'contract' whereby I paid my way by working for the rest of the money (by making sleeping bag liners for the duke of ed scheme pupils in school). All these years later it is still one of the most profoundly meaningful things that has happened in my life - both the trip itself and the respectful way in which I was enabled to participate. I know the rest of the group had an amazing experience but I believe it may have had a deeper meaning for me because because of my personal investment in it (as opposed to a cheque produced by parents without much stress).

I should say that this trip came at the end of my school career. I missed out on a multitude of other trips but I accepted that these were beyond our means. I am still grateful that I got to go on the one I really cared about. My brother had a similar experience. He bought a musical instrument as a young teen with inheritance money. A few years later he was desperate to go on a school ski trip and sold the instrument to raise the funds. He subsequently became a ski instructor and also says that his personal investment in something that he cared about at such a young age was profoundly significant in shaping his future.

I think they're a great opportunity for a range of reasons already covered:

1. Children whose families can't all afford to go to places like these but who can afford for just the child to go.
2. Only children
3. Children with different or more adventurous tastes in holidays than their family's.

I don't buy the fact that children come home upset that 'all their friends' are going on these expensive trips. They tend to be a) in holiday time b) cross year group c) out of the price range of many and d) not interesting to all.

I went on a ski trip when I was in Y12 (which I had to earn half the money for myself btw, that's another way of doing these things) and there were 12 children from my year group and 16 from Y10 (Y11 and 13 weren't allowed to go in case they got hurt before exams!!) In total there were about 60 children in Y12 and 120 in Y10 - so it was hardly an 'everybody is else is going' type of situation. I'm fairly sure this is the norm.

For year group trips in term time (eg Y7 or 8 French trips are common) there is financial assistance available.

Why school though. Plenty of other organisations offer trips and holidays.

In the threads about school absence people are always chipping in with "holidays aren't compulsory" but on threads like these it's a communist country if we don't offer them in schools.

I think a residential in primary is fine and subsidised curriculum trips in secondary. I think a ski trip is Ok too as the ski season is limited and veryexpensive/limited out of term time.

My girls were both "desperate" to go on the language trips this year - £1200 total for both of them, including passport fees etc... That is £100 A MONTH , £25 a week!!

We are not in poverty, but finding £100 a month is bloomin' tricky... means I have to work an extra shift a week (4 hours + hour each way travel time) - so we have to choose between time spent together as a family at the weekend for the whole year (can only get extra shifts on a weekend) , or (after travel time is taken into account) 3 and a half days in another country for each child ...

This year we chose to send them, on the understanding it won't happen next year.

My DD went to an independent school for which she had a school scholarship for part of the fees. She was not allowed to go on expensive school trips as the school expected any spare cash to go towards her fees thereby reducing the school contribution. She was surrounded by children having very expensive holidays but never complained. She was however invited on holiday with her BF, who had no siblings, and though I insisted on paying for her not sure they were entirely truthful about the cost as she stayed in some lovely hotels!

I agree that having your child contribute to the cost makes it more meaningful for them. My DD wants to do a ski trip and we agree that she will fund a certain percentage of the cost by giving up certain activities that cost £££ throughout the year and also fundraising by doing jobs for neighbours, extra things around the house and also (politely) suggesting to friends and family that she is saving for a trip and if they would normally buy her a birthday present or Christmas gift, she would prefer the cash!!
We could just about afford it without her efforts, but the fact she is willing to contribute really shows how much it means to her, and I am sure will make it an even more worthwhile experience for her.

Where's the OP? I wonder if enough people have answered her question yet.

My son starts secondary school in sept. They go away for 2 nights in the first few weeks at a cost of £180.

Last year the school had a trip which was 3k. Not sure he will be going on any with that price tag.

we did £900 for skiing last year and £500 for Holland this year.
Yes it's expensive but we found the money because it's a great experience for DD :)

Ooo er Toughas

so ive just worked it out for £837 i can take myself and my three children to greece in term time the holiday for my daughter to go to greece in term time (with the school) is £750 so why should i not save the extra and go as a family? its cheaper for kids to go away with the school but they charge a fortune then say you have to provide the insurance yourself i honestly cannot see how it works out so expensive yes you can say the trips cost money but half of the places are free the teachers would be paid anyway yes they need extra for night work but not the amount the school claim (i'm not sure if teachers pay for the holiday too or do we?)

its always marketed as a trip of a lifetime! well i cant afford it so im glad my daughter is philosophical about this because she is on free school meals she should get a subsidy for trips and things but its funny how they never give it to us or others in the same situation but they are happy to get the extra money given because they have a poor child at the school

im just going to save

Ooh are we going to be a gripping subject on The Wright Stuff again? Will Anthony Costa be discussing school trip costs in detail? I so hope so.

deaky does that £837 include everything - food, trips, entertainment? I'm guessing not.

I doubt teachers get paid over time to accompany trips. At ds's school the big trips (skiing etc) are in half term, so they're giving up annual leave to go.

Well I was able to find all inclusive in a 5 star hotel in Rhodes for 2 adults/2 children departing 2nd July at £398/head and that was without looking hard so I wouldnt be surprised at Deaky's price.

I remember pricing up the school's water sports trip compared to biiking direct with PGL and there really wasnt a lot in it. The big difference was that if I booked direct then I could choose exact dates and trips to suit.

School trips are not always all that they are made out to be.