AIBU to think this is a Liberty

[99pokerface]

The shool has announced that ds. is to go on a 3 day trip to Swanage and its %20 of his mark geography but it's £230 oh was like wtf oh said it would be cheaper to drive dd down their himself and stay at a b&b

Surely this can't be right espically when it seems I don't have any choice if he attends as its 20% of his mark

We're the hell do they get their prices from

YANBU

That's a lot of money that not all families have spare. Very unfair for the trip to count towards 20% of his grade

Well I suppose it depends what they're doing when they're there... If they're staying in a hostel and all the activities are free then it sounds steep but I'm assuming trips/food etc are included?

I don't think it's fair to essentially make an expensive trip compulsory though.

My DD had a compulsory AS Geography trip a couple of weeks ago. Three days, and a similar price. I was a bit surprised that it counted towards the final mark, as surely not everyone can afford to go.

Ask the school how they'd facilitate your ds doing whatever he needs to do to get the marks without going on the trip.

My ds is doing a similar trip towards his GCSE, the school did say that they could still achieve the same marks, there would just be a lot more work and research involved. It probably costs that much because of the coach and food should be included, but my ds's trip included tuition from people on site. Maybe yours does too?

What happens if you can’t find the money? That seems so unfair, not everyone has hundreds of £ spare.

When dd was choosing her GCSE options it said in the paperwork that trips were compulsory for Geography, so everyone knew in advance that there would be a cost involved if they took that subject.

Perhaps there is a school hardship fund to help parents who can't afford the full cost?

This is what the Government website says:

School governing bodies and local authorities, cannot charge for:
• education provided outside school hours if it is part of the national curriculum or part of a syllabus for a prescribed public examination that the pupil is being prepared for at the school, or part of religious education.

OP, you are perfectly entitled not to pay, the school is acting outside the law, provided their letter is phrased as you indicate. In any case, they should have a policy on charging for trips along with a remission policy; ask to see them.