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AIBU?

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Original poster

School trips which are only affordable to a minority of parents - just why?

266 replies

Mintyy · 01/10/2015 21:10

Why do schools do this?

If someone can explain, I am all ears!

I am talking about non-leafy state comprehensive schools here.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 01/10/2015 21:22

Because the kids who do get to go, might not have been able to go otherwise with their families.

My son has been to France and Poland at a fraction of what it would have cost the whole family to go.

Also, group bookings will be cheaper.

Carlywurly · 01/10/2015 21:25

We went to look around our local state secondary school the other week. They proudly told us about their upcoming geography field trip. To Hawaii! I was Shock and also bloody envious! God knows how much that one costs.

parrotsummer · 01/10/2015 21:25

Many will be free for PP kids.

I am planning to make DD fall into this category.

TeenAndTween · 01/10/2015 21:27

What Worra says.

Only a minority go on any trip so it's not like at primary where not going is obvious.

That said, I see no use to go out of Europe for a secondary trip.

RainbowFlutterby · 01/10/2015 21:29

As Worra says. DS will get to go to places I can't afford to take him. My parents I can afford a couple of hundred for him though. And it's probably more fun with his mates, and he's more likely to learn something about where he's going rather than some all inclusive jaunt.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 01/10/2015 21:29

What's PP kids?

AuditAngel · 01/10/2015 21:30

DS's school emailed about a 2 night trip to EuroDisney and Christmas markets £270, all due for payment in the next 6 weeks.

I discussed with DH, we are hoping to trade our inherited timeshare in for a week in France, cost for 5 of us will be around £300 plus spending money.

I raised it with DS who informed me he didn't want to go and didn't get a letter.

WorraLiberty · 01/10/2015 21:32

The trips my DS went on - Paris/Poland/South of France, cost between £270 and £325 for 4 nights.

That included absolutely everything...3 meals per day and an action packed itinerary.

And we were given about 6 months advance notice, so we could pay by instalments using parentpay.

OddBoots · 01/10/2015 21:35

I agree with what Worra says. I'm disabled, I couldn't give my dc the trips the school could provide so I am happy to forgo holidays myself to pay for the children to do these things without me.

monkeysox · 01/10/2015 21:36

Pp pupil premium. Schools get lots of extra funding for them

WorraLiberty · 01/10/2015 21:42

The thing with PP is that it only goes so far.

My DC's school will part fund residential trips if they can, but it depends on how many people are asking for help.

parrotsummer · 01/10/2015 21:43

It's The Rule at local school that PP kids don't pay. Which is nice :)

OddBoots · 01/10/2015 21:45

Not all schools will use PP money for trips, especially residential. Research has shown it is better at 'closing the gap' when used for other more focused interventions in school.

parrotsummer · 01/10/2015 21:46

No I know but if you find one that does, it's cool.

WorraLiberty · 01/10/2015 21:47

parrot how can they have a rule like that?

Tons of parents of PP kids want to, and do pay if they can afford to.

There's no point in wasting money that will be also needed in other areas of the school.

In fact I would have thought the school business manager and not to mention OFSTED would have a heart attack.

GnomeDePlume · 01/10/2015 21:47

I dont know, it's not like they a visiting Brigadoon. Even if parents cant take them, these places will still exist when the students are adults and can pay for themselves if they still think the trip is worth it.

parrotsummer · 01/10/2015 21:48

Ask the school Confused I don't know. To be honest I think they are struggling to know how to spend the money.

WorraLiberty · 01/10/2015 21:48

If you find one that does, you'll probably also find it's lacking in other much more important areas...such as extra curricular clubs and all sorts of other things.

Brioche201 · 01/10/2015 21:48

|The trouble is that at some state schools it is not just a minority that go.It is virtually everybody and it is crap for the kids left behind.DS had a last minute trip to CERN 2 night £450 excl food for 2 nights.You had a week to pay and he was the only one in his physics set who didn't go.
incidentally he went with DH later at a fraction of the cost.o

HainaultViaNewburyPark · 01/10/2015 21:51

I'm already wondering how much DD's geography field trip to Iceland will cost - and it is still a couple of years away. Sounds awesome though - I wish I could go.

WorraLiberty · 01/10/2015 21:54

Hainault, can the school guarantee the kids won't bump into Peter Andre? Grin

He loves his kids though, so he might love yours too...

SuburbanRhonda · 01/10/2015 21:55

We have 33% PP in our school.

No way could we afford to pay for all those children to go on every trip over their 7 years with us.

Original poster
Mintyy · 01/10/2015 21:56

I'm talking about very expensive trips here. You know, the real luxury ones. At secondary school. And with no discernible educational aspect.

My dc went to a primary school with a lot of children from less well off families. They were definitely not all subsidised on school trips - money raised by the PTA was often used to cover the shortfall.

OP posts:
HainaultViaNewburyPark · 01/10/2015 21:57

I don't know Worra - but I'm definitely stealing that question and asking it at the trip information evening GrinGrin

Fatfreefaff · 01/10/2015 21:57

I agree its unfair but life is unfair. I paid nearly £3000 for my daughter to go on a trip to India with school. Paid in instalments over18 months or so. We could never afford to go as a family. She got an immense amount out of it.

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