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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Byrdie · 03/10/2015 13:47

Gnome - Why? Is there no PTA? Or parent governers? Genuinely interested.

BackforGood · 03/10/2015 16:54

PTAs are usually (I know there will be exceptions on MN ) weak or non-existent at secondary ~
Because when the children get to secondary age, a FAR higher % of parents are then at work
Because, even if you are at home, you don't loiter in the playground / go in for assembly / parent workshops etc. so you don't have the same involvement
If you are a 'PTA enthusiast' it's quite likely it's worn a bit thin after 7 years or so in Primary so you might not be so keen to sign up again.

Yes, there will be parent Governors, but you aren't very likely to know them personally, so you would only contact them (as a general rule) about something you felt was very important.

However, it isn't really the Governors decision as to what residentials are arranged - and particularly it's not the PTA's. Residentials are arranged by individual teachers who are enthusiastic about the trip - it's not for the school to dictate they "want" a trip to this place or that, it comes from some teacher being willing to offer it, over and above their day job.

GnomeDePlume · 03/10/2015 17:54

Exactly as BackforGood said.

We are an academy so management set up is different from non-academy. PTA exists only to raise funds.

Your ability to influence a secondary school as a parent is practically non-existent.

Byrdie · 03/10/2015 19:23

Well that's got to be changed! How can we not be allowed / be able to influence or at least contribute ideas to such an important part of our children's education? I find that really shocking!

fulldutypaid · 03/10/2015 19:56

Its ridiculous...

PTA are even getting to kids parties now :/ why? I look after a child and took him to a party today, i asked the parent where was the present, the parent said the PTA asks for donations from their parties now... Really!!!!

fulldutypaid · 03/10/2015 19:58

Instead of presents... err ok. Nutters!

BlueJug · 03/10/2015 20:12

I support school trips. My DD went ski-ing. There is no way we could have gone but she saved for TWO YEARS to pay for it herself using all her Christmas and birthday money and anything she earnt. It was an experience of a lifetime. Some other, ( a lot of ) trips she didn't go on.

Of course there should be a range of activities and trips on offer. Some expensive, some cheap. Life isn't fair - but not just about money. Kids with disabled parents, or siblings, kids with money but abusive or unloving parents who'd pay for them to go away but not create happy holiday memories WITH them, kids whose parents don't have the energy or imaginaiton to take them somewhere exciting... whay should they not get the chance to go with the school? To me education is about all sorts of oportunities.

Just because all kids cannot go it is not fair not to offer trips. Otherwise you are going for the lowest common denominator. Theatre trips, language exchanges, clubs, sports events.

Mehitabel6 · 03/10/2015 20:15

Of course parents influence- the trips exist because they wanted them. If no one wanted them ,and they didn't go, there would be no trips.
I certainly wanted them- it was one of the reasons for choosing the school. DCs went places we would never have managed as a family.
PTAs are not for influence in any school.

fulldutypaid · 03/10/2015 20:19

You support the school trips - when you full well know that some cant go? why on earth do children need to go on a ski holiday? for what purpose? to show them the snow?

It's called having the money to do so and not caring really.

fulldutypaid · 03/10/2015 20:22

yadnbu op. Ridiculous.

fulldutypaid · 03/10/2015 20:24

Yes, because all kids cant go then how dare they offer the trips. Equal opportunities and all that. YOU take your child on a £3,000.00 trip yourself then.

ISingSoprano · 03/10/2015 20:24

I too support school trips. The school my dc went to run a sports tour to South Africa every two years. It's expensive but everyone gets two years to plan for it. The students are heavily encouraged to contribute themselves. Expectations on the students who go are very high - impeccable behaviour and effort in all areas at school as well as strong commitment to training and matches and all are expected to do a junior sports leader award too.

Interestingly the GCSE results of those who go on the tour often exceed their predicted grades.

fulldutypaid · 03/10/2015 20:32

Why on earth would the GCSE results be better because? Its a ridiculously over priced sports trip Nothing to do with the blacaran at all! My child is studying Math, science and Economics. I still wouldnt be able to send him on a ridiculous ski trip to see the snow

Mehitabel6 · 03/10/2015 20:33

As I said early it is how I chose to spend my money. I knew they would be offered. I had my neighbour's old pram, second hand baby clothes etc ( the baby doesn't care) I object to people spending out at that stage and having phones etc and expensive trainers and then telling me I can't do school trips.

Mehitabel6 · 03/10/2015 20:34

It was wonderful that teenage DS could go on a ski trip when I had a baby and toddler who were not ready for that.

BlueJug · 03/10/2015 20:35

I just said my DD saved for two years - all her earnings from her Saturday job, birthdays, Christmas - and we couldn't have taken her. I was so glad she could.

I know some kids can't go but there are some kids whose parents never NEVER come to sports days or concerts or parents' evenings - and that is horrible. (But if that's not your kids you don't notice). Should we cancel them too? Some kids never get picked for shows or teams because they are not good enough. (Thread currently running on that subject). So let's cancel that too. Some kids can't do playdates - difficult home life, poor housing, not popular - so let's ban them too.

Some kids will always be in the bottom set, work never chosen, pictures never, ever on the wall, never get the Gold Star - my DS is one. (The humiliation of NEVER EVER being chosen - so if I can pay for him to go on a trip by not buying any clothes, shoes, haircuts for myself I will).

People tend not to make a fuss if they benefit but do if they don't.

Everyone has different advantages. Rich and poor is horrible and I have faught for comprehensive education and volunteered to run clubs for free so that all kids can do athletics and chess - for FREE. Kids whose parents maybe don't play chess with them, or haven't the time or money to take them to a sports club on Saturdays. But the more opportunities we offer, the more kids can benefit from something.

fulldutypaid · 03/10/2015 20:37

I have no idea what you are talking about Mehitabel6. Are you suggesting that you sacrifice so much to enable your son to go on some over priced unnecessary trip?

Mehitabel6 · 03/10/2015 20:37

Exactly- it was birthday, Christmas presents and later part time jobs.

fulldutypaid · 03/10/2015 20:37

That has no bearing whatsover on his grades?

fulldutypaid · 03/10/2015 20:38

whatsoever.

Mehitabel6 · 03/10/2015 20:40

It was no sacrifice. You don't need new for a baby. They are not bothered. You can get lovely things second hand. Much better to spend later. If you think trips over priced and unnecessary then why on earth do you want them to go? Why stop me who has saved from birth? I thought they got a lot out of them.

BlueJug · 03/10/2015 20:40

Mehitabel6 - agree about baby stuff. All I bought new was a pack of three babygros. Everythign else came from my siblings' kids and my cousin. Everything. Pram, cot, car seat, clothes. I remember the ante and post natal groups all going on about which pram, which car seat and the colour they were painting the nursery.

BlueJug · 03/10/2015 20:50

Maybe there are parents who think that they are unneccessary but you could certainly say the same about birthday parties, Disney tat, logo'd football strips - it is up to each fmily what they get out of it.

My brother went on a school trip and it changed his life - showed him a world that he could aspire to. For me school was deadly and I hated every moment but a trip to Paris when I was fifteen showed me a life outside my little suburban house and my unambitios mother who only wanted me to get married - and I knew I would fly. And I did - I lived there for several years in my twenties.

So it is a personal thing whether you think they are unnecessary or not. (There are others who believe the study or Art or Music is unnecessary, or sport - luckily there are enough who beleive that kids should experience as much as possible)

A bit ranty tonight - apologise if I come across like that - but don't close things down for kids just becasue not everyine can bebnefit at that time

Mehitabel6 · 03/10/2015 20:50

We are all different.
Some people think school trips are important. Some wouldn't put their baby in second hand clothes. Some want piles of Christmas presents. Some want to dress them in fashionable clothes. Some want to give them phones. Etc etc etc
It really doesn't matter as long as you don't stop the ones that you don't personally agree with.

BlueJug · 03/10/2015 20:52

Sorry - terrible typing.

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