to be pissed off at school 'enrichment' trips

[AugustRose]

I know this has been done many times before but I have just received an email about a 4 day trip to Iceland, costing nearly £1000. During the summer there was a trip to South Africa (it happens every 2/3 years) costing £2500.

This is the second time they have done the Iceland trip and they also have an annual skiing trip which is about £700.

These trips are not inclusive and it's always the same children/families (and teachers) who can afford to go. It's a small secondary of about 600 students but 80% will never be able to go on any of these trips. In Y8 DD1 had a 6 day trip to France that cost us £425 (it was good value) however it took us 6 months to pay for it as I really wanted her to be able to go.

I just get frustrated at the lack of less expensive trips/activities which could include many more children.

A trip to South Africa for £2500? Are they having a laugh? What's the 'enrichment' part? A trip to France or German I can understand, but SA?

You would have thought they'd have looked at their demographic by now; 80% couldn't afford it! I'd probably be going to the HT or LGB with this. Such a shame for students to be missing out. I'd want to find out the justification. Doesn't signify a great attitude of the school.

In a private school, with a plan for any students on scholarships then as a once in education thing I could get it.

But for a state school, especially one where the majority can't afford it, then it's bonkers and devisive

If it's a comp/grammar I'd complain to the governers. It's a waste of time and resources to lay out jollies that aren't inclusive. If it's a private school then suggest a wider range of trips - you need to get value for money as much as the rich people do.

Yes, that would piss me off too. There is so much in the UK that would make a trip both enriching and affordable. It's awful being the kid who couldn't afford to go and awful for the parents too.

It is a state school and they just seem to keep adding trips. It is a rural school and the income for families will be spread across the board, we are in the middle and can't afford them.

They have a link to a school in SA and that's why they visit, the 'enrichment' part is going to the school and taking gifts, spending time with orphaned children and soaking up 'other cultures'. Part of it is in the summer holidays but they do take the last week out of school too.

I think I will speak to the governers/head as I think they are just becoming jollies for certain teachers now.

As someone from SA - they are taking the proverbial. Trips like this need to be realistically priced - £2500 is a two-week family holiday for us, and completely out of reach for many!

I can see the sense in the South Africa one, but they won't realistically learn anything enriching in a four day trip to Iceland, let alone on a skiing trip.

Our High school does the trips abroad during holiday time so no school days are lost.
Ski trip 2018 is now being paid for and will be held during Easter break. There are still places available. Dd is going, it's one week, £700 and we pay as we can before Jan 2018 so time to get it paid off.
If it were over £1000 she wouldn't be going, thats just my limit on what I think I'll pay out for a week for her.
They do a week trip more local to an outdoor adventure place too, much more affordable and lots more go to that, but it's during the term.

Unless they have financial help in place so that all pupils have the opportunity (have you checked this?) YANBU. Trips should be inclusive, enough spaces for the whole class/year and financially possible for all.

taking gifts, spending time with orphaned children and soaking up 'other cultures'

Sounds like a dud anyway.

Anyone who thinks a school residential is a "Jolly " for teachers has clearly never been on one.

Complain about affordability and lack of inclusivity by all means but spare yourself the embarrassment of calling it a jolly. I go on residential trips every year.

Why? Because my 4 DDs had a ball, learned lots and gained valuable social and personal growth through travelling outside family trips. Teachers spent hours on a bus and ferry so this could happen.

I also do it every year because I am at a stage of my life (youngest 12) where I can. I didn't even consider residential trips till she was 10. My colleagues with young children don't do them. So perhaps if it's regular staff who go on these trips it's because nobody else will/can?

They'll learn loads geographically speaking from an Iceland trip. Home of most volcano's in Europe, geysers, icebergs. Produces huge amount of geothermal energy which they utilise well.

At the other end of the spectrum op my sons school has done zero trips abroad. Which I'm pissed about. I guess it's balance.

I hated this when I was at a state sixth form that did this. It peaked with a £4,000 trip to Belize for two weeks... in 2004. I came from a comfortable background but there was no way my parents had that kind of money lying around! Again, it was the same kids going on the endless extortionate trips and was pretty exclusive.

I got the last laugh doing an actual, educational trip a couple of years later with university for £1200 for nearly a month long trip to research stations there was no way they could have been able to visit as sixth formers! If you think they can do it cheaper some other time, wait and see. They may be able to! And it might actually be more educational when they are older.

Recent one is £4k. I have told ds if I hear ONE more word about him wanting to go then I'll take his phone away and he'll know what hard done by actually is. I am very close to complaining to the school about bloody World Challenge!!

Part of it is in the summer holidays but they do take the last week out of school too.

But I bet of you take them time holidays it's a big no no. The school I used to go to has been slated to high heaven in the local paper for these "enrichment" holidays that often take a few days out of term whilst never authorising term time holiday.

Trust me a trip is no kind of 'jolly' for teachers.
I was once a teacher on an English Language/skiing trip and it was hellish.

It really fucked me off at my children's school , in one of the poorest parts of the UK, the only school trip on offer was....get this...

Skiing in America,....at about 2 grand a pop;

Honestly when schools are banging on about being 'inclusive' etc it is just a fucking joke.

I agree with you, August. I have two sons at secondary and there is no way we can spend that much on trips for both of them. Yes, they are educational and enriching but surely the schools can offer cheaper trips so that they are more accessible for all pupils?

I did look into getting some financial assistance from the school and after a flurry of emails, they offered 30% off a french trip but as they were asking £750 per child, I still couldn't bloody afford it.

OP you are not in a town famous for making beer by any chance are you? Sounds almost exactly like the trips our school is offering.

Funnily enough we had a letter a couple of weeks ago about how a trip abroad would have to be cancelled if there wasnt a bigger take up. At £1000 odd per student I am not surprised that hardly anyone has signed up!

It takes the piss when the same school are supporting local food bank drives

I assume its not the school, but some private company throwing in some perks for the school

it's funny how times changed - i went to a prep and a grammar school - we went for cheap trips to France (to speak French) and at secondary the only trip was a 4 day trip to Italy because we were classics students. I'm not sure I'd pay for a skiing or SA trip even if I could afford it - surely that's the sort of fun thing your DC have to get jobs for so they can do in their 20s?

The most expensive one ours does is ski trip, and as pp money can't be use for it the inclusive aspect goes out window. But no way residential a are jollies, up till all hours, patrolling halls and on a ski trip having to stay with a kid who broke both legs.

I agree snowinafrica - why would I want my children flying off to America without me at the age of 12? I dont think so. I could never have afforded it anyway, like 90 per cent of parents.

Both of mine go to school in deprived areas, there are no school holidays, they do go on day trips, younger child's are all free and so are the after school activities, older child's are reasonably priced.