To be annoyed that school trip is cancelled and likely no refund

[CancelledLondonTrip]

First off my thoughts are with the victims and their families in Manchester. It was a terrible unpredictable attack on innocent children.

In light of this attack, our school is cancelling their year 6 trip to London.

I would rather the trip goes ahead, as the actual risk to our children in London from an terrorist attack is tiny. Especially with the heightened security.

The school have also said as everything has already been paid for it is unlikely we will get a refund on the £150 (three day trip) cost, as it has already been spent on train tickets, hostels, museum tickets and a show. All non refundable.

Aibu to expect the school to either run the trip OR refund 100% of the trip money OR even give the parents who still want to go the tickets and let us use the teachers tickets and we could take our children down ourselves ?

For the school to cancel the trip and for all the parents to lose all the money doesn't seem to be a fair solution.

Glad to hear IANBU :)

Cancellation insurance won't pay out unless there is official advice, from the government or security services, that trips to a particular place should be cancelled.

If 10 children pulled out before Monday, there must have been more since that. How do we know there aren't only 5 children still willing to go or even less. If some children still haven't paid up, the trip may be untenable.

The school may just not be able to afford the refunds. It's not fair but if the money isn't there, it isn't there.

This is rather unpopular but in this particular instance if you seem to be getting nowhere with the school, I would be tempted to approach the press. The school can't just take your money and then decide to cancel - what an awful precedent it would set!

Daft of the school to book no - refundable tickets for travel and accommodation to be honest. I would expect at least part of the money back and the theatre ticket - you've paid for it, it's yours and you should be able to take your child separately should you wish.

All our field trips to London and Manchester and any future ones have been cancelled. This is under the advice of the insurance company. Do the school have insurance? It might be that it's limited and not covered by acts of terrorism hence lack of refund??

out year 6 equivalent trip to london was cancelled back in 1977 due to the IRA.
but then I dont think the parents paid.

YANBU. I'd be furious. You paid for the trip in good faith and the school needs to refund you if they cancel it. Whether they're covered by insurance or not isn't your problem

Totally off the point but when my ds went to London for his year 6 trip four years ago it cost over £200 and they only stayed one night!

They are being so illogical and reactionary.

They are. And they are demonstrating a completely irrational attitude to risk, which is a shocking example to set to children. If the trip went ahead, the biggest risk would be - as it was last week - the coach trip. Very stupid decision.

If everything has been paid for but they no longer want to take the children, surely they should be able to pass the bookings and tickets on to the parents? Then at least some of the children could go?

I agree it's illogical and I would be very very upset. I have twins and if I'd paid £300 only for it to be cancelled at my expense I would be livid.

Didn't the school have insurance for the trip?

Yanbu.

Surely the school should allow those to go, whose parents are happy.

Several million people live in London, life goes on. There is a far greater danger from motor vehicles than terrorism.

Go to Citizen's Advice Bureau x

I would want my money back or the tickets. They must have the tickets if they're non-refundable. I wonder how this would play out legally? In a sense, they've taken your money for an event that they are choosing not to honour.

However, as it's a school, I know it wouldn't be the 'done' thing to demand the money back but I would at the least want the tickets.

YANBU and sorry but the school is liable to refund you as they're the ones cancelling it. £150 is a lot of money to throw down the drain and I wouldn't be letting this lie!

What a ridiculous over reaction from the school - do they not realise that millions of people including children live in London and are going about their normal daily lives. There hasn't been a mass exodus from cities due to the threat level! Agree with the pp who said to mention the small claims court to the school.

That's ridiculous. Those of us in London still seem to be managing to live our lives.

That's outrageous. The insurance they have won't be the bog standard travel insurance though, it'll be an LEA one and if the school has risk assessed it as now unsuitable they may well be covered.

Basically it's either fine, in which case they should take anyone that still wants to go, or it isn't in which case they claim the full cost back.

I'd be writing a formal letter before action and taking them to the small claims court if necessary.

YANBU. I would be fuming.

I would want my money back or would go to small claims court.

We are in London and had a School trip across London, cancelled today.

I can't imagine your school could afford to reimburse everyone OP. They should have given you all the option to go I guess?

I would definitely ask for the tickets seems a shame to just waste them.

YANBU

Of course the school should refund the parents.

Are all the kids being evacuated from major cities? No. So why is it OK for the kids that live there and not for those visiting?

Dipsticks.

I'd be devastated, that's a lot of money :(