To not agree with first come first served school trips?

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

And to feel sorry for those who missed out.

DD's school runs a trip to France for those taking that language in y10 and y11. They also offer it to 40 of the MAT kids in y9. There are only 20 places for y9s though.

DD2 came home very excited on Thurs, asking if she could go. We knew it was a possibility as DD1 had been on the same trip. It's v reasonably priced for a foreign trip and it is no problem for us to stump up the deposit quickly - one great reason for having kept a cheque book going.

She was up v early the next morning, in to school early and had phoned me before 9 to say she'd found the teacher, paid in her deposit and was on the list.

Then after school she told me that all 20 places had gone before lunchtime as kids found the teacher and handed in their money. 2 friends ended up vieing for the final place. One got there first, then had to rummage in her bag for her envelope. Meanwhile her friend raced up, envelope already ready. They both handed it in at the same moment. But there's only one place left.

And that doesn't include any kids that couldn't stump up over £50 overnight. Those whose parents couldn't/wouldn't be able to make the decision quickly etc.

I know I'd be disappointed, as would DD, in such a position and I don't think it's great to be offering places to twice as many kids as there are spaces for. I think they are investigating gaining more places for those who missed out, but there's no promise.

Most schools give a deadline then do a ballot if it's over subscribed.

I think it's normal for there to be more students than spaces. We have around 150 in each year taking French, and there's no way I'm taking that many students abroad at once! It would be impossible to convince SLT to let enough teachers go anyway.

It's also hard to predict how many students will want to come on a trip, and it's better to take 1 coach than 1.5 coaches and pay for that part-full coach.

When I've organised trips, I give a deadline and then pull names out the hat. Some teachers do first come first served, but as far as I know students just need to bring in their forms first, not their deposit as we're all aware that not every family can find £50 overnight.

They stated first come first served in the letter and there was a numbered list that names were added on to as the kids paid their deposits.

I do hope they have an un-communicated backup system though.

I should say, we also give priority for the next trip to anyone who applied but didn't get a place on oversubscribed trips.

They both handed it in at the same moment. But there's only one place left

Oh dear. Do you know how that's going to be decided, if it hasn't already?

Don’t have an issue- the year 9 kids don’t need to go- it’s a space filling excercise. As long as the dawn doesn’t happen with year 10&11 they have a further two ‘guaranteed’ opportunities to go.