In thinking almost 5 grand for a school trip is beyond the joke ??

[BabySharkAteMyHamster]

We live in a town with a massive, rich poor divide. A lot of jobs here are highly skilled so if you can't do those there's little else. It has massive pits of deprivation as well as very wealthy areas.

There are two schools. One being an academy in the middle of one of the poorest areas of the town but also next to an estate where houses sell for upwards of 500k.

Who the hell thinks these trips are a good idea ?? It serves nothing but to highlight the massive rich poor divide and yet again kids who have heard 'no' pretty much from the day they were born will be on the outside looking in whilst the wealthier kids swan off on a month long trip to south America to build schools and lord knows what else . Options are pay half now and half later or pay £60 per week for the next 2 years (( my food bill ))

Why the hell arent these things capped ?? £1000 yes, families could make cutbacks over 2 years and give their kids a chance to experience life outside their barrier but 5 grand is just an impossible task for so many.

Considering so many schools these days obsess over stupid details on school uniforms so that 'every child is equal' isnt it a bit odd they seem to think it's ok to constantly remind them just how unequal they actually are 🤔🤷‍♀️

[Scienceforthewin]

Do school children have particular skills/experience in building houses or schools? Wouldn't someone local who actually knows building/plumbing/electrics be rather more use than shipping school kids half way round the world?

[DancingDot]

I hate these World Challenge/Volunteer abroad type school endeavours. They perpetuate inequality. Yes young people are expected to raise money but this is much, much easier for those who have professional parents with an affluent social circle with higher incomes and more social capital. Poorer young people simply don't have a chance. So all of the already privileged young people pop off to Africa to fanny about building a school/hospital etc then come home and it is a lovely experience to write about on their UCAS forms and job applications - experience of fundraising, team work, practical skills, working with children etc etc.

But I do think that people that moan about school issues but don't get involved in school decision making are being unreasonable. Get involved in your child's PTA and take your concerns to the parents, teachers, governors. Do research and find out what the demographic of young people who do these trips are and how employers and universities see them. Demonstrate that by encouraging these trips they are perpetuating inequality. Propose ways that make the process fairer - perhaps the school can involve the whole pupil body and local community in fundraising to send a few pupils who are selected by merit and not their ability to afford it.

[merlotmummy14]

Don't do it regardless of the money.

[PiperPublickOccurrences]

Wouldn't someone local who actually knows building/plumbing/electrics be rather more use than shipping school kids half way round the world?

Of course it would. But then Toby from Surrey wouldn't be able to Instagram about it.

[BabySharkAteMyHamster]

It isnt my child, it's a friends. She's disabled and reliant on benefits after having to give up work........ Her dd is also heartbroken as a fair few of her friends will be going.........there's a.big difference between saying no to kids who already get trips out and holidays and saying no to kids who don't and get reminded of that fact with a big kick in the face.

Aeroflot, those are London prices where wages are generally higher. I live in a northern town, this school is also next to a massive estate where houses can be bought for under 60k. That is the catchment area.

Fecking hell, my sons last trip was free. They dug out / borrowed a load of tents and went on a massive camping trip for a week where they learnt survival skills and put on a mini festival to raise money for local charities. The idea was hatched between a few teachers and parent helpers who have a love of camping. Everyone was included. Which is how it should be.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Wow BabyShark, most people won't be able to afford that, even the more 'affluent' ones.

[Lovemusic33]

Schools are the same here, my daughter doesn’t even ask to go as she knows I can’t afford it, she’s not upset that she can’t go, she knows only the rich kids get to go. She knows there are lots of children who won’t be going.

[ResistanceIsNecessary]

I dislike these trips for two reasons.

Firstly it divides kids even further into the 'haves' and the 'have nots'.

Secondly why should a South America community be subjected to a group of privileged Western kids coming to gawp at their living conditions and play the great white saviour?

What would provide the greater benefit; charging a bunch of school kids a fortune for a voluntourism jaunt and giving them a 'project' to play with? Or donating the money that this trip would cost to the community so that the adults already living there who need work, could build their own kids the school that they need, and earn money and learn skills to improve their family lives and prospects at the same time?

There's no way in hell I'd pay £5k for something like this, but even if I had that kind of money I'd be swerving it on ethical grounds. If the school is genuinely committed to helping improve the lives of disadvantaged children who live in poverty, then they could take a look at what's on their own doorstep.

[Aeroflotgirl]

I live in Milton Keynes in a good area, and most of the parents around here, could not afford that.

[RomanyRoots]

How is it volunteering, it's paying to do a job.
why would parents think this was a good idea.
I don't understand what the kids get out of it that they wouldn't volunteering for free locally.

[SuburbanRhonda]

Not so easy if you live in a deprived area, or if you already have a part time job to help fund your studies.

Unless you attend a private school, your education is free.

[SassitudeandSparkle]

My DD has just started secondary school and we've been given an outline of the trips. Ski trip of around 1.5K. DD looked excited until I pointed to the cost!

[speakout]

I agree OP.
My kids ( state school) has these mental trips,

We live in an area with a big class/financial divide.

A few of the recent school trips include

A week in China £4000
Weekend in New York £2000
Trip to the Amazon £5000
Week in the Arctic £6000

The trips are always full.
Full of kids who usually get several holidays a year with their own familes to Dubai/Mexico/Skiing.

Meanwhile there are some kids who have not even managed a week in Benidorm with their own families and never been abroad.

So the poorer kids can only gaze with their noses against the glass knowing there is not a gnat's chance they will be able to go on these trips.
These tripe only serve to deepen divides.

[bonbonours]

The fact that you don't have to send your child is beside the point. The fact that the trip will be happening and people they know will be going reinforces the class/financial divide.

My daughter just returned from a five day trip to Cornwall which cost about £400 (seemed pretty steep to me) and was pretty much compulsory. We have already told her she won't be going on the ski trip, the trip to India etc etc.

The problem is these things look great on the prospectus so schools are keen to run exciting trips.

[FermatsTheorem]

I agree that's bonkers OP.

I'm in the process of looking round secondary schools.

There's one local school that prides itself on its outdoor ed programme. It also has a high percentage of children who qualify for "pupil premium". It also prides itself on doing a hell of a lot of fundraising so that children on pupil premium get to take part in all the outdoor ed stuff free of charge, and no child gets left behind because their parents can't afford trips.

I think that school may well be top of our list! (It has a lot of other things going for it - it's basically comprehensive education as it should be when it's working properly - offer the most opportunities possible, tailored to the needs of each individual child).

[TwoOddSocks]

Yes that's completely insane and unnecessary. Why not a week on an outward bound course in Scotland or somewhere? Or a trip to Europe staying in a youth hostel? I'd be happy to pay a bit more for a trip like that if it meant literally everyone would have the chance to go if they wanted. The children whose parents can afford £5000 will have ample opportunity to go on gap years to far flung parts of the world anyway.

[m0therofdragons]

Schools argue that uniforms are essential to ensure everyone appears equal then do this? Bonkers. The dc who could afford these holidays are the ones already doing this stuff with their families.

[Akanamali]

My dd has been accepted on a trip to a part of Africa in 18 months time. There were 20 places available. They'll be helping to build a school for the children that live there.

Does your daughter have building qualifications that the locals lack?

[BlueJava]

What sort of trip is it - I know you are criticising the cost but both my DS (twins) are going a month long trip to Costa Rica with Camps International where they also work with the localcommunity and in down time do their PADI dive certificate. 4k each for a 1 month but they are encouraged to self fund.

[Ceilingrose]

Ridiculous.

[quizqueen]

There's plenty of people who could do with some extra help in this country. If the school thinks it's a good experience for their pupils to do good deeds then there's no need to fly half way across the world for that and a more important message will be learnt that there's probably poverty right here on their doorstep. The UK government already borrows £26,000,000 A DAY in order to support foreign aid while making cut backs in this country, perhaps someone could point that out to the school.

[welshmist]

Some of these trips are so expensive our school two trips I am thinking of.

week skiing in the Dolomites all inc. inc. passes £1169
week surfing in Fuerventura all inc. inc. all gear £850

[IrmaFayLear]

Yes, it’s not a rich/poor divide at £5,000. It’s a very rich and very stupid divide/everyone else divide.

I live in a £500k house that ain’t all that. I couldn’t afford a £5k school trip in a million years.

Dsis, who was a teacher, said there was a direct correlation between the naughtiest kids and how many trips they applied to go on, regardless of income. In other words, some parents are desperate to get rid of their kids, money no object!

[speakout]

Does your daughter have building qualifications that the locals lack?

Akanamali

Exactly!!

[holly30]

I remember going to New York for school over 15 years ago. It was £500 per child and my dad just happened to get a promotion that year or no way would I have been able to go. It was a lot then and in my area a trip locally was as much as you got at school so this was a huge change from a new teacher. 5k for a trip is mental. I wouldn't pay that ever.