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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to object to £50 school trip

285 replies

puffyisgood · 13/01/2019 16:20

Outer London state primary [lots of affluent parents but also plenty who aren't], yr 3 kids. Matinee of a [fairly popular, fairly new, child friendly] West End muscal. The trip costs parents £50 per child. The school coffers may even be topping up these contributions a little bit [e.g. to pay for transport & for helpers]. As I understand it the tickets were block booked in advance [of the trip being announced] for the entire class. As with all these things parents can announce that they're not paying, but with prebought tickets the money will have to come from somewhere. All the kids want to go of course. As it happens we can afford it easily enough but I know that plenty of other families can't.

I'm mulling over a stern letter to the head. Reasonable or not?

OP posts:
Deadbudgie · 13/01/2019 17:23

Unfortunately I’m life there will always be people who can afford something and those who can’t. A theatre trip would be great for kids. I worked hard at school, university and work I job I hate to make sure DS doesn’t do without. Not everything has to be brought down to the lowest common denominator

81Byerley · 13/01/2019 17:24

Surely most people can afford £50? My kids couldn't afford that! It's a lot of money!

robininbrum · 13/01/2019 17:25

Blimey, when you said £50 for a school trip, I thought it was going to be a Monday to Thursday thing at Arthog with 3 nights board, and food and travel included....... So I thought 'hmmm not too bad.'

But it's just a DAY trip? Yeah £50 is a lot, and yeah many people cannot afford that outlay - especially for a single day trip.

Why is it £50, when you are already in London? And it's a matinee? And there are lots of kids going?

Our local comp - about 5 years ago - took the kids to a west end show in London - and the bus trip was included (200 mile round trip,) AND it included lunch, for £28 per child. It was only 5 years ago. Why is it so much when you're already in London?!

tinytreefrog · 13/01/2019 17:28

I'm pretty sure I paid around £23 for dd1 to go on a theatre trip to London last year. That included ticket and coach. We are about 140 miles from London, so £50 when your already there seems like an awful lot!

Mummyoflittledragon · 13/01/2019 17:31

We could afford that. But I’d feel the same as you. If it’s deemed educational it legally has to be a voluntary donation.

Fakeflowersandlemonade · 13/01/2019 17:35

I couldn't afford it and my partner and I both work. In fact my ds just brought a letter home from school about a trip that costs £11 and I had to make sure it was after payday

Fundays12 · 13/01/2019 17:37

We are reasonably well enough off (by no means rich but comfortable enough) and I think £50 is a lot for a school trip. Ds school brought i. A local theatre company to do a Christmas panto which the parents council had agreed to fund it was still cheaper than taking the school too the pantomime.

robininbrum · 13/01/2019 17:37

@tinytreefrog

Probably the same school as I was on about LOL!

£23 to £28-ish sounds about right (for a London theatre trip) for a school trip, say 100 miles away - incl travel. £50 though? Fuck that!!!

WakeMeUpWhenGoodOmensIsOn · 13/01/2019 17:38

From what the OP has said, Ringdonna is correct, and most of the parents could afford it if they chose. But that’s completely irrelevant to the OP’s objection. If 60% can afford it comfortably, 20% would have to scrimp and 20% couldn’t dream of paying it then it’s a bad idea for a non-core trip. It does seem like a lot of money for a random trip, not even an end of year 6 treat. From outer London transport should be cheap or very likely free, and there must be cheaper options for a midweek matinee block booking in February (outside half term).

The only theatre trip my DC went on in primary was a free trip to see a dress rehearsal at the opera. I go to the theatre a lot with the DC but the only thing I’ve paid anything like 50 quid for was Harry Potter.

Heyha · 13/01/2019 17:38

The thing with the trips abroad though is that they are normally announced way in advance and offered in installments so that £400 week abroad becomes say a £40 a month planned expenditure. Yes that is of course still a big lump of money to find but could also factor in Christmas or birthday present money as well if child desperate to go. Springing a £50 trip on people at short notice at this time of year is just plain insensitive.

Almostalive · 13/01/2019 17:41

When I was in Primary School I was well aware my single parent mum couldn't afford these trips. I didn't tell her about them and spent the day in the library. So unfair to put these pressures on children and parents ☹️

littlemeitslyn · 13/01/2019 17:42

'Most people can afford £50?' What planet are you on ?

MintyCedric · 13/01/2019 17:43

That does seem steep for a primary school trip and particular given that you're nearish to the show.

Our school is doing School of Rock in a few months time for £39 including return coach travel from the South coast, which i think it's pretty good value.

I presume your school has something in place for those on lower incomes? Our free school meals children pay 50% and we'll work with anyone else to sort out a payment plan they can afford.

thegreenlight · 13/01/2019 17:43

That’s daylight robbery! We do a west end trip every year (and have for past 7 years) for our primary school. We charge £30/35 and that includes executive coach from the midlands, all you can eat Pizza Hut buffet and excellent stall seating. They need to look at their pricing!

Shockers · 13/01/2019 17:44

Hopefully the families who would really struggle will be known to the school and paid for by the PTFA.

It’s the ones just over the threshold who usually suffer the most in circumstances like these.

Bluntness100 · 13/01/2019 17:45

What is your stern letter about? Are you going to advocate on behalf of families who can't afford it but you can? Did anyone nominate you to do this or to step in and speak up for people you feel can't afford it. Because people can speak up for themselves.

SuziQ10 · 13/01/2019 17:52

It is quite a lot.
I hope they gave notice to the parents had time to save up? It would be worth mentioning your concern to the teacher perhaps.

I wouldn't stop your child going though, as it is a nice opportunity to go to the west end with the class and you'd be lucky to get tickets that cheaply independently, if you were to go as a family.

I hope my child gets to go on fun school trips like this when a little older.

NutElla5x · 13/01/2019 17:53

Bluntness actually not everyone feels able to stick up for themselves. Some may not feel able to express themselves very well,others are proud and would feel shame and embarrassment. I think it's admiral that OP is thinking of and trying to help others,instead of having the 'I'm alright Jack' attitude that most people have.

Nanny0gg · 13/01/2019 17:57

@Ringdonna
Surely most people can afford £50?

Who are these 'most people' of which you speak?

And discounted group theatre tickets are usually in the region of £30.

And lots more notice would be required.

UserMe18 · 13/01/2019 17:59

Our school has a policy that if a trip costs more than £10 they send a letter to parents to ask how many are interested before proceeding. There haven't been many trips, but many parents aren't willing to pay, the policy came out of consultation with parents. I wouldn't be too happy with that, I'd rather spend £80 and take DS myself, but would feel guilty if his friends went without him.

MotherOfDragonite · 13/01/2019 18:01

£50 is a huge amount of money and frankly I am shocked that they couldn't find a cheaper but good quality theatre option locally or even with travel in to London.

This isn't appropriate or inclusive.

Also, is a West End musical really the best use of the money? They could be going to see something much more educational (but equally fun).

GnomeDePlume · 13/01/2019 18:08

Why a West End production at all? In my view schools should reconsider all the trips they offer. Why do schools still offer trips which are essentially holidays? School resources are stretched enough. To me, wasting any school time, teacher goodwill, parental involvement on these trips is a frivolous waste of resources.

OhLemons · 13/01/2019 18:09

I agree it's a lot of money. If you want to make a stand then don't allow your child to go.

Writing a letter on behalf of others is not the right thing to do.

DaphneDiligaf · 13/01/2019 18:10

@Ringdonna
Surely most people can afford £50?

Do you feel nice and warm and superior now? Do you read or listen to the news? Do you not understand there are people starving in this country?
I imagine we are supposed to think you are very rich and special, newsflash you are very, very stupid, thick and ignorant.

reluctantbrit · 13/01/2019 18:15

Brizzledizzle - I assume you mean secondary school trips? That is something typical, that only a certain numbers can go. At our school for some trips girls hav to raise some of the funds themselves to show their commitment not just relying on the parent’s flush account.

But this is a primary trip where you have on average 60 children and in most cases these trips are not that optional, they happen on a school day and if just 2-3 stay behind it is actually difficult for the school to deal with.

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