to object to £50 school trip

[puffyisgood]

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?

@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.

Ringdonna is technically right. Most people can afford £50. I'm sure if you asked all parents, 51% or more (therefore most) could afford £50.

That's of no help to anyone who can't afford £50 but just pointing out that technically she is right.

YANBU. DD is also Y3 and attends school in a similar sounding area also on the outskirts of London. Her school brought in a theatre company last week to put on a pantomime, the children all enjoyed it and it cost £7! I’m not at all sure I would be happy to spend £50 on an afternoon out when there are cheaper alternatives available.

I think this is unreasonable. In year 3, going to a theatre is a great experience, but they don't have to go to the West End to get that experience, especially not at that age.

You can afford it so pay the money and stop whinging. The school will be aware of the families in need and will be dealing with that accordingly.

Let them enjoy the experience - what I cannot afford unfortunately is to take our kids myself as tix for a families West End are extortionate.

If a parent doesn't want their child to go or doesn't want to pay them they just say no on the permission letter. Very simple
Must be nice in your planet. Parent makes every parenting choice based on what they want and what makes their child happy, not what thry can afford to keep their child alive even if that means saying no and upsetting the child

Teacher in a north west school in one of the most deprived areas in UK. We took our Y6 children to London last year, coach both ways, overnight in a hostel, House of Commons trip, watched Wicked! Meals both days. We charged the children £10.

Say no and make it clear that you think a £50 trip to the theatre is unreasonable.

And yr 3 is very young to sit and watch a musical in a big theatre. Better a smaller theatre with a show aimed at that age group. Little Angels puppet theatre is brilliant. I think the school hasn't though this through.

YABU. Just because some children can't go doesn't mean none should go..does it?!

Surely @ringdonna has made a typo of can rather than can't

Sephyjune you really think it's fair of school keeps running trips that your child can't go and you have to keep explaining why even though all their friends are going?

Soontobe60
You are not comparing like-with-like. Your school clearly subsidised the theatre trip/meals/travel costs/accommodation. It’s fantastic that your school had the funds to do this.
Whilst I would be able be able to afford the trip payment, why would I presume others could. £50 is a substantial sum of money, no question. I’m surprised the school didn’t sound out parents to gauge for interest and to offer the option of paying the amount in instalments.

This kind of thing really scares me. What am I going to have to shell out for my twins’ future school trips? Scary thought!

@Craft1905

Not being funny, but your post (from 1818 hours) makes no more sense than @ringdonna's post.

I agree with a pp that there are WAY more things they could have done that would have been cheaper. A museum or art gallery for example, which would have been free in most cases.

I think you should absolutely write a letter to the Headteacher. I think it puts parents (and therefore children) in a terrible position. Yes, you can afford it, but as you rightly feel, other parents will not be able to. This is encouraging a ‘them’ and ‘us’ split between rich and poor and I’m stunned that a primary school would feel it’s ‘ok’ to ask for a £50 payment for a day trip. I support you in writing a letter to the Headteacher. You should also send a copy to the Chair of Governors.

Craft is right. The OP’s school has a lot of affluent parents. It’s quite possible that “most” (ie 51%+) of them can manage 50 quid for a trip (although they might not think it’s value for money). All the people saying “I couldn’t pay for it therefore most people can’t” are making the same mistake they accuse ringdonna of. The OP can certainly pay for it.

Ringdonna’s actual mistake is in not realising that organising a trip that is not accessible to a significant minority (and which a lot of parents will feel isn’t good value even if they can afford it) is still a big problem.

Our school runs an expensive but amazing residential- they literally give a years notice and you can pay in instalments or apply to the pta hardship fund. It’s tricky as it would be a shame to never do these things as some can’t afford it.

In someways it’s more reasonable sending one child - 4 of us went to the west end to see dds dream show we are fine for money but wow it wasn’t cheap! But kids remember these things they are life enhancing so as parents and a society we should do all we can to ensure all kids get these experiences.

l love it when someone says "surely most people can afford £50!" Some families are genuinely living hand to mouth. They can't feed their kids or heat their homes.
l speak from experience. There were times last year when l didn't even have enough to buy a loaf of bread.

It’s tricky as it would be a shame to never do these things as some can’t afford it

It would be. Lots of parents want a school that offers plenty of opportunities.

Stopping all extras because the odd few won't/can't pay is unfair to the rest. School trips are optional not required attendance. Children have always come with costs, it's a know prior to conception.

Yes of course there are people going to food banks. Only an idiot would deny that there are many families living in a very precarious financial state. That doesn’t tell us anything about what “most people” can afford.

I’m just being picky about the reasoning. You might as well say “some families are heavily reliant on food banks to supply their basic nutrition therefore it’s nonsense to say that most people can afford a 150 pound TV licence”.

Just say yes or no for your own DC - not sure why you feel the need to send a stern letter. Other parents will also make their own decision, no need to do it for them.

Yes you sound abit of a stirrer social justice warrior type with your “stern” letters. They’ve taken presumably a considered decision you can afford it why meddle?

£50 is tons! The theatre trip for dd was £10 and almost got cancelled because parents didn't pay.

Thanks for all the replies. I think I will send an informal email to the head, saying why I think it's wrong.