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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think primary schools shouldn't run residential trips?

223 replies

orangejuiced · 30/05/2019 02:16

I dont see what purpose they serve. From reading threads on here, they dont seem popular with teachers (having to look after kids 24 hours a day, no extra pay), they are very expensive to parents (in hundreds of pounds) and potentially children feel left out or excluded if they aren't comfortable to go or parents cant afford it.

An a level geography course maybe requires a field trip, but primary children dont need to do expensive outdoor pursuits as part of their curriculum. I never went on one until age 13 and I'm perfectly independent as an adult Grin. Aibu, am I missing something?

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 30/05/2019 09:26

At least at primary all children have the opportunity to go! Come secondary they limit places increase prices and select those who the teachers prefer.

Some kids never get the chance again.

Every year their are two trips at about £250 - same kids go year in year out - even if they all hand the form in on the same day.

Obvious favoritism

User10fuckingmillion · 30/05/2019 09:27

We did them every year from year 2. They were my favourite part of school by far.

YouBumder · 30/05/2019 09:28

YABU but I do think they should only have them in their final year. My son loved his p7 residential. No it wasn’t cheap but we paid it up weekly over the year.

What I do think is ridiculous is high schools that have stupidly expensive foreign trips costing thousands of pounds.

Genevieva · 30/05/2019 09:28

Our primary does one a year for Years 4,5 and 6. We live in a very rural area so the trips are usually 2 night, but they are important because there are few opportunities for local day trips. They are also affordable.

NCasVOuting · 30/05/2019 09:29

I do a one night resi in Year 1 and 2. In Scouting/Guiding there are often one night "sleepovers" from the age of 5. Most of the children absolutely love them and as it's only one night, somewhere less than an hour from home, they feel safe and secure.

Never had any issues. There are usually a few children that don't want to come, which is absolutely fine, but most can't wait. They feel very grown up and we have so much fun.

I also choose places that aren't too expensive (my last one was £20 per child) and we have a fund for parents that can't afford it.

I look after those children, care about them, worry about them and want them to have the best experience just as much as I do my own children. They always have fun.

Whatareyoutalkingabout · 30/05/2019 09:32

YABVU! I say that aa both a teacher and someone who adored them as a child! I still have fond memories of the wonderful residential trips I went on as a child and I'd never want my children to be deprived of the same lovely experiences. It's good for them on so many different levels too.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 30/05/2019 09:34

YABVU. I love that they have opportunities like this. It's good for them, they remember them fondly and it allows for a little independence.

I'm also a fan of the high school trips. They offer some amazing ones and it's fabulous for the children.

Outofinspiration · 30/05/2019 09:35

I've done several residentials as a teacher from Year 4 upwards and they are bloody brilliant!

kaytee87 · 30/05/2019 09:36

I still remember my p7 trip to garelochhead. Loved it, yabu.

Fatasfooook · 30/05/2019 09:37

I went on one in primary school and it wasn’t great. I have memories of being alone, of being made to crawl through cold rivers, of being scared wet and cold, of wetting the bed when I wasn’t a bed wetter. Didn’t like it

BlackPrism · 30/05/2019 09:37

I loved my Y6 residential. We got to do horse riding and gill scrambling and hiking - it was wonderful to be out of the classroom and learning in a new way. Plus it was a great break from all the SATS stress

fraumaximoo · 30/05/2019 09:38

As a primary teacher, I think I agree. I took a whole year group to the Isle of Wight for a week. Head suddenly announced he wanted reports done the week we got back. I asked for some extra PPA time to do them and he refused, because I'd just had 'a weeks holiday to the isle of wight'. FFS, it wasn't a holiday, I was looking after 60 kids 24/7.
I also think it's wrong to deny parents the chance to take kids away on holiday. Residentials are no more educational than family holidays.

DougalsBlueJumper · 30/05/2019 09:38

DS(10) is about to go on a residential and he's like a bouncy little puppy. He's going to try stuff that I'm too much of a wimp to do with him. He'll get to do some extra bonding with his classmates, have a few 'late' night laughs (if he can stay awake) and be away from his parents. The teachers were nearly as excited as the kids when we attended the information meeting. At 10, he's more than ready.

I completely sympathise with those parents whose children either can't or don't want to go. My mum would have had a hard job getting me to go on any sort of outdoor pursuits trip. I was a very anxious child and, although active, felt uncomfortable with those kinds of organised activities. I suppose I'm delighted that DS is so enthusiastic - he wasn't always like this.

ExplodingCarrots · 30/05/2019 09:39

I went on 3 residential trips in Primary school and I have amazing memories from them. Most of all was Llangranog (if you're welsh, you'll know Grin) . Went there twice and have amazing memories and it's a right of passage. Can't wait for my DD to go and enjoy it.

Hopeygoflightly · 30/05/2019 09:39

YABU - our school does them year 4 and year 6 and they are the highlight of the entire primary school experience for the kids.
They give us plenty of notice and we can pay in instalments, they are reasonably priced, the kids gain independence, bond and have amazing outdoor experiences. There is a fund to insure ALL kids go for those truly in need.
They also provide support for the kids who need it (SEN etc.) to make sure it’s a positive experience for all.

StrumpersPlunkett · 30/05/2019 09:40

I think they are a very valuable part of primary school
Outs went for 1 night in yr 4
2 nights in yr5
and 4 nights in yr 6
They have also done cub and scout camps.
Dh is a beaver scout leader and the tiddlers have a sleepover in the hut with pop up tents and an artificial camp fire. They grow in confidence so much knowing they can tackle new situations.
Brilliant for kids

freshstartnewme · 30/05/2019 09:43

Come on OP, can you really not see what the children get out of such an experience?

Ragwort · 30/05/2019 09:44

I think they are fab, I have an only DC & he loved going away with big groups of people (loved Beaver and Cub camps from age 6 too).

When he was in Y5 we moved & he joined a new school, they were running a residential trip two weeks after he arrived and he was so keen to go we booked and paid for it before he started at the new school, he loved it and it was a great way to make new friends.

These trips generally give children lots of new opportunities that you can’t always offer as parents, and surely building and sailing a raft is a lot more fun with friends than with mum and dad?

AVeryUniqueUsername · 30/05/2019 09:46

Our school does them every from year 2! Only 2 nights at first (at a place less than a mile away).
Furthest they go is France in yr 6 which is a definite favourite amongst the children!
Yes, they're expensive, esp when you have multiple children at the school, but it's a great confidence builder. And the main thing is, they're not compulsory.

ChicCroissant · 30/05/2019 09:47

I didn't think my DD would enjoy her Year 6 residential (and yes, I did complain about the cost on here too) but she did - she loved it.

For a similar amount of money, she's just had a few days in Europe with her secondary school. I wouldn't have wanted to go on either trip at her age and I'm pleased that she feels able to do so.

The Y6 was billed as a bonding opportunity and because of that, I thought it would have been better at the start of the year rather than at the end probably would have been cheaper as well

MrsPear · 30/05/2019 09:47

I really think it is parents projecting when people argue that primary are too young. They are not and wrapping them up and doing everything for them will do nothing for them in the long run. Children need to learn independent thought, learn how to be adult, resistance etc plus it gives them confidence in themselves.

How can a year 4 child not know they should wash and put on clean pants/tshort/socks?! Or what sunscreen does? It it is because of crap parenting. Stop doing everything without explanation and start allowing them to do things. They will not drown in a shower or crack there heads open putting pants on. My youngest is 6 - he knows how to wash hair properly, how to put soap on a flannel and wash properly. I still oversee but I don’t with my 9 year old. They know why - they will smell. Hell even my brother with severe learning difficulties accepts, with some resistance, the need to wash!

If anything I support these trips so that children can be children without someone hovering over them. Imagine the freedom!

Ps ds1 age 8 went on 2 nights with the school and it was the making of him - both he and h were nervous but I pushed. His words when he came back were I did it and I replied I knew you could!

Lemontwist · 30/05/2019 09:50

At my DSs primary school the head is hugely in favour of residential trips and as a result they are heavily subsidised. DC1's first residential last year (yr3) cost significantly less than the same trip for other schools in the area. As a result attendance on these is very high though I know parents in other schools who really struggle with cost.

I'm involved in Scouting and take the beavers (6-8yrs) away regularly and the benefits on terms of confidence building, and of course fun are enormous. I think its a win when the kids go home muddy, tired but full of stories of what they have been up to.

Curlyshabtree · 30/05/2019 09:56

In our school the Y5 one is free of charge. It is probably the only time some kids get the chance to do some outdoor activities so I think it is definitely worth it.
The 2 night one in Y6 is £50, it was quite a stretch as we have twins but we were able to pay in installments.

coconuttelegraph · 30/05/2019 10:03

Come secondary they limit places increase prices and select those who the teachers prefer

Maybe at your DCs school but that's not universal, one of my DC is most definitely not a child the teachers preferred but still went on residentials

WindsweptEgret · 30/05/2019 10:06

MrsPear Crap parenting, really? My 13 year old has been independent with everything you've mentioned, except maybe some help with sunscreen since about 3 or 4, and has done it all without prompting at home for years. He just doesn't like public showers, he will brush his hair and put it up if it's annoying him, but doesn't see the point in being immaculately groomed, or changing clothes other than socks and underwear when on camp (the kind with tents and mud). He comes home stinking like campfire smoke and gets straight in the shower as soon as he's in the door anyway.

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