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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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 . Aibu, am I missing something?

OP posts:

elliejjtiny · 30/05/2019 10:16

My dc's school does a trip every other year for year 5 and 6. Cost about £200. My older 2 have been and loved it. Their only opportunity to go on holiday has been through school so they really benefit.

FamilyOfAliens · 30/05/2019 10:17

Do you think I’m inventing that case or what?

No, I didn’t post that. But you do sound like a snob.

Pharlapwasthebest · 30/05/2019 11:24

I’ve been on residential, I absolutely loved it. The sheer privilege of watching children grow from being too scared to do something, getting support(cheering and encouragement) from the children in their group, going on to achieve something they never thought they’d do, and the smiles and pride on their little faces is awesome.

Aragog · 30/05/2019 12:39

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

Not at the secondaries I know about. They've been mostly open to all and numbers not restricted. Sometimes restricted to subjects, but that only restricts once options have been chosen.
Prices have often been more, though not always, but that's because they've been further away or involved more activities in our experience.

When I did run or go on residential I had no say in choosing who I could take or not.

Ragwort · 30/05/2019 12:46

Windswept does that matter? . I was a Cub Scout leader for years & came home straight from camp, stinking of the camp fire smoke & jumped straight in the shower. We survived a 3 day camp without ‘proper’ washing facilities, just face, hands, teeth in a plastic bowl . I am old enough to remember wet wipes being invented so I could have a discrete wipe down in the privacy of my tent .

They were great times, the camps were always over subscribed & we all came home happy, tired and grubby!

BrieAndChilli · 30/05/2019 12:50

ours do an overnighter in year 5 and then a 3 nighter in year 6.

Lifeisabeach09 · 30/05/2019 12:53

My DDs PGL (four nights, five days) is £360. Year 6. They are going an hour away from the school.
Families who can't afford it only get £100 discounted and an extended payment plan.
I find it ridiculously expensive and unnecessary.

Lifeisabeach09 · 30/05/2019 12:53

It's a mandatory payment, not voluntary.

WindsweptEgret · 30/05/2019 12:57

Ragwort not at all! What I meant was that I don't see why it matters if my child doesn't shower or brush his hair much if he's just going to get filthy again and he smells like smoke anyway, I don't see how you could smell anything else. I was pointing out that I don't think it's a reflection on anyone's parenting, or on what a child is able to do at home, or their readiness for camp. As long as he doesn't get burnt and occasionally brushes his teeth then I don't care!

Drogosnextwife · 30/05/2019 12:58

I agree OP
. My ds has one next year, it's £500 and he doesn't even want to go. I'm in 2 minds, I don't want him to miss out and think he will enjoy it when he is there, but I don't want to waste that kind of money for him to hate it.

GruciusMalfoy · 30/05/2019 13:01

I think going away without parents is great for kids, it builds their confidence and sense of independence. Our school just does one residential trip in P7, which the kids rave about afterwards. My children go to Scouts and Brownies too though, so will be used to camping and outdoor pursuits (the younger one not so much just yet, but soon enough) by the time the P7 residential comes around.

Camping is my idea of hell, but DS loves it.

freshstartnewme · 30/05/2019 13:05

My ds has one next year, it's £500 and he doesn't even want to go

Isn't it optional?

Hollowvictory · 30/05/2019 13:08

My children are about to go on theirs, year 6, and they absolutely cannot wait it will be the highlight of their primary school years, in their eyes.
Isn't that good enough reason? To have fun?

user1471590586 · 30/05/2019 13:09

My kids primary do a year 2 trip which was one night £35 quid. Year 4 trip, which was 2 nights, 3 days (£185). And then year 6 which was 3 nights and 4 days (£320). I did agree that these trips were too expensive, 9 kids in year 6 didn't go this year.

MoominMantra · 30/05/2019 13:10

YABU - residential trips are a great way for kids to get some independence. Year 5/6 is not too young imo

GruciusMalfoy · 30/05/2019 13:12

Some of these trips sound very expensive, and I agree that needs to be taken into consideration. No child should have to miss out because of finances.

LolaSmiles · 30/05/2019 13:57

Come secondary they limit places increase prices and select those who the teachers prefer
If only! It would make the trips easier to run. (I'm joking by the way)

That's not how it's done at any school I've been in.

It's fairly standard to make attending optional enrichment trips dependant on good behaviour, because if you refuse to follow 75% of instructions in a classroom and want to argue back every 5 minutes how on earth can we trust you not to be a liability on a residential trip hundreds of miles away or in another country? That's not the same as selecting from some magical list of favourite students.

GreenTulips · 30/05/2019 14:02

because if you refuse to follow 75% of instructions in a classroom

That’s the dyslexics taken care of then

legolimb · 30/05/2019 15:19

DS went on many trips, through school, local council and cubs/scouts NCS.

I don't recall him being hesitant about going on any of the trips and he's now a very independent university student running his own life.

Some trips are expensive but the children don't have to go on EVERY trip.

When I was a child I was allowed only one 'big' trip abroad n high school due to prices.

LolaSmiles · 30/05/2019 15:40

GreenTulips
Dyslexic students don't refuse to follow instructions. They may need instructions chunking in class and presenting differently but that's not the same as students who are persistently badly behaved.
Please don't try to be disingenuous.

Dieu · 30/05/2019 15:53

YABVU. At my daughter's leaving assembly last year, most of the memories they talked about revolved around camp. It was a fantastic way to end their primary schooling, and they had an absolutely brilliant time. They raised some of the funds themselves, by having a school disco and 'cinema' night.

PantsyMcPantsface · 30/05/2019 16:04

Mine is going overnight in Y2 next month, and also mine are going camping with the Beavers soon as well. I'm utterly fine with it - know my kids will cope well, although DD1 is a bit horrified at the realisation tents don't come with toilets in them (I did explain this when she asked to go originally and I know she'll come back filthy but having loved it).

Couple of parents are really trying to get the residential pulled (it's very local, been completely risk assessed and it's mainly just the experience of being with their friends and teachers overnight more than a grand set of activities) because they think their kids won't want to go on it and they "don't want them to miss out" - so they want to block it for everyone.

We've had pretty much all year to pay the small cost for it in instalments with arrangements available for those who can't afford it - unfortunately it means we've had all year for our couple of playground mutineers to get themselves more stirred up about wanting to block it.

Vynalbob · 01/06/2019 17:30

It's usually a good experience. Also think that pre secondary summer school is a great idea

mrst3 · 01/06/2019 17:47

My daughter did leave Kingswood Colomendy two days after her 7th birthday and it was two nights residential. Because shes the world's worst eater she came back exhausted dehydrated and her lips were awful. She'd also been ill her last night and morning again I think dehydration but she had amazing time and would definitely go again next year. It was £70.

Squiggymoms · 01/06/2019 17:50

I think at Year 5 and Year 6 they are a great experience, the stuff that memories are made of in fact . I thought the cost was actually very reasonable. I was so grateful to the school staff who gave up their time for the trips. My DD, now year 7, suffers from severe social anxiety and Selective Mutism. She loved every second of her residential. I think she really benefited from the degree of independence it enabled her to have. However the trips to the Amalfi Coast or Washington DC in KS3/4 might be a little out of reach at £1700 each.

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