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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cancelled PGL

56 replies

user1471541220 · 27/03/2021 03:53

AIBU to complain to the school about my Year 6 child's PGL residential trip for the end of May being cancelled? As far as I was aware the guidance on school trips/residentials is due to be published at Easter. Are the school right to cancel it prematurely? We will also lose the deposit...

OP posts:
PinkSnowAndStars · 27/03/2021 03:56

I think YABU. If the school has insurance then surely you’ll get your deposit back too.

Original poster
user1471541220 · 27/03/2021 04:08

School have said we probably won't and their insurance can't cover it. I'm more disappointed about my child missing his long awaited for residential than the money.

OP posts:
Mooda · 27/03/2021 06:31

As things stand our Y6 are booked for Robinwood in mid June. The expectation currently from school is that they will go. Obviously this could change but seems like a premature decision by either your school or PGL?

user1468105798 · 27/03/2021 07:06

My son's Pgl was originally booked for October last year as is the norm fir our year 6. It was then moved to March this year and is now provisionally booked in for May, should government guidelines allow. Don't understand why yours has been cancelled already!

Original poster
user1471541220 · 27/03/2021 07:26

Thank you for this. My son's trip was originally booked for Oct 2020 and then moved to the end of May.

OP posts:
Benjispruce2 · 27/03/2021 07:28

Ours is not doing one at all for this year’s y6 as so uncertain.

Solidaritea · 27/03/2021 07:32

I think YABU. I am surprised to hear that schools booked at all - it was obvious that school trips would be unlikely from the start of the year.

Perhaps they have had to cancel because staff aren't comfortable with the trip. I'm a teacher and no way would I be taking a class on a PGL trip this year. Teachers are allowed to refuse because it's not in their contract or working hours.

megletthesecond · 27/03/2021 07:34

Maybe they're not sure if all the teachers will be vaccinated by then? Better than cancelling at the last minute.

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 27/03/2021 07:34

Ours was cancelled in october and there is nowhere else for them to book so thats the end of that.
Dd and her friends are really sad. They have missed out on guide camps and activity days and this was the last thing Sad

Littlebluebird123 · 27/03/2021 07:35

The government guidance was already supposed to be out. No-one is completely sure what is happening and the government has form for not making timely decisions.
The decision may well be due to staffing issues or other factors. I can absolutely understand your frustration though.

redcandlelight · 27/03/2021 07:35

my dc school trips were first moved and now cancelled.
we got a full refund within days of the cancellation notification.

MarshaBradyo · 27/03/2021 07:39

We have ours then too

I’ve paid the deposit but held off on rest. A few others did the same.

Cantchooseaname · 27/03/2021 07:41

I know it is upsetting, but there may be more behind the scenes- the teachers leading it may have an updated risk assessment that just makes it impossible for lots of reasons- a pregnancy, other changes in personal circumstances. The school may have just decided that things are too uncertain and it is so much work to prepare to cancel at the last minute.

Cookiedough123 · 27/03/2021 07:44

I'm a teacher and haven't been vaccinated. There is no way I would be on a coach and then a residential trip with pupils.

Benjispruce2 · 27/03/2021 07:45

Me neither!

minniemoocher · 27/03/2021 07:46

Outdoor centres have rules to stick to and until the end of June they will need social distancing, max numbers, masks etc indoors - then there's the extra cleaning, rooms have to be per household... unless the government put out specific law variances for schools I can't see how they can operate. Think about it, I'm not even allowed to see my dd because she's 19, that's considered unsafe, how can they say it's ok for 150 kids to freely mix on holiday and that is safe. I already think it's ridiculous that kids are freely mixing at school and walking around in large groups yet because she's 19 I can't visit her or she comes to me during the university holidays! (Kids of divorced parents cannot see both parents)

IAcceptCookies · 27/03/2021 07:46

My DD has missed out on two residential school trips (Y5 and Y6).
Last March's was cancelled (deposit returned though) and this year's was never even planned. Sad

You may still get a refund, OP... PGL may refund you/school if it's covered by their insurance, not school's.

Sirzy · 27/03/2021 07:48

I’m amazed schools even tried to arrange something for this year to be honest.
My son is in year 6 and they would normally go on a school holiday just after SATs and understandably it isn’t been even mentioned.

I think booking anything at the moment you know there is a chance it won’t go ahead

unexpectedthird · 27/03/2021 07:48

The guidelines, as of yesterday, said that residential trips wouldn't be possible until the end of May and I know of some providers who have decided to wait until next year (school year) before opening up for residentials again.
Perhaps it's PGL or the LEA that have pulled the plug? Insurance has been a major issue for so many.
It's really hard for the kids missing all these things and the worst bit is so many providers have already gone under and so it will be harder for schools to find places to take them when it's eventually allowed.😭 My DS was that age last year and lost all the things that usually mark your final year of primary. It's horrible for them.

capercaillie · 27/03/2021 07:48

Government guidance was released yesterday on residentials -two weeks late. There’s also no detail for providers like PGL about what is/isn’t OK. The risk assessment for schools would be a nightmare - what happens if someone gets COVID on trip.
I run trips for secondary age - there is no way I would be in a bus with children at the moment. Also for many children - a jump from spending all the time at home to going away on 1st school trip would be too much. I’m hugely in favour of school residentials but it’s so complicated at the moment.
My child’s residential was also cancelled this week - the right decision.

stuckinarutatwork · 27/03/2021 07:52

I suspect that they cancelled as the final balance payment was due.
Unfortunately many schools / parents got stung last year as lots of school residential companies wouldn't refund any money. As it's a business to business transaction, they are not bound by consumer laws so have no obligation to refund, and insurance isn't likely to cover it.
With uncertainty as to whether these will be able to go ahead, I suspect they decided to cut their loses now.

BlueCherryBlossom · 27/03/2021 07:53

I am surprised to hear that schools booked at all - it was obvious that school trips would be unlikely from the start of the year.

Ours was originally meant to happen September 2020, booked well before Covid was a thing, we all had to pay a deposit before November 2019!

It was rescheduled for June 2021.

I should imagine most of these trips are similar- either rearranged dates or booked a very long time ago.

Panicmode1 · 27/03/2021 07:54

Our Y6s are supposed to be going to PGL at the end of May. Am fully expecting it to be cancelled....which would be such a shame as they missed their Y5 residential too, but better safe than sorry....

itsgettingwierd · 27/03/2021 07:56

Yanbu that I'd cancelled you should get refund of deposit.

Yabu to expect it to go ahead. School staff don't get paid for these xtra hours and many probably won't be vaccinated by then and neither with centre staff. I can support them not wanting the risk.

But if school cancel they need to return your deposit as they are cancelling.

dancinfeet · 27/03/2021 07:58

@minniemoocher nothing is stopping me from seeing my daughter, she is coming home from a few days at easter. We have followed every other rule to a tee, but that is one thing that I have not compromised on throughout all of this, that my daughter can come home from college as and whenever she needs to. (She has had mental health problems in the past). OP- Has the school cancelled the trip or has PGL? If the school has cancelled, then yes the deposits likely will be non refundable, if it's the trip provider then surely they have to refund?

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