Aibu, compulsory school trip costing £100

[kitkat463]

Aibu, my son's school ( secondary) are having an activity week at a local activity centre during the normal school week. They've said they are hoping for 100 percent uptake and don't have the option for kids to just go to school as normal. It will cost £100 per child, but they have said if anyone can't afford it they should ask for help. I can afford it, but my son doesnt want to go, it isn't his cup of tea. Aibu to be annoyed and resent paying £100 for something neither my son or I want him to do. I dont want him just to stay home for a week so I'll probably send him But Aibu to be annoyed? ! No, you are not unreasonable this is not acceptable for schools to do this, yes... Yabu it's a fun activity week and the school just want to give the teens a fun week after a rubbish year.

@sirfredfredgeorge

The main issue with the OP's school's trip seems to be that "They've said they [...] don't have the option for kids to just go to school as normal." Kids going to school as normal is what they are tasked and funded provide. They need to meet this obligation. If they can't do extras and meet this obligation then they can't do the extras

Except of course that the school has demonstrated to the government that the provision can be provided via "home learning" indeed they have that obligation, therefore the school could presumably argue that they do not need to provide in school provision, they can do it remote.

Schools really didn't demonstrate this. COVID necessitated remote schooling gave us a pretty stark illustration of how essential the social and childcare/supervision aspects of schools' statutory provision are. That's why there was so much pressure to get in-school learning back on track even when there was still significant public health concern in some quarters.

Most schools did a valiant job of providing education remotely under COVID, but it wasn't the same as in-school provision.

£100 is a bargain. Ours was £350 to live about 10miles away. 5 nights.
I have twins!

It can't be compulsory if they are charging you for it. You, and your son, can opt out of it.

@Zzelda

What more can they do?

They could drop the guilt-tripping about wanting to achieve 100% attendance, and make it clear that they will be complying with their legal obligations by providing education in school for those who don't go. Which is what other schools do routinely when they offer school trips and activities.

That's right.

The op's son won't be the only child who can't, or doesn't want to, go, they can't be left twiddling thumbs for five days.