Cost of year 6 school trip.. AIBU?

[BanginChoons]

My dc came home from school today with a letter for a school residential. It's for 4 nights in the UK, at an activity centre. The children will be doing things like canoeing and high ropes. The cost is £360. Aibu to think this cost is too high? I would prefer a shorter trip and a lower price, I am concerned that families on lower incomes will struggle to afford this.

join the scouts - they usually have far cheaper camps

Depends on the notice period.

DD had a Y5 trip for £280 for 3 nights but it was an adventure camp and absolute worth the money. We got 2 years notice.

Y6 then 4 nights IoW for £300 as they didn't have planned activities like before, more sightseeing, zoo, walks etc. Again, we got 2 years notice.

For both we got a payment plan, breaking the cost down to a manageable level and I know the school offered tailor made ones if parents still struggled.

In Y5 one girl didn't go, not for money reasons, she just didn't want to do activities, in Y6 all children went.

I think the trips are absolutely worthwhile, I think just a day trip or 1 night is not giving them the experience.

To be fair, I have friends who are high school teachers and they’re only too pleased to go on some of the trips to far flung places. It’s not compulsory - some teachers in their schools refuse to go and there’s absolutely no pressure placed on them.

@AbsolutelyPatsy

Well, my DD's Scout camps are around £250 for a week. Totally basic camping in a field, toilet tents, no showers. She loves it and is happy that they are allowed to go in July but it's definitely less on offer than the school trip offered.

I think it is a bit of a shock when it's your first child. Second time around I was expecting it and had planned for it

A longer period to save would be helpful - trouble is prices do change year on year and might need to be adjusted.

Are you in an area where there aren't many low paid parents? That sounds a lot but it does sound the right price for the length of the trip and the activities.

Ours is going to cost that. But we have a year to pay in installments.
It's full board with sole residence (for the school party) at a hotel + travel + activities daily. When you add all that together it comes to more.
School will help out for those who cannot afford but want their children to go.

We have also been sent info in a day trip which is coming in at around £100. Again sounded expensive until I looked at the coat of each of the activities they're doing + coach + meal + entry fees/cost to have sole use of venue.

It’s a lot of money but it’s pretty standard. The DC get an awful lot out of it though, so I think it’s probably a price worth paying. If you can’t afford it you can normally get the school to help discreetly.

Ours was around that back inn1994 for four nights in France. If it is for this year and short notice then yes not reasonable. If it is for next year then that’s good notice and they let you pay over the course of the year if you prefer.

Oh gosh I’m never going to be able to afford my daughters residential next year! I could barely afford her first one at £85 and already dreading having to find another £85 next year for my youngest along with whatever the cost is for my daughters 3 night trip!

Travel and insurance will be a significant part of the cost. If you are going to struggle to pay school may have some funds to subsidise.

Bluntness. I am saying the children should come first! And as many of them as possible should have this experience.

Completely makes sense at secondary that there are ski trips/whatever that is just for those that can afford it.

But the yr 6 trip can be the only time many children spend time away from parents and is so important to make possible.

Presumably schools know their demographic and would change what they so if they felt lots were missing out or if there was a problem.

That is about the price for our year 4 school trip and sound similar re activities.
The year 6 trip is to France and is much more pricey!
Personally I think it is quite good value. Parents are always encouraged to speak to the school if they can’t/would struggle to afford.

Ours is £330, my year 6 child went last week, my year 5 child will be going in October (then year 6). I hope I don't have to find money for another one for a while.

With a kid In a school where every year 6 leavers activity has been cancelled, with the excuse of COVID (when every other school in the town is still doing stuff), be thankful they are organising anything. I know it's hard for those that are struggling, and yes there should be assistance for those that need it before I get slaughtered

Ours s was £320 for year 5 and I have twins so that was rather pricy. Seems within the realms of normal to me.

No one is making a huge amount of money on this!

Go and try to book these activities and accomodation yourselves and see what it costs you!

Accomodation for 30 kids and also the adults to supervise, plus 3 meals a day. These sorts of activities are expensive! Lots of expensive equipment, trained instructors, insurances.

The best thing anyone can do to lower the costs is push schools to return to the old world of a week in a very basic youth hostel with days spent hiking, which is what was on offer when I was in year 6 in the 90s. I bet you a million pounds you will get complaints that it's boring.

Sadly its about right.

The staff /pupil ratio required etc raises the cost.

In my last school the head told us that we needed to factor in supply staff to cover those teachers who went on the trip. ( she wasn't keen on trips out - it “interfered with teaching and learning”)

We, 20 years ago, ran outdoor trips away to N Yorkshire. We did it ourselves, relevant staff had appropriate training etc. About £60 for 3 days. (That was negotiable for those who couldn’t afford that)

Then we got a new Head who said supply cover had to be included. Then there was the tragedy with two girls from Leeds and the trips stopped - anything like that had to go with ‘proper’ providers.

week in a very basic youth hostel with days spent hiking, which is what was on offer when I was in year 6 in the 90s. I bet you a million pounds you will get complaints that it's boring

Yep, this is what mine was at tail end of the 90s. I really enjoyed it. Actually much more than the PGL trip in year 7.

BanginChoons

@aggathapanthus it includes transport, 4 nights accommodation, food, and daily activities such as high ropes and canoeing.”

In that case, I’d say the cost is pretty reasonable.

Richteacheddars

Everyone enjoyed it when I went too.i dont know why it went out of fashion. 8 kids in a dorm room was so much fun, then basically the day consisted of being given a packed lunch and an OS map and sent out on exmoor!

Ours is £120 for a similar activity, gosh I think your DC trip is outrageous!

Ours is £200 for three nights. Pupil Premium children pay £45

It's a lot of money but when you break it down it sounds reasonable. Coach there and back, three meals a day, activities they may not usually do, insurance, showers, heating etc plus paying for experienced staff at the activity
It helps children break away from being primary school pupils to secondary school students
I think it's worth the sacrifice if you can afford to do it and let the people who genuinely can't have access to the school funds. They want every child to gain from it