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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lack of school residential trips...

242 replies

StrongerThongs · 22/02/2023 16:05

Full prepared to be told IABU because Covid, teacher stress, cost of living crisis etc BUT I have a DD in Y9 who has never been on a residential school trip, either in the UK or overseas. Her primary school were unable to offer a Y6 trip due to Covid.

Pre-covid the secondary school she is now at offered several opportunities a year but this has been reduced to one massively oversubscribed and prohibitively expensive ski trip every two years (the last one was to Colorado!) and a couple of subject-specific trips for KS4 (eg. languages trips, geography field trips).

Instead school have decided to run an activities week in the summer term for all pupils which includes a bunch of paid days out (eg theatre trips, museums, escape rooms) or the opportunity to stay in school for free activities (sports). This seems like a bit of a crap alternative and frankly a waste of a week's education!

I get that school trips take a lot of planning and I am NOT knocking teachers but I believe they offer really important opportunities for developing confidence, resilience, independence etc particularly for children who have missed so much due to Covid.

FWIW this is a successful oversubscribed state school. At my own bog-standard comprehensive I was able to go skiing in Italy, canoeing in France, fell-walking in the Lakes as well as field/language trips and I'm not from a wealthy background - trips were affordable/subsidised. Obviously times have changed.

Interested to know what other schools offer? And if IABU for thinking DD's school could do better?

OP posts:
Hesma · 22/02/2023 20:10

If you want to organise a PGL trip or similar for your little darlings and their mates feel free…

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:17

I agree op. I’m sick of the excuses. My Dd is in Y9 and no school trips. That was the best thing about school and created such great memories for me. The schools need to do better. I’m hoping they do something for next year. We have just applied for a summer intensive outside of school just so she does something.

WandaWonder · 22/02/2023 20:18

Op I presume you will be volunteering to help on them?

MrsHamlet · 22/02/2023 20:20

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:17

I agree op. I’m sick of the excuses. My Dd is in Y9 and no school trips. That was the best thing about school and created such great memories for me. The schools need to do better. I’m hoping they do something for next year. We have just applied for a summer intensive outside of school just so she does something.

Schools are for education. If you want your child to go skiing, you need to take them

echt · 22/02/2023 20:20

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:17

I agree op. I’m sick of the excuses. My Dd is in Y9 and no school trips. That was the best thing about school and created such great memories for me. The schools need to do better. I’m hoping they do something for next year. We have just applied for a summer intensive outside of school just so she does something.

They're not excuses, they're reasons.

Fairislefandango · 22/02/2023 20:22

I agree op. I’m sick of the excuses.

Schools don't have to offer school trips, you know? It's a nice bonus for the kids if a school does offer them, but teachers shouldn't actually need to give excuses for not wanting to work extra time for free and often for no thanks.

Kic · 22/02/2023 20:26

I volunteered to help out on a school residential. It was one night and free for all children in that particular year group.

Afterwards the parents complained that:

  • their child was too hot
  • their child was too cold
  • their child didn't like the food
  • their child went to sleep too late
  • their child didn't like the film we'd shown
  • their child's bed was uncomfortable
I won't be in a rush to volunteer again.
DanseAvecLesLoup · 22/02/2023 20:29

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:17

I agree op. I’m sick of the excuses. My Dd is in Y9 and no school trips. That was the best thing about school and created such great memories for me. The schools need to do better. I’m hoping they do something for next year. We have just applied for a summer intensive outside of school just so she does something.

Have you actually read the responses here?

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:29

We have been on a skiing holiday this year, however I was talking about a school trip. It doesn’t have to be skiing. They haven’t been anywhere! Even at a minimum a cultural trip into London. Sorry it’s laziness.

echt · 22/02/2023 20:31

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:29

We have been on a skiing holiday this year, however I was talking about a school trip. It doesn’t have to be skiing. They haven’t been anywhere! Even at a minimum a cultural trip into London. Sorry it’s laziness.

Have you asked the school why they haven't done any trips?

MrsHamlet · 22/02/2023 20:31

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:29

We have been on a skiing holiday this year, however I was talking about a school trip. It doesn’t have to be skiing. They haven’t been anywhere! Even at a minimum a cultural trip into London. Sorry it’s laziness.

So take your kids on a cultural trip to London then. Stop being so lazy.

BibbleandSqwauk · 22/02/2023 20:34

@Retreat please would you go through the many reasons given on here by those of us who have run trips and explain exactly why it is "lazy" not to use up our unpaid leave to supervise other people's children 24/7 to a much higher level than actual parents do, for no thanks, leaving our own children to do so (often incurring costs ourselves) and taking on the many many hours of trip admin involved? Genuinely, please explain why refusing to go THAT far above and beyond our contracts is lazy.

Original poster
StrongerThongs · 22/02/2023 20:34

WandaWonder · 22/02/2023 20:18

Op I presume you will be volunteering to help on them?

Serious question, do any secondary schools actually ask parents to volunteer on residential trips?

OP posts:
Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:34

We have taken them on loads of trips, however, it is still not the same as going on a school trip. It creates lifelong memories with your school friends.

echt · 22/02/2023 20:35

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:34

We have taken them on loads of trips, however, it is still not the same as going on a school trip. It creates lifelong memories with your school friends.

Well I'm sure the school has their reasons. Have you asked them?

MrsHamlet · 22/02/2023 20:35

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:34

We have taken them on loads of trips, however, it is still not the same as going on a school trip. It creates lifelong memories with your school friends.

Which is great. But it's not our job to do that.

MrsHamlet · 22/02/2023 20:36

StrongerThongs · 22/02/2023 20:34

Serious question, do any secondary schools actually ask parents to volunteer on residential trips?

Show quote history

I used to take my link governor on my London residential. He was a parent. I wouldn't have taken him on a trip with his child though.

BibbleandSqwauk · 22/02/2023 20:37

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:34

We have taken them on loads of trips, however, it is still not the same as going on a school trip. It creates lifelong memories with your school friends.

Do you mean your own kids? Are you honestly saying you can't see the difference? The standards of care expected in loco parentis is SO far above that of your own kids. Plus the dynamic of a bunch of teens away overnight ..hardly the same as a couple of siblings..I assume they aren't trying to get into each others' pants or play spin the bottle?

spanieleyes · 22/02/2023 20:37

Well, that's fine. You can organise and run a residential for your child and 30 of their classmates, it should be a doddle for you- as long as you're not lazy!

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:38

Yes I have. They say it’s the cost of living crunch. However, they have not even asked people. Yes, some people will not be able to afford it, but others will and until they ask, how can they be sure?

yeetingbird · 22/02/2023 20:39

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:17

I agree op. I’m sick of the excuses. My Dd is in Y9 and no school trips. That was the best thing about school and created such great memories for me. The schools need to do better. I’m hoping they do something for next year. We have just applied for a summer intensive outside of school just so she does something.

What the fuck. Have you not read any of the thread?

yeetingbird · 22/02/2023 20:40

Retreat · 22/02/2023 20:38

Yes I have. They say it’s the cost of living crunch. However, they have not even asked people. Yes, some people will not be able to afford it, but others will and until they ask, how can they be sure?

You haven't read the thread then.

Original poster
StrongerThongs · 22/02/2023 20:40

MrsHamlet that's fair enough. I volunteered on quite a lot of trips with DC's primary school (am a governor) and it was school policy to put parent helpers with a different class/group to their own DC.

OP posts:
surreygirl1987 · 22/02/2023 20:41

Sorry it’s laziness.

What planet are you even on?

BibbleandSqwauk · 22/02/2023 20:41

In the part 12 months I have tried to launch 2 trips that haven't run because of insufficient uptake. A 4 night trip to Europe is now £500-700 depending on travel methods. Both were trips that were £3-400 max in 2018/19.

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