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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School trip expense

49 replies

Cloud9Super · 02/05/2023 16:50

Just had an email through about a school trip in a couple of weeks. One night away, in a tent, over £100!!! AIBU to think this is (a) ridiculous? and (b) too late notice to expect people to scrape together that amount? School seem oblivious to the COL crisis.

OP posts:
OhmygodDont · 02/05/2023 16:52

Where the hell are they camping that it’s £100 for one night.

Sirzy · 02/05/2023 16:53

Assuming the cost also includes things like food and activity as well as the coach to get there then that bit probably isn’t far off.

but leaving it so last minute will make it hard for many.

SurvivingJust1 · 02/05/2023 16:58

Is travel involved?

ImSidneyFuckingPrescott · 02/05/2023 16:59

Mine is away soon, 2 nights £240ish. In fairness we have had plenty notice but my friend with a DC in the same year at another local school, is doing a similar trip (end of primary residential) for £50.

It's a surprise its so high as our school is (sometimes overly) col sympathetic.

flumposie · 02/05/2023 17:16

Is it mandatory?

Original poster
Cloud9Super · 02/05/2023 17:20

No travel, have to drop off on the other side of the town one morning and collect the next afternoon. Not sure how to get siblings to and from school those days 😭 It’s an outward bound type of place, I suppose the sort used by Cubs/Scouts. Seems pricey for one night to me. Voluntary contribution ‘technically speaking’ but they all are, and if you don’t pay, the trip gets cancelled. Not sure how much the price is inflated to cover people who can’t/don’t pay?

OP posts:
name985 · 02/05/2023 17:23

If it's Outward Bound they'll be doing activities? Surely the £100 is to cover those costs.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 02/05/2023 17:29

Not sure how much the price is inflated to cover people who can’t/don’t pay?

None of it. It's not allowed.

Original poster
Cloud9Super · 02/05/2023 17:31

That’s interesting @NeverDropYourMooncup , didn’t know that.

OP posts:
cansu · 02/05/2023 17:31

Sounds like the 100 is to pay for activities. What will they be doing? How many meals will they have?
However there should be more notice. I actually am having a hard time believing this tbh.

arethereanyleftatall · 02/05/2023 17:34

But surely the cost is actually for activities?

UncomfortableSilence · 02/05/2023 17:34

Schools are not allowed to inflate prices to cover other students or indeed make a profit. All school trips are carefully costed and you can ask to see this. Many of these activity centres have increased their costs considerably so it doesn't sound over the top depending on what activities they are doing however you should have had more notice.

In my school if anyone is struggling with payment they are asked to write in confidence to the Head, speak to the school.

PolkaDotMankini · 02/05/2023 17:49

It's too late notice. Otherwise, a couple of days of activities, food and accommodation for £100 isn't too bad.

edwinbear · 02/05/2023 17:50

DD's school are charging us £526 for 4 nights camping. Admittedly it's private, involves 1.5hrs on a coach and we've had a lot of notice, but the same trip last year was about £350 so I do think these sorts of trips have gone up a lot. I'm not terribly impressed as we've also had to buy a sleeping bag and mat as we're not campers as a family.

RampantIvy · 02/05/2023 17:51

I can see this trip getting cancelled. It is a lot of money for one night. It will cover food and activities, but I reckon there will also be a large part for insurance.

TeenDivided · 02/05/2023 17:52

2 days of activities, plus overnight in provided tents is good for £100 I think.
Lack of notice less good, perhaps they got a short notice deal.
Will they let you do a payment plan?

savoycabbage · 02/05/2023 17:53

Is it Duke of Edinburgh?

Original poster
Cloud9Super · 02/05/2023 18:00

@edwinbear - that’s a lot!
@RampantIvy - local friends have DC who have been there on weekends with cadets etc. and it’s been closer to £50 for two nights. This is why I’m surprised at the cost.
@TeenDivided - the email said they would but the payment form (online) has the total price listed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cloud9Super · 02/05/2023 18:00

@savoycabbage - no. Junior school age.

OP posts:
eatdrinkandbemerry · 02/05/2023 18:01

My daughter has just done an exact trip and loved it but we did have more notice to pay.

shellyleppard · 02/05/2023 18:02

Can you ask the teacher/organizer at school?? Seems a lot of money for one night
....

toomuchlaundry · 02/05/2023 18:05

Does the school have to hire all the camping equipment. cadets and scouts might have their own (cadets are also heavily subsidised)?

Do the school normally do a residential for this age group?

Goshdarnitgoofy · 02/05/2023 18:06

Two days of activities, overnight accommodation, food, equipment and insurance - seems a bargain for £100.

GiltEdges · 02/05/2023 18:11

Goshdarnitgoofy · 02/05/2023 18:06

Two days of activities, overnight accommodation, food, equipment and insurance - seems a bargain for £100.

Oh come on. At a push it's reasonable, but in no one's definition is it a bargain.

Soubriquet · 02/05/2023 18:12

That’s ridiculous.

My dc end of year school trip is at Woburn Abby Safari park and is costing £40 per child. The school recognised that it was expensive and actually set up a payment plan in SEPTEMBER! The trip isn’t until June so it gave us plenty of time to pay it all off