Page 2 | School trip expense

Cloud9Super · 2023-05-02T15:50:49+00:00

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.

Goshdarnitgoofy · 02/05/2023 18:16

GiltEdges · 02/05/2023 18:11

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

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Are we not allowed opinions around here?

transformandriseup · 02/05/2023 18:23

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

In addition to this our local scout groups have access to camp sites for just Guides/Scouts which means the cost charged for overnight stays is a lot cheaper than it would be for a school.

Divorcedalongtime · 02/05/2023 18:31

Too much. I paid £35 for my college kid to go camping for one night and that included rock climbing

TeenDivided · 02/05/2023 18:38

Divorcedalongtime · 02/05/2023 18:31

Too much. I paid £35 for my college kid to go camping for one night and that included rock climbing

I suspect a college kid needs less supervision than junior school age.

It is 2 days of activities, not just the camping.

Fandabedodgy · 02/05/2023 18:40

At Scouts we charge £25 for one night camping but that is run by volunteers.

I would expect a school trip with staffing and transport to cost more - but £100 is a lot.

The biggest issue here though is that you have not been offered the chance to pay it up in installments. £100 at any time, but especially now, is a lot for people to find at short notice. Impossible for many.

toomuchlaundry · 02/05/2023 18:44

I would assume you are having to pay for the activities as they won't be run by the teachers

MintJulia · 02/05/2023 18:45

I've just paid £380 for a 2 day, 2 night Geography trip including a coach.

Prices are definitely rising.

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 02/05/2023 18:49

Divorcedalongtime · 02/05/2023 18:31

Too much. I paid £35 for my college kid to go camping for one night and that included rock climbing

That's an incredibly good price. Did it include food?
I'd guess it was subsidised

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 02/05/2023 18:51

The short notice is a problem

But the cost probably includes food and activities too.

And the prices have gone up a lot at these places. Equally they often charge schools more than voluntary, uniformed organisations which is why Scouts/Cadets etc can charge less

Dilemma19 · 02/05/2023 18:56

What's awful is that it's short notice. Is this an annual trip or something new?

MarriedAMusicMan · 02/05/2023 19:06

I think the price is realistic but the short notice is the problem.

Original poster

Cloud9Super · 02/05/2023 19:19

@Dilemma19 I believe it was annual pre-pandemic. First time since. Nothing in the school calendar about it. Quite a nice surprise it’s going ahead in some ways. But the last minute nature of the cost, having to take time off work two days in a row to drop off and pick up, plus pay for a sleeping bag… It’s just too much.

OP posts:

toomuchlaundry · 02/05/2023 19:50

@Cloud9Super can other parents help with drop off etc, and I'm sure there is a willing scout etc who can lend a sleeping bag for a night.

If it is not too far away could you suggest to school that they just offer it as a one day event to keep costs down, if other parents feel the same.

Also check what the payment plan is.

I bet a teacher has thought wouldn't it be nice to offer a trip to the kids as they haven't had one and found this one available, hence the short notice

SkankingWombat · 02/05/2023 20:47

Cloud9Super · 02/05/2023 19:19

@Dilemma19 I believe it was annual pre-pandemic. First time since. Nothing in the school calendar about it. Quite a nice surprise it’s going ahead in some ways. But the last minute nature of the cost, having to take time off work two days in a row to drop off and pick up, plus pay for a sleeping bag… It’s just too much.

It's definitely worth asking on the class messenger/WhatsApp chat if anyone has a spare sleeping bag. We camp regularly so both DCs have bags and I'd happily lend out the second one (provided your DC doesn't have a rep for breaking things!).

£100 does seem pricey for 1 night though. My 8yo has just come back from 2 nights away (including 1 full and 2 half days of activities) with school that cost £140. This also included a coach each way and the sleeping arrangements were dorms rather than tents (plus the bedding included).

bobbycock79 · 02/05/2023 22:43

The price of residential trips is now insane. My yr5 DC had a one night camping trip at an outward bound type place 30 mins away last summer. It was £200!! This did include the 30 min coach journey and a burger in the evening. We were asked to provide a packed lunch for the first day as that wasnt included and breakfast was a bowl of rice crispies . I was livid and would not normally have paid but after covid it was the first opportunity the kids had had . Several parents did not pay though.

budgiegirl · 02/05/2023 23:14

Initially £100 sounds quite a lot for one night, but when you consider somewhere such as Go Ape charge £20 for a single go on high ropes, it then doesn't sound so bad, especially if all activities, food, accommodation are included.

I'm a cub leader, and have just recently taken a group of cubs on a one night residential to a scout activity centre. We charged £45, which included 5 activities, food (which we had to do ourselves) and over night indoor accommodation. But all leaders and activity instructors are volunteers, and scout centres are not looking to make a profit, so that keeps the cost down.
Schools tend to go to Outward Bound centres, such as PGL, that are businesses, and are therefore paying their staff and instructors, looking to make a profit and so on, so in that case £100 doesn't seem so bad.

I do agree though that there should have been much more notice.

NotAnotherBathBomb · 02/05/2023 23:18

Goshdarnitgoofy · 02/05/2023 18:06

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

🙄

MumDadBingoBlueyy · 02/05/2023 23:24

In all likeliness the teachers will not be being paid to go on this (we’ve just had an email pleading for staffing for a residential, perks include… ‘a warm fuzzy feeling’ 🙄), however unless you have staff trained to deliver outdoor Ed you’ll probably find the cost of instructors is a good chunk of the cost

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/05/2023 23:26

As long as they are getting two full days of activities, I'd suck it up. If they aren't, I'd argue its expensive.

budgiegirl · 02/05/2023 23:28

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

These sort of centres often charge schools much higher prices for mid-week visits, and have reduced prices for youth groups (scouts, cadets etc) at weekends. Pre-pandemic, PGL were charging around £70 for two nights Fri-Sun, but 3 or 4 week nights for schools was much nearer to the £400 mark.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/05/2023 23:29

Presumably Cadets use funding/subs etc to cover the majority of the costs of their trips? Comparing it to Cadets isn't appropriate.

redbigbananafeet · 02/05/2023 23:33

OP, can you comment on what activities are involved as posts have asked if this could explain the cost. Also, I see there is no traveling for you but after dropping the child off is there then a coach trip to the campsite?

Original poster

Cloud9Super · 03/05/2023 07:25

@redbigbananafeet - not specified, just team building outdoor events that will teach leadership skills… No coach involved at all. They do everything on the same site.

OP posts:

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/05/2023 08:09

If its a 9am drop off and a 5pm pick up next day, then that's two full days of activities, two lunches, a dinner and a breakfast, plus a night's accomodation.

What timings etc?