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Original poster

Cost of school trip.

66 replies

tallcypowder · 08/07/2023 09:06

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/mum-slams-utterly-ridiculous-school-30403085.amp

I am in two minds about this. While I think a lot of people are struggling with the increase in bills. ( me included) to complain over something that is a choice and not comparing like with like is silly.

In 2018 a school trip to Barcelona cost £600 for my daughter with all food including and entertainment even a theme park.

While £800 is a lot for one person it would be a different experience to a week in a caravan as the woman describes. She maybe pushing it for a weekend in centre parks. Grin
It is her choice what she does with any spare money. She didn't have to send her son on the trip and I would probably make the same choice but realise it's cheaper for a reason. However not complaining to the school that's bizarre.
However it also highlights another cost of living division and everything costing more and more.
I am in two minds.

OP posts:
TheresBoozeInTheBlender · 08/07/2023 10:25

Her reply to the teacher was so rude! Her son hasn't even asked her about the trip and she's laying into them.

The school will be using approved and registered operators for the whole thing and it's a full itinerary they've given. Only 40 kids from 4 year groups can go, little Johnny is hardly going to be the only one left at school twiddling his thumbs is he?

She's being ridiculous. What has 5 nights with a load of kids in a caravan got to do with it? Nothing.

I bet everyone who walks through the door of her well-being business will have to listen to this now she's gone viral.

MargaretThursday · 08/07/2023 10:25

My parents agreed we could all do one of those sorts of trips when I was at school. Because it was one of us at a time, they could save up between us so we could all do it once.

It's the only time I have ever been abroad.

TheresBoozeInTheBlender · 08/07/2023 10:26

"But even the ski trips are ridiculous and the preserve of the bourgeoisie"

Pmsl. I'll tell my cousin she's the bourgeoisie because she spent a couple of years putting aside for her son to go on the skiing trip he so wanted to go on.

XelaM · 08/07/2023 10:29

CeeJay81 · 08/07/2023 09:38

My ds high school apparantly(ds never took the letter cause he knew I'd say no) are offering a trip to New york for £1800. Thankfully none of his friends are going(including one who is very wealthy). I think the trip might end up being cancelled thankfully. I think most people could gradually pay up a few hundred quid over a year for a trip but any more than that is just not reasonable for many.

That's fairly good value for New York though. Surely a family trip to New York would cost many times that? My daughter is actually going to New York with school this year and it costs £1500. I thought it's much cheaper than if I were to take her and is a great opportunity for her to see New York, which she won't get to see with me due to coat.

XelaM · 08/07/2023 10:30

cost*

Sirzy · 08/07/2023 10:33

Ds school has just done what looked like an amazing water sports holiday. They were away for 8 days and the cost was around £900. Yes it was a lot of money but for those that went it was an amazing experience, a friends son went and she acknowledged it gave him experiences she never could so it was worth it.

they do other trips and holidays at a range of costs throughout the years.

Callyem · 08/07/2023 10:35

This is nothing new. My family could never afford for me to go on these as a kid but so few did it wasn't that big a deal. I don't see why they should be got rid of all of a sudden.

Original poster
tallcypowder · 08/07/2023 10:35

We often get complaints for the limited number of places on a trip or not offering enough trips.

OP posts:
Original poster
tallcypowder · 08/07/2023 10:37

My first time abroad at age 12 was with the school my Mother hates travelling abroad. So has not left the country since 1970.

OP posts:
SlightlyJaded · 08/07/2023 10:38

I think the companies that specialise in school trips don't work hard enough with their pricing.

DS did a trip to Germany last year for GCSE History - 3 days £700. Ridiculous

Badbudgeter · 08/07/2023 10:41

Not all kids will go, there is often help available to those on lower incomes. I did notice the trip was for y7 -y10 so you could save up for a couple of years. I suspect they’d get more out of it age 14 anyway.

I wonder if she got £799 for thee sad face story though!

Sugargliderwombat · 08/07/2023 10:42

Xrays · 08/07/2023 09:20

I don’t think schools should be doing trips like this. It just separates the haves and have nots.

I agree. I think the people saying they should also offer cheaper ones are missing the point that there will still be children who can't afford that.

Mapples · 08/07/2023 10:42

My parents couldn't afford to send me on school trips like this, I didn't ever feel bitter or jealous, its great some who can get the opportunity but in this country now there's a lot of if I can't have it why should anyone so her attitude doesn't surprise me. I would be mortified if she was my mum and had not only sent a really rude letter to the teacher but also gone to the papers.

icelollycraving · 08/07/2023 10:42

Ds went on a one night camping trip. £150 for that. There were lots of activities but they had to pay extra for using a shower! I couldn’t afford it really but did it. Next year it is a week away. He will want to go. We’ve never taken him abroad and we’ve only had holidays in the U.K. Depending on the cost, I will have to factor it in for several months.
When I was at school in the 80s there were expensive trips.

Mapples · 08/07/2023 10:45

Xrays · 08/07/2023 09:20

I don’t think schools should be doing trips like this. It just separates the haves and have nots.

That's life, people want to now shelter children from reality but invariably it makes things worse. It wasn't a big deal when I was at school, the 'haves' also go on holidays during school holidays and talk about it at school, have newer clothes and tech, live in bigger hours and have more opportunities; in the scheme of things I'm not sure how much a school trip factors into things when there's always a divide. I don't see why no children should not have the opportunity to go through school, that's a bit crabs in a bucket isn't it.

Parkandpicnic · 08/07/2023 10:46

We always dread the school deciding to put on these trips, plan and budget every penny, including what we can afford on a holiday then something like this comes along to mess it up! It really isn’t as easy as just saying no when this exciting opportunity is dangled right under their nose and many of their friends are going too. Causes a lot of hardship and disputes between families who are separated also. The schools should absolutely not be doing this. If they want to give kids these opportunities then fundraise to do so or don’t do it at all

Sirzy · 08/07/2023 10:47

Sugargliderwombat · 08/07/2023 10:42

I agree. I think the people saying they should also offer cheaper ones are missing the point that there will still be children who can't afford that.

Show quote history

But then schools do nothing and no children get those experiences so how is that right?

schools really can’t win with these things.

Parkandpicnic · 08/07/2023 10:48

Badbudgeter · 08/07/2023 10:41

Not all kids will go, there is often help available to those on lower incomes. I did notice the trip was for y7 -y10 so you could save up for a couple of years. I suspect they’d get more out of it age 14 anyway.

I wonder if she got £799 for thee sad face story though!

Yes can be a family who doesn’t receive UC so never eligible for this help and be worse off than a family on UC, particularly if a blended family

BigFatLiar · 08/07/2023 10:50

The trip apparently also includes coach hire and entrance to several places.

Mapples · 08/07/2023 10:52

Sirzy · 08/07/2023 10:47

But then schools do nothing and no children get those experiences so how is that right?

schools really can’t win with these things.

Show quote history

Lots would prefer that and begrudge people who can afford it which is sad and a shame and devisive.

Changes17 · 08/07/2023 10:53

I slightly wonder if she did go to the papers or if they just lifted it off Facebook. Must be fairly mortifying if the latter.

Changes17 · 08/07/2023 11:00

On the subject of school trips though, for me they represent an opportunity for a child to experience something they wouldn’t be able to do as a family. Like skiing. My mum was unable to travel when I was at secondary school because of illness and cost - we didn’t go away very much at all.

So I went on school trips - nothing particularly lavish but one to France, one to Germany. It was an experience of going abroad that gave me the confidence to go again when I was older. Subsequently I lived abroad for a few years - a great experience and one I wouldn’t maybe have tried if I’d never been out of the UK.

Changes17 · 08/07/2023 11:01

Though also the cost of travel came down at the same time…

Parvolax · 08/07/2023 11:04

I disagree with spending the money on a family of 6. A school trip will be much more memorable and I don’t think £800 is unreasonable. I did it where each of my DC got to do one high school trip abroad in the 5 years they were there and payments were in instalments etc but I understand some families can’t afford that but she’s not talking about affording it she’s saying she’d rather spending it taking the whole family away.

Topseyt123 · 08/07/2023 11:08

I think her comparisons are ridiculous. Her child has so far not even asked to go.

I have very mixed feelings about schools offering these trips. They can be very hard to afford for parents with several children and limited income.

My three children did all go on some things, but I could only pay for these over a number of months, which was thankfully permitted. They didn't all go at once either. Several trips happened over a number of years.

One of my DDs went to a grammar school and there was an expectation there that all parents were wealthy and could just cough up hundreds of pounds at the drop of a hat. That did make things difficult and you were looked down on if you were one of the lower income families who found it more difficult.