Page 12 | DS's school trip was offered on a 'first come first serve' basis and is now being drawn at random from a hat

Worriedaandconfused · 2023-10-03T10:50:10+00:00

AIBU to think the school should honour the first come first serve basis they initially stated for allocating places on the school trip? They have, due to a 'huge response' of requested places, decided to draw names at random on Friday. After promising my child a place and ensuring I handed the form in promptly to the teacher (in fairness, it sounds like a lot of other parents did, too), I'm now going to have to explain to my 4 year old he's unlikely to have a place. How do your own DC's schools handle situations like this where there's limited places and lots of interest?

searchinglookingforlove · 05/10/2023 19:54

The trip should accommodate everyone.
If not, then the hat is the fairest way.
First come first served is unfair for several reasons so the school were silly to say that they would use that method to see who got a place.

SiousieSoo · 05/10/2023 20:04

Worriedaandconfused · 05/10/2023 19:08

@SiousieSoo, obviously you have no idea about the memory retention of a 4 year old if you honestly think they're capable for only remembering things from 5 minutes ago. The point is pretty negligible too, since there will be three classess of 20 children all feeling disappointed and left out, even if it's just the day of the trip. I suppose you're missing that point entirely, which is odd because you're about the only one.

And I just find it completely flabbergasting that you can criticise and judge me for commenting about the actions of the school, which will inevitably leave lots of children sad, and yet you're quite happy to criticise and complain yourself about that happening. Really it's mind boggling.

I'm not sure how you've managed to accretion 'excitiment' from me or anyone else that's commented. I didn't say you couldn't post... but you seem to somehow imply that it's wrong that I've responded to your criticisms. Again, mind boggling. So bizarre of you to keep complaining that I'm doing something, only to go and do it yourself in the next sentence. Please lead by example if you're going to be this judgeysnd critical of strangers or just disagree politely without adding all of the name calling and antagonism.

Four year olds do not remember they have been to Disneyland, your child will not remember nor care about the theatre trip. You however, are making a complete fuss about it to the point of creating a thread.

Lots of schools work on the basis of offering trips that not everyone can attend due to limited availability, what are you going to do about it? You can write as many emails as you want but it will not change the situation. Life is inherently unfair. To get worked up about an inconsequential trip to the extent you are is extremely bizarre in my opinion.

CharlotteBog · 05/10/2023 20:07

Four year olds do not remember they have been to Disneyland, your child will not remember nor care about the theatre trip.

I have a lot of memories from before the age of 4.

SiousieSoo · 05/10/2023 20:14

CharlotteBog · 05/10/2023 20:07

Four year olds do not remember they have been to Disneyland, your child will not remember nor care about the theatre trip.

I have a lot of memories from before the age of 4.

Of course you do! I myself remember being born.

YourNameGoesHere · 05/10/2023 20:19

Lots of schools work on the basis of offering trips that not everyone can attend due to limited availability

I've worked in a heck of a lot of schools and have never come across one that offers a trip for reception aged children that excludes 2/3 of them. I don't for a second dispute this is common in secondary schools but I don't for one minute believe lots of primary schools do this and I'd be amazed if more than a handful did it for 4 years olds.

SiousieSoo · 05/10/2023 20:29

YourNameGoesHere · 05/10/2023 20:19

Lots of schools work on the basis of offering trips that not everyone can attend due to limited availability

I've worked in a heck of a lot of schools and have never come across one that offers a trip for reception aged children that excludes 2/3 of them. I don't for a second dispute this is common in secondary schools but I don't for one minute believe lots of primary schools do this and I'd be amazed if more than a handful did it for 4 years olds.

I can tell you that in my children's primary school there were a number of times that trips were not available to all the children, not overnight residentials, but day trips. They would try and balance it out so everyone had a chance to go to something overall. But this is what happened.

WillowCraft · 05/10/2023 20:52

SiousieSoo · 05/10/2023 20:04

Four year olds do not remember they have been to Disneyland, your child will not remember nor care about the theatre trip. You however, are making a complete fuss about it to the point of creating a thread.

Lots of schools work on the basis of offering trips that not everyone can attend due to limited availability, what are you going to do about it? You can write as many emails as you want but it will not change the situation. Life is inherently unfair. To get worked up about an inconsequential trip to the extent you are is extremely bizarre in my opinion.

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Clearly you haven't met any 4 year olds!

I think it's pointless to offer a school trip unless everyone can go. They should have offered 30 places to one class, probably the oldest class in the key stage, because younger ones can have their chance in future years

SiousieSoo · 05/10/2023 21:20

WillowCraft · 05/10/2023 20:52

Clearly you haven't met any 4 year olds!

I think it's pointless to offer a school trip unless everyone can go. They should have offered 30 places to one class, probably the oldest class in the key stage, because younger ones can have their chance in future years

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Of course I have met many four year olds 😂. My nieces forgot about their trip to , which is why I waited until my kids were older to take them.

SiousieSoo · 05/10/2023 21:21

SiousieSoo · 05/10/2023 21:20

Of course I have met many four year olds 😂. My nieces forgot about their trip to , which is why I waited until my kids were older to take them.

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*My nieces forgot about their trip to Disneyland I meant.

ellyeth · 05/10/2023 22:41

I think the trip should be for all the children, or there should be two trips to accommodate everyone.

AuntMarch · 05/10/2023 23:05

Of course people remember things! And even those who don't will still feel the disappointment at the time.

Absolutely no reason the school needed to offer this to three "thirds" of classes, rather than just one class at a time. Doesn't make any sense.
Names in a hat might be fairer generally, but if you've said it's first come first serve it is rather unfair to those who did make an extra effort to get their slip in early/get the money together to then change it. I'd be annoyed too, OP.

Readytoplay · 06/10/2023 00:23

Four year olds do not remember they have been to Disneyland

I was (just turned) three when I went to Disneyland and I do remember it. admittedly, it is one of my earliest, if not the earliest, memory I have, but still.

SiousieSoo · 06/10/2023 05:14

AuntMarch · 05/10/2023 23:05

Of course people remember things! And even those who don't will still feel the disappointment at the time.

Absolutely no reason the school needed to offer this to three "thirds" of classes, rather than just one class at a time. Doesn't make any sense.
Names in a hat might be fairer generally, but if you've said it's first come first serve it is rather unfair to those who did make an extra effort to get their slip in early/get the money together to then change it. I'd be annoyed too, OP.

OK do you think the four year old will remember or care in a week's time after the event that he DIDN'T get to go? Of course he wont't. As said, my nieces did not remember being at Disneyland at 4.

I feel sorry for schools I really do. I can't imagine anything worse than a set of outraged parents about little Timmy not getting to go on the trip when they are dealing with so many any issues. I am sure the school will (as they did at my kids' primary school) try and balance things out so that the other kids get to go on another trip. It really is not the big deal that it is being made out to be here.

CharlotteBog · 06/10/2023 07:41

OK do you think the four year old will remember or care in a week's time after the event that he DIDN'T get to go? Of course he wont't. As said, my nieces did not remember being at Disneyland at 4.

One of my earliest memories is in fact NOT going to Disneyland at 3.
We were staying with my Aunt in the US, a trip to Disneyland was planned. I got chicken pox and couldn't go.
My very, very strong memory is when my Mum came home after being away for a few days. I imagine the memory stays because it's the emotion of seeing my Mum after a few days apart.
I'm surprised your 4 yo nieces don't have a memory of such a big trip.

Original poster

Worriedaandconfused · 06/10/2023 09:16

@AuntMarch, this exactly.

@SiousieSoo, you're completely missing the point that most people here are trying to make, including myself.

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Dilligafat · 06/10/2023 09:19

The school probably has an inclusion policy that would be worth reading. I can't imagine any school I've worked with doing this, particularly to 4 year olds. Challenge the fact that some children will be excluded Op.

gertrudemortimer · 06/10/2023 09:21

My ds's son do this with everything! Even the school discos because of limited places. Luckily I'm working part time at the moment so I can always prioritise getting tickets for him but I do feel bad for other parents who are working long hours and can't always get to their phones. However the school shouldn't have said it was first come first serve and then gone back on it. They should have changed the procedure at the next event when everyone was fully aware.

Original poster

Worriedaandconfused · 06/10/2023 09:51

For anyone that's interested, I've just received an update from the school:

I think it was really great of them to ensure they could accommodate all the children and realised it wouldn't be fair for some to miss out!

DS's school trip was offered on a 'first come first serve' basis and is now being drawn at random from a hat

OP posts:

Spinet · 06/10/2023 09:52

Hurray!!

PuttingDownRoots · 06/10/2023 09:57

Its great more can go.
But is that now one date in school time and one at weekend?

Original poster

Worriedaandconfused · 06/10/2023 10:02

@PuttingDownRoots, yes it does mean that some will need to go at the weekend. I think that's definitely the best outcome though, for all the children.

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SiousieSoo · 06/10/2023 12:10

Worriedaandconfused · 06/10/2023 09:16

@AuntMarch, this exactly.

@SiousieSoo, you're completely missing the point that most people here are trying to make, including myself.

I responded to a question. It looks like you have your resolution anyway. I am just wondering now if this will make the national news tonight given its significance?

RTGC · 06/10/2023 12:13

Excellent that the school have listened and made a plan to enable more children to see the show so that children don’t miss out.

Although the weekend trip won’t work for some, I’d actually choose that one if I had a choice!

Daisyislazy · 06/10/2023 12:46

Worriedaandconfused · 06/10/2023 09:51

For anyone that's interested, I've just received an update from the school:

I think it was really great of them to ensure they could accommodate all the children and realised it wouldn't be fair for some to miss out!

Great news

Original poster

Worriedaandconfused · 06/10/2023 12:53

@SiousieSoo, I just hope it means I don't have to read anymore of your ridiculous comments. For something so trivial, you've been REALLY invested in this thread. Such twisted logic.

OP posts: