Expensive school trip - why do schools do it?!

[Beach1983]

Cut a long story short, letter has come home with school trip for 8 days that is approx £2500 that doesn’t include food/spending money so guessing £500 extra for that, so all in roughly 3k.

Am I wildly out of touch for thinking that £3000 for a school trip for one child is ridiculous? (This is regular state school not private btw).

I feel annoyed with the school for putting parents in this position as obviously the kids want to go and (they say) all their friends are going so parents feel hugely guilt tripped into these things even if financially it’s a struggle!

Just needed to vent really and see if people share my views!

Ha my own dd1 is a studious child as were I and Dh and we were all at comps. I myself (pretty nerdy has to be said) went on one of these random more expensive trips as a teen.

Dd2 has some really annoying studious girls in her year who she would definitely not want to be on holiday with so she turned her nose up at building houses with them somewhere exotic. Teens want to be with their mates. Good saved us £3k.

You have found flights cheaper....but for the same dates and a large group?
Obviously finding 4 seats on a plane is easier than 40.
This will be part of the travel companies overheads.
So flights, and a tourist pass comes to around £800-900 minimum.
Then accommodation. Again it's not posible to just book the cheapest, or fund the last room. They are going to need to have everyone in the same accommodation.

Looking at travel agent deals based on 2 adults room only would be £1800 each...this seems comparable to be fair.

Transport when there, guided tours.
In my experience breakfast and evening meal are included and they can usually grab quite a cheap lunch.
It's surprising how little spending money one teen needs versus a family of 4.

You may be able to find cheaper options for 1 child, but can you find 30+ cheaper options (or however many kids they think are going)? The cost probably also includes whatever level of insurance the school specifies, and perhaps they have to use "approved" providers, just like hospitals, so the cost is unjustifiably more expensive, but they have no choice but to use those from the list?

I think these sorts of trips can be a great experience for kids, but I guess it depends on how old the children are and what the 'norm' is for that area. For example, my school (in Oz) took us on a trip to the States when i was a teenager. I paid for the whole thing from the salary I earned at my minimum-wage, part-time job; just like most of the others who went on the trip. But if it's not the norm for teenagers to work, or there aren't jobs available, or the salaries are too low to enable them to save for this sort of trip then yes, it is rather short-sighted of the school and limits the opportunities to wealthier kids who probably enjoy these sorts of holidays anyway.

I think it's okay if the trips are either financially accessible to most, with financial help available, or else clearly for the few higher income families. Most kids know they aren't going on those trips and it doesn't even occur to them to ask. They do only benefit already well off families though, not the majority.

But if it's not the norm for teenagers to work, or there aren't jobs available, or the salaries are too low to enable them to save for this sort of trip then yes, it is rather short-sighted of the school and limits the opportunities to wealthier kids who probably enjoy these sorts of holidays anyway.

Working teenagers are more likely to be saving for driving lessons, buying a car and insurance if they need one, saving for university living expenses.

Schools aren't required to offer trips. It's done through the generosity of teachers and other school staff offering up their time (usually in the holidays and unpaid, when they could be spending time living their own lives with their own family and friends) The entitlement of some of the comments on this thread make it clear why this country has an Education crisis.

We've just booked for £1400 per person, but that doesn't include insurance, activities or childminding.

the thing i also dont get is that if YOU took your kid to new york to do all of that stuff in school time then school would come down hard on you, also 3k is more than most people spend on a whole family holiday! it really is tone deaf!

Also it would cost me 1.5k to go to new york for a week myself o_0

It seems a huge amount right now ,I think you just have to say No as it doesnt really matter what EE( everyone else!) is doing . Most likely wont be going either .Very tone deaf ATM I think

Dc were offered a trip to Rome heavily encouraged as part of RE curriculum. £2500 for a week. Pupil premium were offered a discount of £300.

Trip was cancelled because they simply couldn't fill the places. School really wasn't happy and the teacher ranted to the 6th formers.

I was asked to send 2 kids. So out of touch with the reality of many households.

School trips are optional. It's a great opportunity if you can afford it and they are often a chance for kids to go somewhere they wouldn't necessarily go with their family and without having to pay the costs for a whole family. School are offering it as an opportunity for families in the position to take it. I really don't think that everyone should be limited just because some people are.

What kind of fund raising? Working? Or trying to get relatives and friends of the family to sponsor them?

@Willyoujustbequiet £2500 for Rome is ludicrous!

That's why these trips are in school holidays, unless it's a curriculum trip and most are expected to attend (less disruption to lessons)

I agree that its clear they are optional, but they are alienating the vast majority of the year at that price. I would say setting a limit of £1800 at the absolute maximum and then find a trip that fits into that budget. Then that would perhaps open it up as an option to more of the year.

We’re a decent middle income household here but on principle, I wouldn’t pay £3500 for a trip for 1 child for 8 days. I know what that money could get as a whole family - amazing week’s holiday in the sun especially if you go during term time (pay the fine etc).

Is this primary or secondary

I went to Greece when in secondary school. Think was last year so I was 15?

I R.E.M. quite a few friends going and a bit of wine /cider In rooms

I R.E.M. my parents telling me it was a one off

There was also a ski trip but I hate snow so wasn't bothered on that

Primary does to isle of wight but think that's changed after covid - 5 days in U.K. for around £400/500

I think the prices for school trips can be so high to cover teacher’s attendance/insurance etc. I remember when I was at secondary there was a three day trip to Belgium which cost over £1000. My parents could have afforded it if pushed but thought it was ludicrous. My mum said I had a choice; I could either go on the trip or they would give me an equivalent amount to go travelling round Europe with my friends in the summer. Safe to say I took the spending money! Perhaps a tempting alternative to the trip might help your DC make a decision on how much they really want to go?

It is time they put a stop to this madness. There is no reason for these trip at all. Ten years ago we paid £400 for our youngest to go on a 2 night trip to Amsterdam, the trip was the day after they started Secondary school, goodness what the reason for the trip was but no educational work was done at all. When one of our others started sixth form the school trip was 2 weeks trailing round Nicaragua at a cost of £5k, he never went as i didn't have that sort of money back in 2010 and there was no way in hell he was going there even if i did have the money. These trips are a money maker for someone and nothing to do with the children's education.

We just spent £3.3k for 11 night AI with 2 adults, 2 teens over Xmas. No way would I be able to afford that for just one child.

DDs ski trip was £800 for the week in Italy pre covid, it's now £1200 (but now flying to Austria so no long coach journey).

I hope the parents got together and complained about that. Putting financial pressure on already completely stretched families is shameful. We are not in a deprived area at all, but I noticed a note with food tech to say ‘please change ingredients if needed for the cost of living crisis’. Its good to see schools do understand most families are under immense pressure, even those that previously felt comfortable in the middle.

I think offering a trip is fine at a reasonable price, but putting pressure on parents (and the kids themselves) is absolutely awful.

I don't think it's unreasonable. Trips like this, you usually get 2 years notice.

They do this at dd's school and the trip involves a Broadway show and all the usuals.

I would never go myself as I hate flying, so I see it as an opportunity for DD that I wouldn't be able to give her as it's somewhere she would like to go.

I did apply for a place, but unfortunately it was first come first served and I was not fast enough to get a place, as it was so popular.

But 3k to fly to America, 7 nights accomodation, food, show, see the sights, being looked after by trusted people, amazing experiences with their friends. Well worth it imho.

I don't really understand the issue here. Surely it's always been the case that only only some parents will be able to afford to pay for trips abroad such as this. I left school more than 30 years ago and my school did annual ski trips, and I think a couple of trips to other places in Europe. My parents couldn't afford any of them so I, and many others, just didn't go. I was never the only one who didn't go and I doubt your DC would be either.

This NY trip is expensive compared to European ones, so I imagine even more more parents won't be able to afford it, but I don't think that means the school shouldn't offer it. Even a really cheap short trip in Europe will be too expensive for someone.

I've worked as a LSA in several schools and only had the pleasure of supervising on local trips.

Eyes in the back of your head doesn't even scratch the surface. It's like trying to herd kittens. And that's just at a botanical garden!

You couldn't pay me enough to willingly give up a week of my time to keep other peoples kids safe 24/7. The stress would be off the scale.

To anyone who reads this who does supervise trips especially abroad - you are awesome. Can I send you wine?!!

That's a crazy price. I went to New York, although a fair few years ago for 10 days it wasn't that amount.
I'd say no personally ( Well I'd have to tbf) but take him somewhere else!
Can't believe a state school would charge that.

That's not an amusing remark and it certainly isn't true. One of my friends was a teacher in a secondary school and died on a school trip when he jumped in the water to save a student messing about who had fallen off a raft in a river. Teachers literally take responsibility for the safety of a group of children 24 hours a day and are paid for 8 of those hours.

If you were being flippant, you were thoughtless and sound ignorant. Unfortunately, I think you are not being flippant and are actually just ignorant.