Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up with the cost of school trips?

254 replies

0TiredMumOf4 · 02/04/2025 21:26

Hi all,
Just having a bit of a rant because I feel like I’m being totally swamped by the cost of all these school trips recently. DD1’s school trip to the Science Museum in London is coming up, and it’s a whopping £45. That’s for one trip! And to make matters worse, I’ve already shelled out for DS’s farm trip (another £35), and DD2’s little museum trip just up the road (which, okay, is £15, but still) 🙄.

I get that these trips are important, but seriously? £45 for a museum trip? That’s not even factoring in the cost of packed lunches and the inevitable begging for snacks to take on the coach. And they expect me to fork out this kind of money for all three of them every time there’s a school trip?? 🤦‍♀️

It’s not like I’m made of money, and it feels like they have a trip every other week. Am I being unreasonable to feel totally fed up with how much these things are costing? I don’t mind supporting the kids, but I can’t keep up with this!

Anyone else feel the same, or am I just being a tight arse? 😤

OP posts:
LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 10/04/2026 11:40

crackofdoom · 02/04/2025 23:26

The thing with secondary though is that these trips are easier to opt out of.

Everybody's going on DS2's primary class camp. The whole lot of them. When he was in Y2 he wasn't sure about going on a (smaller, shorter) camp, and I got "Well, I don't really know what we're going to do with him, everyone else is going....." 🙄 It's £350 though, which is actually not bad considering it's 5 days and involves taking a ferry (maybe that's why it's cheaper- parents have to drop kids off at the docks so no coaches involved).

DS1'S secondary trips are indeed ridiculous prices. £800 for a 3 day Geography trip in southern Italy! I got straight online and priced something similar up as individuals - flights, hotel etc- for under £500 in a couple of weeks time! But the difference is that there's no pressure for them to go if parents can't afford it. He realises the prices are ridiculous and that it doesn't make sense to go.

Edited
Show quote history

Did you include all the activities? Insurance? Transport? It's much more complicated booking for a large group v individuals as well - some things may cost more as a result.

At secondary the cost of cover teachers may also be factored in - every teacher going will have classes that need to be covered.

Schools are not allowed to make a profit on trips so while they may feel expensive (and as a parent I totally get it!) that does just reflect the costs involved.

Sheldonsheher · 10/04/2026 18:01

I have not read the full thread. I also sometimes think it’s a bit unreasonable because the people on FSM get everything free. If you don’t qualify for FSM you have to subsidise everyone again. First through tax then again for school activities

LostMySocks · 11/04/2026 14:50

Sheldonsheher · 10/04/2026 18:01

I have not read the full thread. I also sometimes think it’s a bit unreasonable because the people on FSM get everything free. If you don’t qualify for FSM you have to subsidise everyone again. First through tax then again for school activities

Usually the funding for children on pupil premiums comes from the PP funding. They're not allowed to subsidise from other parents. They have to divide the total coat by the number of children which is why you get prices with a random number of pence

tellmesomethingtrue · 13/04/2026 00:00

My kids barely got any trips so be thankful your school is bothering.
also, you decided to have three children… just saying.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread