To think the school should have given me more notice with regards to an expensive school trip?

[shinyshoes]

This is more of a rant really
I never went on many school trips, I never ent to any abroad, only the day ones that were free (mum was on income support so got help with school trips).

I always said that if the opprtunity came for DS1 to go on a school trip i'd do my utmost to make it happen for him.

He is year 7 and when we went for the 'tours' round the prospective school the one he ended up going to said they had an overnight excersion the year 7's go on. It was only £35.00 and they do it in september as a 'getting to know you' team building exercise. We said if he was accepted at the school he'd go on it. He was and we paid, We paid just before the children broke up for summer holidays, all done.

I asked if there were bigger trips, were we going to get enough notice and were they planning on doing bigger trips so I have an idea of cost etc, they said they didnt think there would be one in year 7.

He came home yeaturday (minus the letter) informing me that there is a ski-ing trip to Austria. I discussed with DP if he could go and he said yes we could afford it (thinking it would be in february or something) it turns out the trip is actually in December. i'm assuming that this trip along with any trip booked that payment would be 6-10 weeks beore actual travel that gives me approx til the end of the month or a couple of weeks after, to find........£700.00
AIBU to think this WOULD hve been in the pipeline when I asked back in August and not 2 weeks ago when the children re-started school. There is no way we can come up with that amount of cash at such short notice. It's so unfair on us and DS1 who wants to go. We aren't in reciept of benefits so we don't get any help towards things like this.

I haven't had a letter as they were given out to pupils that wanted to go, but because DS1 was unsure about the lenght of time away he didn't take one. He has since changed his mind and wants to go. I have also had my fears confirmed by another parent at the school who's son had picked up a letter.

[SqueakyPop]

You think they should use envelopes and stamps, bella?

[georgimama]

Hmm, I agree with that in general, but this is not an essential communication, it's an extra-curricular trip.

Surely kids do need to start to learn to make these kinds of decisions for themselves, as to whether they are interested in activities or not and act accordingly? Otherwise for as many parents as would like everything communicated directly to them (and am wondering how - by post? at the cost) others would grumble "what about the trees?" and get annoyed by that.

[LittleBella]

No, post is too expensive for schools, but they could a) remind everyone to put letters in bags b) collect e-mail addresses from everyone who has them so that they could do regular group e-mails - would take 2 minutes to attach whichever letter to a group - and c) use their bloody websites, which many schools now have and appear to me to be used simply out of date noticeboards, when they should be updated regularly with all the info they are hoping to send out to parents. (I went in to my DS's website at the beginning of term and it had last year's first newsletter in it FGS along with last year's term dates. Piss poor.)

Oh and d) they can use their playground noticeboard in the case of primary schools. Once again, DS's school generally has notices up there which are 2 terms out of date. Piss poor again.

[LIZS]

£700 for this type of trip actually isn't a lot tbh assumign itis all inclusive(hire of equipment, lift pass, lessons etc) but it is optional and I doubt many Year 7s go unless they have siblings also going. It could be that it was notified last term for existing pupils and they happen to still have some free spaces(or drop outs) so are canvassing the year 7s now. There will be other years and other trips.

[SqueakyPop]

At my school, we send everything out on a Friday, so that's the day to hunt through the backpack.

At my boys' school, they tend to send important things through the post. Their website is always up-to-date, and they send out more general news info on email - which basically links to the website.

My DDs' primary school is a disaster for communications. They send out stuff on random days, are always changing published dates, and the website is a year out of date.

[Judy1234]

It's a fairly standard school ski trip price but my five children over the years in their schools most children don't go on the ski trips. It's fine if you don't. Some of mine have refused to go on them over the years when I've wanted them to even. It's no big deal.

As for the money thing they ought to put on their web site details of what trips there are so people can plan ahead.

My daughter who skis really well went on a school ski trip when in year 7 and found that no other child from year 7 was on it, just older girls.

[LittleBella]

Oh my DS's school as well.

DD's school is fab though.

[Judy1234]

ps... but these things can be a great start for children. She is working in Whistler all this winter. I am sure if she hadn't had the chance to learn to ski etc when at school she wouldn't be doing such fun things now she's 23.

[roisin]

I think it's entirely reasonable to expect children to deliver letters home safely and to choose whether they are interested in this sort of trip.

At my boys' primary school from about the age of 7 they get 'optional' letters about things like music lessons or football club. A teacher will come into the class or assembly and do a sales pitch, and those that are interested take a letter: I've no problem with that at all. They are activities aimed at them, not me, and if they don't like the sound of it there's no point bringing a letter home.

My school (secondary) is not good at encouraging students to be independent and self-reliants, as a result 6th form college comes as a huge shock when no-one runs round after them, or persuades, encourages and cajoles them into writing their coursework, or handing in their late homework...

ds1's school on the other hand expects a huge amount in terms of personal organisation: they soon learn and get the hang of things. It's a very valuable life skill.

[LittleBella]

Oh schools always hide behind the excuse that they want to engender responsibility, self-reliance etc.

But that is a separate issue from communicating with stakeholders.

[LittleBella]

Also I don't think you can rely on 11 and 12 year olds to decide whether they're interested in taking the letter home or not. As the OP shows, kids of that age still change their minds. By the age of about 14, I'd expect them to accept the consequences of changing their minds and realise they've missed the boat, but at 11 or 12 I think it's a bit harsh.

Having said that, I don't think it will be too much of a big deal to miss this particular school trip.

[pointydog]

This is far too much money for most families, not that many kids will go on it, it won't matter that your ds doesn't. Just say no.