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Original poster

Can't afford school trip

140 replies

Lillybeans85 · 14/11/2025 15:07

My son really wants to go on his year 6 residential but the cost is £600 for a Mon-Fri stay. This is a lot higher than I expected and we really can't afford it at the moment. He goes to a state school but everyone in his class is really well off & money seems no object to them. My husband works & we get a small top up of universal credit a month due to his income. However, we would not be eligible for free school meals or anything. I feel really awkward and embarrassed emailing the school to ask for help & don't even know if we would get it. Has anyone else been in the same situation?

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 14/11/2025 15:09

Well unless you talk to the school you won't know.
There are sometimes discretionary funds available. Just talk to them.

SkinnyOatFlatWhiteForMePlease · 14/11/2025 15:10

Please approach the school in confidence, help could be available.

Silverbirchleaf · 14/11/2025 15:11

I agree. Speak to the school . They will be used to this.

Celestialmoods · 14/11/2025 15:11

The school will have been in this position before and will want to help you. Work out what you can afford if you are allowed to spread the payments and make them the best offer you can. Presumably you knew that the year 6 residential was a thing so you have made some provision if finances are tight.

The cost is quite reasonable for a five day trip including transportation, supervision and all the activities.

Overthebow · 14/11/2025 15:13

Yes definitely ask the school. How much could you afford? You could tell them that and see if there’s any help for the remaining amount, or maybe a payment plan so you don’t have to pay all at once.

ShenandoahRiver · 14/11/2025 15:15

You are not the first and won't be the last parent to speak to the school.
They will more than likely be able to help with a payment plan or similar.

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/11/2025 15:15

Speak to the school. If it helps, frame it as you are asking for him, NOT you. You'd do anything for him, right? So it's not something to worry about.

dicentra365 · 14/11/2025 15:18

£600 is taking the piss. my dd is doing year 6 residential and it’s costing £225. Were not in a wealthy area, so the deposit was £50 and then the school are asking for £25 a month installments. It’s honestly tone deaf to think that £600 isn’t going to be a struggle for some families. I feel annoyed on your behalf! However do speak to the school, there is sometimes some discretion that extends beyond just pp students.

Justcallmedaffodil · 14/11/2025 15:19

Celestialmoods · 14/11/2025 15:11

The school will have been in this position before and will want to help you. Work out what you can afford if you are allowed to spread the payments and make them the best offer you can. Presumably you knew that the year 6 residential was a thing so you have made some provision if finances are tight.

The cost is quite reasonable for a five day trip including transportation, supervision and all the activities.

If OPs household are relying on UC top ups to get by and she’s described how money is tight, I can’t imagine the Y6 residential will have been high on the list of priorities to put aside money for Hmm

That being said, I don’t disagree that the cost isn’t unreasonable for the length/nature of the trip.

OP - please don’t be embarrassed, if you reach out to school I’m sure they’ll want to help you.

ThisNeedsToWork · 14/11/2025 15:28

dicentra365 · 14/11/2025 15:18

£600 is taking the piss. my dd is doing year 6 residential and it’s costing £225. Were not in a wealthy area, so the deposit was £50 and then the school are asking for £25 a month installments. It’s honestly tone deaf to think that £600 isn’t going to be a struggle for some families. I feel annoyed on your behalf! However do speak to the school, there is sometimes some discretion that extends beyond just pp students.

This is about average, I’d say, if the trip is after May half term. It’s the cost of the coach that makes it ridiculous. We paid £525 for DS1 to go in June of Y6. School swapped it to October of Y6 by the time DD went and we paid just under £300. Same place, same experience. School said it was down to coach prices.

datgyalb · 14/11/2025 15:30

dicentra365 · 14/11/2025 15:18

£600 is taking the piss. my dd is doing year 6 residential and it’s costing £225. Were not in a wealthy area, so the deposit was £50 and then the school are asking for £25 a month installments. It’s honestly tone deaf to think that £600 isn’t going to be a struggle for some families. I feel annoyed on your behalf! However do speak to the school, there is sometimes some discretion that extends beyond just pp students.

My son is in Sen school he’s going may next year initial deposit was £38 then monthly payments of 38 I think it’s about 300ish although my older kids were offered a school trip in their mainstream it was skiing £4000😂🙄

Princesspollyyy · 14/11/2025 15:34

Definitely speak to the school. I remember once I paid for my child to go on the school trip, and I was quite well off at the time, and contacted the school and offered to donate money to a pot for anyone needing funds to help pay for the trip if they couldn’t afford it.

its well worth asking the school x

evtheria · 14/11/2025 15:35

Don't feel embarrassed (I know, easier said than done) because £600 for a Y6 trip is shocking.

2024TN · 14/11/2025 15:35

I understand why you might feel awkward approach the school. But it’s a straight choice here - either you have the conversation and (hopefully) find a solution, or DS misses out.

You won’t be the first or last parent to be in this position, it will likely be easier than you expect. Good luck.

Bananafofana · 14/11/2025 15:37

Yet another person here saying ask the school.

(and just as an aside £600 is insane. My dc are at a private school in London and the year 6 residential is less than that and payments are spread out over three terms)

JohnBullshit · 14/11/2025 15:40

£600 for a primary school trip? Ridiculous.
I live in a deprived area, and the Y6 residentials are far more modestly priced. Staff are actually aware of local income levels and what can be afforded by families in the catchment. There's help for those in need, but when pretty much everyone is strapped for cash, costs have to be kept down because the school can't fund everybody. It needs to be set at a realistic level in the first place, or nobody would go.

RosesAndHellebores · 14/11/2025 15:41

Is there a reason why you can't work @Lillybeans85. If you have a disability or a disabled child, I understand but otherwise, is there a reason why you can't earn the money on your son's behalf.

PevenseygirlQQ · 14/11/2025 15:43

Don’t feel embarrassed OP, you won’t be the first or the last to ask. £600 is rather high! The worst they can say is no, which I’ll doubt they’ll do. Offer what you can afford and maybe ask for instalments.

Fayaway · 14/11/2025 15:46

Bananafofana · 14/11/2025 15:37

Yet another person here saying ask the school.

(and just as an aside £600 is insane. My dc are at a private school in London and the year 6 residential is less than that and payments are spread out over three terms)

I think it’s probably due to the amount of people already getting a discount that the full cost is more than envisioned - a family member’s child went on a school residential where the cost to those with a single parent was £200. The take up was high so the cost to those paying full whack went up to £700. I wouldn’t have been able to afford that. I’d imagine the private school trip has everyone paying the same?

topcat2014 · 14/11/2025 15:50

I used to work in school finance. Yes they will know all about this. Speak to the head of house/ head of year etc as they are usually the folk that do all the pastoral stuff

clary · 14/11/2025 15:53

I agree with everyone, please speak to the school. They will be happy to help I am sure.

I actually think £600 for five days is not bad at all. My DC did a year 6 trip to PGL on the south coast and IIRC it cost about £350-£400 and that was 12 years ago. Best of luck @Lillybeans85 hope you are able to sort it so your DC can go.

Namechange822 · 14/11/2025 15:53

Could he have the residential as his main Christmas present? Perhaps with money from his grandparents or uncles/aunts etc too?

I appreciate that doesn’t make it any cheaper but does mean you save on spending out over Christmas. He could just have some chocolates etc to open on Christmas Day.

zeddybrek · 14/11/2025 15:53

Former teacher here. Please speak to the school. They need to know and are most likely to help. There is nearly always a pot to use to support situations like yours. Also £600 is eye watering. Absolutely ridiculous. I took my A level students to Paris Disneyland for half that.

Whereismyfleeceblanket · 14/11/2025 15:55

I had 2 dd's in the same year going on the same residential.. It was actually the school secretary who suggested I ask the Head if School Funds to pay for 1 of them. . It was much appreciated...

RedToothBrush · 14/11/2025 15:57

dicentra365 · 14/11/2025 15:18

£600 is taking the piss. my dd is doing year 6 residential and it’s costing £225. Were not in a wealthy area, so the deposit was £50 and then the school are asking for £25 a month installments. It’s honestly tone deaf to think that £600 isn’t going to be a struggle for some families. I feel annoyed on your behalf! However do speak to the school, there is sometimes some discretion that extends beyond just pp students.

I live in an area with lots of, in theory, better off parents.

In practice they are mortgaged up to the hilt and actually have surprisingly little disposable cash.

The school have made a point of keeping trips much cheaper than that. £600 is a lot of money for virtually any family to find right now regardless of whether from the outside they appear wealthy or not.

As a side to this, DH does a lot of community work here and every year the schools have requests for emergency Christmas Boxes. We don't know who it is, the schools keep it confidential, but we do know it's from parents who fall in between the cracks and often have had an unexpected personal issue (eg having to take unpaid leave at short notice for an illness or an issue with a family member). They aren't eligible for benefits, look well off but are financially very insecure.

Ironically we do know people living on the local council estate who live on benefits who have more disposable cash than some of these families. And of course quality for assistance with these type of trips.

It is causing a certain amount of friction within my circle of friends at the moment as the council estate party makes a song and dance about how poor she is and then splashes cash about in a way some of the parents who are firmly in the middle just can't.

There's this weird taboo in this middle group about admitting how much they are struggling. It really needs them to be vocal that actually the school is out of touch with the local community and is being massively insensitive and taking the piss. It only serves to highlight the tension above about those who are eligible for assistance.

Honestly you won't be the only one in this position. The school are being really unfair.

The school are not grasping that a family with two or three kids won't just be paying this once either.

Don't just ask for assistance, frankly complain.