school takin the mick part two?

[Tortington]

some mumsnetters amy remember an inane rant i had about my twins primary school asking for money for just about everything.

this week i have had two letters one from twins primary and one from my sons secondary

the primary school wants money for the yr6 children to go on a 4 day holiday during term time( am sure its got someeducational purpose which escapes me) this holiday will cost 300ish pounds - twins means 600ish pounds for me to find - this is an average school not private or anything!

13yr old son comes home begging to go on a skiing trip which his school are organising for 2005. this will cost 600ish pounds for a week not including any equipment hire or lift passes or anything.

now i applaude the organisation which means i can go away and asess finances and i probably can do it - but at the expense of next years family holiday.

the secondary school at the moment just wants expressions of interest and then i assume we can sort out a payment plan with the school.

everyone in year 6 went on this years school trip and it would gut the kids to have to stay in year 5 for that week whilst all their classmates are away.

how can the school justify this trip during a most important year? and what about the cost? i think the education system has gone maaaaaaad.

what does the great mumsnetting public think?

Custdy, my dd certainly won't be going on any school trips costing that much, so no doubt I'll be asking for your advice on that nearer the time! I'll bet though that a lot of the kids parents can't afford that much money, why not have a word with some of them?

As for my darling godson, well he can do no wrong in my eyes! Just take him to confession and get him serving on that altar - we'll make a priest of him yet!!!

I am involved in GirlGuiding, and am also a secondary school teacher. I am one of the mad souls who still put themselves through the barrowloads of paperwork, risk assessments, insurance, permission forms etc to take other people's children away for a residential experience. I firmly believe in the value of these trips - I have seen so many times where children have really blossomed and made huge progress in their personal development through being away from home. Not that their home lives aren't wonderful, but our aim as parents should be to bring up independent young adults who are good citizens and tolerant of others. Family holidays can, of course, broaden minds and enhance experience, but so can being away without parents. Leadership skills come to the fore, and often these trips offer activities or experiences which would be difficult to organise through a family holiday.

Custardo, £300 is a huge amount of money to be asked for a 4 day trip - what are they planning to do? I can only echo the advice about asking if there is any discount for twins - I have organised many holidays and camps and have always offered a discount for families with more than one child attending. I know the school should have thought to tell you, but often the organisers are so bogged down with the paperwork that 'little' details like this that only affect one family get 'lost'.

My 3 children all had a school trip in yr 6 to an activity centre in different areas of England.Here they learnt pot holing, archery canoing any many other things in 5 days and had trips out. This cost no more than £180 and could be paid in installments.Since starting secondary school I will not pay out for skiing as they are close in age (4 1/2 yrs between oldest and youngest) and would be paying out every 2 yrs . I am willing to pay for reasonably priced trips directly linked to education in secondary school but not rediculous amounts that would affect the chance of our whole family to have a holiday.

Custardo - Did the twins go? If not. Speak to the school about their visits/outings policy. As a visits co-ordination every child in my school has an opportunity to go onto every trip. While we appreciate contributions from parents we would never stop a child from going onto a trip purely because of the money factor. It's sad that the school is asking that much from a parent for a school trip.

I think school trips are definitely of value. At 13 our (State) school organised a 2 week French exchange/ski trip. We took the coach to the French Alps (Briancon) and stayed with families for 2 weeks. Spent some time in the school, some time on organised outings and about 5 days on the slopes. I think it probably was quite expensive but being as it was a combined French exchange it was defnitely very educational.

Just to put the cat among the pigeons, when I was at university we had a field trip in the first year to Crete (did Geography). My financially well-endowed university had a policy that no student should have to pay more than 20% of the cost of the trip - so we had a week in Crete at Easter for £80. Truthfully it was a brilliant learning experience - although we did spend a little more than £80 each on beers....

I definitely think that £300 for 4 days is outrageous. Are they flying to Rome, staying in executive suites in the Hilton and eating out at the best restaurents?!

Alsdo don't envy you having to forego family holiday for all this.

i think the trip is in march. i am paying in installments - the last one £40 - which for me is times 2 = £80 in one go. - we had to be reminded to pay the money - which made the class teacher pull me to one side and whisper ...." we can assist you ....we have a ....fund"

the principle is lost .... i should not be put int his situation

i embarrassed the kids again and went to see the headteacher ( again) and she explained that the system for applying to the "poor" fund ( it has a nicer name of which its not worthy) is that the headteacher has to but in a request for the money becuase the poor fund is held by the charity which has been set up to aid the school with fundraising etc. so there is no other way to access the funds. i had to be content with that. it was after ( isnt it always) that i thought " why is this school putting parents in this situation int he first place?" dont put us here.

this makes me so angry