cost of year 6 residential trip

[waywardkitten]

Namechanged in case outing.

Our DS is at a private London primary school. He is very happy there and it suits him very well. Fees are a bit of a stretch for us, but we manage and feel (for many reasons that I won't bore you with!) that it is worth the money and sacrifices we make so he goes there.

HOWEVER, we've just been told that the cost of a 4 night residential trip within the UK in the summer term will be just over six hundred pounds. This includes transport, food and lots of amazing outdoorsy activities...but am I right in thinking this seems like an excessive amount?!

It's in England and in quite basic, dorm style accommodation...I know that state schools have similar residentials and they might cut their costs by running them off season (ie not going in May or June) but I can't help but suspect that in our case, the school is using this as a way to grab more money from parents? A year group of 80 kids paying that comes to almost 50k. There's no way 4 nights - even with instructors and what have you - costs that. Has anyone experienced similar and what did you do about it? Thanks so much.

Yes that is more than I have paid for my year 9 to go to Belgium for five days in July.

Our year six residential at an activity centre including all activities was £320. Although we had to drop them there and pick them up.

@BooksAndHooks the Y6 residential would have been a lot more if coaches had been required rather than parent transport, which is why I assume schools asked parents to do that, to keep costs down

ours, London state primary, in late June, 4 nights, nice accommodation, min of 2 activities/day is £375. Inc coaches both ways. Yours sounds insanely expensive.

When DS went (several years ago now though) it was £300 in April but that included a return coach for a 3 hour journey.

4 years ago we paid £390 for a similar sounding 4 night trip. Add huge price rises and you'll probably find teachers at a private school will get paid, sounds about right (not saying it's not expensive but doesn't sound like a money maker!). I'm pretty sure state schools are not allowed to profit from school trips but not sure how it works in the private sector - you could always ask?!

I wouldn’t be happy with that. I wasn’t happy forking out £600 for my dd (yr 10) to go to 4 nights to Madrid with the school. The flights aren’t much, they’re staying in a hostel and most of the activities listed are free. Not sure where the £600 is going tbh. Like fuck would I be paying that for 4 nights in the uk.

That's a lot. DS spent five days/four nights at PGL, with all the activities, and we paid about £260 I think. 2019.

It shouldn't have more than doubled in 4 years

Ours is £520 for 4 nights. London state primary.

My youngest went on similar y6 residential in 2019 (was £200), the school go in October/November every year to cut costs. State school, coach supplied. Mine wouldn't be going at that price.

State primary in the North West, similar trip cost about £220

Bloody hell. I can accept that school residential trips are more expensive than scout camps for example because they use paid instructors, outdoor centres and so on but that's ridiculous. For contrast, I'm planning a Cub Camp and I'll be charging £22 for 2 nights camping including all activities and food.

DS, in yr 6 at a state school, has a two night residential at an outdoor pursuits centre in May for £180. So double that, for a four night stay, is still only £360!

It would have been a bit more but not £600. My elder two also had residentials around £350 which included ferry and coach to Isle of Wight. This was 2019 so prices would have gone up now but still doubt it would double.

Our 2020 state primary residential to IOW with ferries and coaches in June was £425 (cancelled). Same trip this year is £520.

My y6 ds goes on residential next month for 2 nights. It’s just over an hour away and is £180 inc coach and all activities/food etc. yours sounds so expensive- how far away is it?

Our 4 night/5 day last September was £360 excluding travel. The IOW is quite expensive too so yours sounds like a cracking deal.

I wonder if they are including overtime for the accompanying staff OP?

We paid for ours via our gov childcare account which helped reduce the cost. Is that an option for you?

Our state one is £400, so it’s not dramatically different.

There's no way 4 nights - even with instructors and what have you - costs that. So you think they’re fraudulently charging more than the cost? That seems unlikely.

My Yr 6 child is going in May. Outer London private school. Just under 600 for 5 days/ 4 nights at PGL. Includes coach. So about the same as yours. Maybe it's to do with paying the teachers?

That is a lot. My DS did that trip in Year 6 and it as £320. He's currently on a Yr 7 trip with similar activities for 3 days and 2 nights and it was £90. It sounds like profit to me!

We’ve just had similar for £400 in November. I imagine for summer they hike up the price?

To add the costs were all inclusive of accommodation, food and coach transport. The Year 6 trip was in North Wales and we are in Herts so it was quite a bit of travelling.

State school here and we paid 110 pounds for 5 nights near snowdon in Wales where they did some fab activities.

TBF, my DSes’ trips back 15 or so years ago in UK for 4 nights including coach were ~£350 at an average state primary. £600 is a fair amount but at a private school I’m guessing most will be able to afford it? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes that's a lot, we are in Bristol and year fives are going for a 4 night adventure residential and total cost is £380. Also I'm going as a carer as my son is disabled and they are paying for my place.