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Original poster

cost of year 6 residential trip

120 replies

waywardkitten · 24/02/2023 13:18

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.

OP posts:
Sodie · 24/02/2023 23:36

My ten year old son (year 5) goes to a VA church school and they don't do a single school trip or activity that costs parents money! It is quite small (80 children aged 3-11). They also give out every child's first uniform and book bag free, no matter what age you join the school.

dizzydizzydizzy · 24/02/2023 23:52

Just looked up on this activity Centre in the SW.

www.millonthebrue.co.uk/schools-and-groups/

For a 4-night stay in high season they charge £463 per child.

The rest of your money will be to cover coach, insurance, staff overtime etc.

Fudgeball123 · 25/02/2023 08:20

I think ours is going for 5 nights and including activities it's about £550. So yours may be high end but not insane.

Legoninjago1 · 25/02/2023 08:49

It actually doesn't sound too far off the mark to me based on a couple of recent trips our prep school have done. Everything's gone up and actually trips within the UK can be more expensive than going abroad now. Coaches etc are very expensive at the moment.
Why don't you contact the bursar and ask why the cost is what it is? I'm sure they'll be able to explain.

cansu · 25/02/2023 08:53

It's the coach. Most schools don't go that far which keeps the cost down.

Andanotherone01 · 25/02/2023 09:51

To add some perspective DD had a term of swimming lessons - swimming pool is 20 minute walk but they had to take the coach because it’s winter. The cost was £98 🙀

ukholidayseeker · 25/02/2023 10:02

I'm a state school, staff are not paid over time and go out of the goodness of their hearts (well my primary school anyway). Maybe at a private school they pay the school extra to go and cost to parents covers that?

Digimoor · 25/02/2023 10:03

We paid £900 for 6 nights

ukholidayseeker · 25/02/2023 10:04

Also 4 nights is way too long

safeplanet · 25/02/2023 10:09

Our yr 4 state primary one was about £400, I would expect private schools to charge more though!

greenacrylicpaint · 25/02/2023 10:13

ours was 500. however, real cost was 480 and 20 was 'voluntary' to help children ilif households not able to pay.

Maryandherlamb · 25/02/2023 10:17

Yes that's loads. It's one of the reasons I'm scared to send my kids to a private school. We could potentially afford the fees at a stretch but definitely none of the trips and extracurricular activities... they seem to cost a lot more than similar trips in the state sector.

FunnyWorldWeLiveIn · 25/02/2023 10:19

Sounds right.

Tiredmum100 · 25/02/2023 10:23

I think I've paid £180 for my year 6 child's residential trip. They are going in June to an activity centre as well.

LBOCS2 · 25/02/2023 10:27

We're paying £450 for DD1's y6 residential trip, which is 4 nights in September. Outer London state school. If state schools get preferential rates in some places I can well see where the difference is, taking into account that and the distance they're intending to take them. 200 miles a LONG way with a coach full of 10yos!

Fudgeball123 · 25/02/2023 12:59

Yes I would avoid a 200mile bus journey...

JaffavsCookie · 25/02/2023 15:46

Not madly out of kilter if private activity centre.
PPs quoting prices from 2019, yes they have gone up hugely since then.
last trip i ran, coach for 80 kids for a trip of about 20 miles each way coach was £925!. We got several quotes and that was the cheapest

bumpertobumper · 25/02/2023 16:37

London state school, summer 2022 4 nights at pgl was £480 inc coaches
A big jump from a few years earlier which was around the 300 region if I remember rightly

SheilaFentiman · 25/02/2023 17:01

Four nights at pgl osmington bay at the end of May is £419. Ok,that’s the half term price but it gives some idea. Then insurance, coach hire … not too far off

XelaM · 25/02/2023 17:09

Private schools probably pay the teachers for their time on these trips. State schools don't. That's the price difference. I think it's quite shocking that state schools don't pay teachers for residential trips and that's the reason so few state schools now do them.

0htooooodles · 25/02/2023 17:10

Ours is just over £500 mon-fri in Sussex state school. I'd rather not pay it as seems way too much but my DD is insistent she wants to go Grin

SliceoQuiche · 25/02/2023 17:12

We’re paying £190 for 3 nights this May, I winced at that but sounds like a bargain now!

Englishash · 25/02/2023 18:00

Why not just ask the school for a breakdown of costs as it does sound like a lot of money. They can't refuse.

MKDmumofflash · 25/02/2023 18:13

NW state school here, 4 nights plus ferry to Isle of Man was £220 last summer.

crossstitchingnana · 25/02/2023 18:28

9'years ago I paid £300 for my dd to go to London for 5 days and stay in a hotel and see a West End show.