Why do residential trips have to paid in full almost a year in advance?

[Milliways]

I don't begrudge the price of the trip - it was my choice to let DD go, but when we go on hols we pay about 12 weeks in advance.

DD has been on 2 French trips, both required a £50 deposit >12 months in advance, with balance paid about 6 months before. I have paid a £50 deposit for a trip NEXT SUMMER & they want another £110 before Friday & the full balance before November!!!

Surely the school are just earning interest on MY money?

I'd be too. For ds' recent trip we were offered monthly instalments and only had to pay the lot off about a month before the trip.

Discriminates against people who don't have lots to spare. They should say why IMO.

I don't know

We had to pay £50 last oct for the trip last week

Then the balance had to be paid a month ago BUT we chose to pay £10 per week

Primary trips weren't too bad. DS is going away in Sept & balance was due in June - fair enough.

The secondary trips are always first come first served - to do with GCSE stuff etc, send £50 NOW to secure your place, and sign to say you will be liable for whole balance. It's only when they've cashed your £50 do they say OK, another £100 or so next month please , The whole price is reasonable (beats the ski-ing trip etc) but just so early!

I assume it is becasue the school is liable for the full cost of the trip after a certain date has passed so any drop outs would cause problems.

The travel company may well ask for quite a bit up front.