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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Choir trip costs a fortune

41 replies

Fitmum8719 · 25/10/2023 18:23

I was wondering what's your thoughts on the following: my daughter attends the choir club at lunch clubs in school. Their school hasn't organised any school trips whatsoever since Covid. She's 13 in year 9 at the moment. All of a sudden I've received a letter that they are organising a choir tour to Belgium next July and asking £715 for the trip plus spending money. On top of that pay a deposit by next week and a total of £325 right before Christmas.
I am fuming as I explained my daughter that I cannot afford this trip right now and it would put us into a very vulnerable situation. She is so upset and telling me that all her friends are going and she will be the only one left out and she's in tears.
I just cannot believe the school puts parents into a position like this especially with the cost of living crisis. I am seriously thinking about writing a letter to the principal since previously the excuse for not organising a UK trip was costs and now they decide to go for this..... cannot get my head around it and feel like my daughter will have to miss out because of my financial situation.

OP posts:
Antst · 25/10/2023 18:28

I'm so sorry, OP. What an awful position to put you in and so suddenly! I don't understand why anyone would think people can come up with an extra £325 between now and Christmas.

Yes, I would write to the principal. I bet there are other parents who feel the same way.

This kind of trip could work if there were several months for the kids to raise funds. So odd that that's not the option they're going with. I would ask the principal why.

LightDrizzle · 25/10/2023 18:38

Her disappointment is understandable but I doubt ALL her friends are going at that price. Hers won’t be the only tearful conversation with parents.

It does seem rather expensive for Belgium but I suppose it depends on the length of the trip and the accommodation. I was appalled when some of my DD1’s peers mutinied at the prospect of dorm YHA accommodation in Madrid with the result the teacher canned a proposed 6th Form Spanish trip. It explains the insane costs of that school’s ski trips (that DD never went on). One was to Canada with girls two to a room in a queen sized bed each in a 4 star hotel! Ridiculous! I had a ball on my state school ski trip with 6 to a room in bunk beds with watery spag bol and a wrinkled Golden Delicious comprising a typical dinner. The trip was affordable, - for skiing.

Insurance will be a significant cost and I assume accompanying adults’ accommodation costs will be in there as shepherding a load of secondary schoolchildren abroad without their parents is NOT a holiday.

It is a shame but she will get over it with your help. By all means write to the Head but try to keep it polite and, yes, ask if a U.K. trip could not be considered for the next one and at a more affordable price.

Original poster
Fitmum8719 · 25/10/2023 18:43

Thank you for your advice. It is a 4 day trip and according to the letter multi-beded accommodation which I beleive would be hostel style. A theme park and a museum is included in the price but I can't imagine that one to be so expensive, not to mention she hates the rides lol.

As it is not the class but the choir the friends she has in thag choir group are all going and keep asking her if her parents said yes yet, which makes even more awful for her. I think the whole situation is just awful and now I just wish she never joined the choir club even though she loves it.

OP posts:
Jewelspun · 25/10/2023 18:46

Work out if you can take her and have your own accommodation for a cheaper price and meet up with them for the excursions.

cocksstrideintheevening · 25/10/2023 18:49

The expense will be coach and insurance. Our school is offering a ski trip for £1600, they are flying it is cheaper than coaching.

The adults costs are also covered.

Break it down and it's not unrealistic. Food / snacks / drinks for at least four full days and half a day on either side, museum, theme park...

RedHelenB · 25/10/2023 18:51

Could part of it be a Christmas present? Does she have savings in her nane that she could put towards it? I'd be trying my hardest to find a way, maybe school might have funds that could go towards it if you asked?

Schoolchoicesucks · 25/10/2023 18:52

I don't think it's fair for you to be angry with the school. It's a shame they haven't offered any more affordable trips and they should have given some advance warning. But it isn't a compulsory trip, is a fun opportunity for the kids that will go. Surely not all kids should miss out on that because some can't afford it.

Could you ask the school if there are any opportunities for funding or for installment plans? Could your daughter earn some of the cost or ask for contributions from grandparents etc for Christmas?

Original poster
Fitmum8719 · 25/10/2023 19:02

I am angry with the school because they didn't give enough warning even though it was mentioned end of last year, but it was a maybe and not given the heads up hos much it may costs.
Secondly yes of course I can bend forward and back and somehow find the money and put it towards Christmas, although don't think she'll appreciate the fact that she will have nothing under the tree because her allowance goes on the trip. It's ridiculous for having to let my other 2 DDs to miss out so one can have it all......
Don't get me wrong Im not one of those parents who never take their kids on holidays. I think she's been abroad more than any of her friends but it is bad timing right now with very short notice which could have been avoided if it was well communicated in advance....and that's down to the school !

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 25/10/2023 19:05

Costs of trips have gone up massively of late - it is possible that they have spent a couple of months shopping around and trying to get the costs down, hence the late notice.

SheilaFentiman · 25/10/2023 19:06

I think asking the school if you can pay on a more drawn out schedule may have some success

Original poster
Fitmum8719 · 25/10/2023 19:08

Oh besides I'd love to go on the Maldives on a mum retreat but that would mean everyone else in the family will have to go without....of course I can find a way to pay it but then I'll cancel all afterschool clubs, no clothes no extra activities, no holiday for everyone else and I'll just have it all. Life ain't working like this.

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 25/10/2023 19:13

Talk to the school. They should have a hardship fund and could help you out. Or they may be able to allow you to pay over a longer period.
That doesn't get over the fact that it's a lot of money though, whether you pay as a lump sum or in instalments.

I wish schools would go back to the days when the school trips were a day out in Bristol Zoo or equivalent. The trips are getting more and more ambitious and more and more expensive. I don't see why they can't do a choir tour in this country. Why do they need to go abroad? It's not the French class that's going.

SheilaFentiman · 25/10/2023 19:13

My school is planning a trip to Berlin next october that will be £850-£900 for 3 nights. No theme parks and no in country coach trips between cities (as may be happening on a choir tour) but it will include coaches to and from school and lots of historic things like the checkpoint Charlie museum. I don’t know what the accommodation is but the Spanish trip earlier this year was in dorm type accommodation. They are asking for a £300 deposit before the end of the year!

SheilaFentiman · 25/10/2023 19:15

A choir tour in this country might not be that much less - flights are often not the biggest part, coach hire, insurance, accommodation and food will all add up.

greenacrylicpaint · 25/10/2023 19:15

as it's a club is there a fund?

ask school, club, pta if there is any help you can get.

it would be a fantastic trip, but it can't be if it leaves you in a bad financial situation.

ViaRia01 · 25/10/2023 19:16

The cost of travel has risen so high recently, I’m sure this will be the case for the trip as well.

Thengokd thing is that the school told you they were trying to put together this trip at the end of last year so hopefully you’ve managed to put some money aside towards it by now. The school might be able to arrange a payment plan or a reduced rate if you can show good intent and put down the deposit at least.

arethereanyleftatall · 25/10/2023 19:22

I'm sorry for you op, but think Yabu. There's many people who love school trips. The school can't win here - put on a trip and people complain, don't put on a trip and people complain. Also, it isn't compulsory. As she's 13, that's babysitting age or thereabouts (dd started at 14 so she's nearly there), so good opportunity 'sorry love, I can't afford this one, maybe next year if you start babysitting, we can work together to get you on that one.'

thismummydrinksgin · 25/10/2023 19:36

Check if there are any local charities who help with education trips, there are some in my local area. Ask council, and I'd also explain situation with the school who may work out a payment plan or help with cost x

Antst · 25/10/2023 19:40

arethereanyleftatall · 25/10/2023 19:22

I'm sorry for you op, but think Yabu. There's many people who love school trips. The school can't win here - put on a trip and people complain, don't put on a trip and people complain. Also, it isn't compulsory. As she's 13, that's babysitting age or thereabouts (dd started at 14 so she's nearly there), so good opportunity 'sorry love, I can't afford this one, maybe next year if you start babysitting, we can work together to get you on that one.'

I don't think that's fair. It's possible to have a trip that doesn't cost £1000 and that doesn't land parents with a bill for a deposit just before Christmas. It's also possible to have an expensive trip but arrange it far enough in advance that there's time to raise funds.

Antst · 25/10/2023 19:41

KnickerlessParsons · 25/10/2023 19:13

Talk to the school. They should have a hardship fund and could help you out. Or they may be able to allow you to pay over a longer period.
That doesn't get over the fact that it's a lot of money though, whether you pay as a lump sum or in instalments.

I wish schools would go back to the days when the school trips were a day out in Bristol Zoo or equivalent. The trips are getting more and more ambitious and more and more expensive. I don't see why they can't do a choir tour in this country. Why do they need to go abroad? It's not the French class that's going.

Exactly. Some kids aren't going to be able to afford to go and that's not fair.

Jewelspun · 25/10/2023 20:51

Why didn't you answer my post about you taking her and having cheaper travel and accommodation costs and meeting up with the other children for the excisions?

You could go for two out of the four day if four days is still too much for you.

RoseBucket · 25/10/2023 20:57

When they mentioned it nearly a year ago did they suggest it was going to be abroad? The cost is probably about right.

SheilaFentiman · 25/10/2023 21:00

Jewelspun · 25/10/2023 20:51

Why didn't you answer my post about you taking her and having cheaper travel and accommodation costs and meeting up with the other children for the excisions?

You could go for two out of the four day if four days is still too much for you.

That’s pretty aggressive! OP has only been back once since your post, 20-odd minutes after you posted, and she has three DDs who presumably need feeding and tending at that sort of time of night

daisydaredyou · 25/10/2023 21:03

Jewelspun · 25/10/2023 20:51

Why didn't you answer my post about you taking her and having cheaper travel and accommodation costs and meeting up with the other children for the excisions?

You could go for two out of the four day if four days is still too much for you.

Probably because it's a completely terrible idea?

The travel and accommodation for an extra person would end up costing way more, and I can guarantee any year 9 kid would rather die than be escorted on a school trip by their parents. The whole point is to travel with and hang out with their mates.

MetalFences · 25/10/2023 21:11

Jewelspun · 25/10/2023 20:51

Why didn't you answer my post about you taking her and having cheaper travel and accommodation costs and meeting up with the other children for the excisions?

You could go for two out of the four day if four days is still too much for you.

That's a truly terrible idea. Perhaps the OP didn't want to offend you.

It's not a school trip if she goes with her mother.
What about the OPs other children and her job?
How will the school be able to pay for some parts of the trip that the dd will join in with and not other parts - who is going to work out all that?
How can it be cheaper for two people to go to Belgium than one?
What about the schools insurance?
Won't the dd feel embarrassed that attention is being drawn to,the fact that her family can't afford the trip?