Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

FREE school trips and holidays/parents on benefits!

185 replies

graceM · 11/02/2015 18:12

Tonight I've had a letter home from my son's secondary school letting us know that there is a trip to France coming up in July before they break up for summer. It's for four days and it costs £672, well I've just read at bottom of the page that the trip will be either free of charge or reduced accordingly for parents who claim benefits, ie income support, job seekers, housing benefit etc etc, well I'm absolutely furious to say the least!

I know that not everyone can afford to send their children on expensive school trips/holidays etc, neither can I really but I'm willing to scrimp and save to ensure my son gets to go. So why the hell should other parents get it free? If you can't afford for your child to go then they don't go simple, I know it's sad but that's just the way it is. Not happy!

OP posts:
woodhill · 11/02/2015 22:09

glad you are getting a car for your dh but in this case I think there were other questionable factors but it is a long time ago.

mygrandchildrenrock · 11/02/2015 22:09

Mrs DV Grin (not for the life limiting condition)

meglet · 11/02/2015 22:09

should they sell the car to pay for the school trip then?

mygrandchildrenrock · 11/02/2015 22:10

woodhill you just don't get it do you?

MrsDeVere · 11/02/2015 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 11/02/2015 22:15

672 for four days sounds bad value for money

Juno321 · 11/02/2015 22:15

Woodhill that's the point exactly, you THINK there were other questionable factors. But what do you know?

woodhill · 11/02/2015 22:17

no but I remember being told it had DVD screens in the back. my friend had an old car and had to pay for twins.

if you can have a car like that then pay for your dc's trip. I don't think the head was impressed.

DinkyDino · 11/02/2015 22:18

I'm a single mum, from a very poor background. I never got to go on school trips, never took part in anything at school that cost money. Its not a nice feeling being one of those children, sitting in a classroom, knowing everyone else is having fun. The feeling becomes even worse when the trip/event is over and all the other children are discussing their great time.

Contrary to the belief that I think you have OP, I left school and worked all of my life until 4 years ago when I gave birth to my son. I am a single mum now on benefits. After paying the rent, bills and putting food on the table there is little left over each month to do much else.

I haven't been to the hairdresser in 2 years, I rarely eat 3 meals a day. I don't go out socialising and I most certainly can't afford a car. Every penny that I have spare goes on my son. I currently struggle to pay the £3 this week and the £4 next week that the school tends to always want for this and that never mind a school trip and all I think about is how I don't want my son to be in the position I was as a child or feel the feelings that I felt so I am greatly thankful that there is now something in place to help with the cost of school trips for my son.

So OP, I find your post both insulting to me and my son. I challenge you to live my life for a month and then try ranting on about how much (sorry...LITTLE) you have to give up! GRRRRRR!

TheRealMaryMillington · 11/02/2015 22:20

It's a shed load of money for 4 days (but that's another thread)

I would just like to say that this is exactly the kind of thing I want the paltry percentage of my taxes that goes to education to be spent on. Levelling the playing field, giving opportunities to those who would never otherwise have them.

As a SAHP to a school-aged kid you are in a privileged position. Many people cannot afford to be that. I have every sympathy for the "squeezed middle" (being part of it), especially those earning only just above the threshold for benefits/tax credits etc. But you, OP, are blaming the wrong people for the fact you are a bit skint. And being charmless and naive in the process.

expatinscotland · 11/02/2015 22:20

'Well I'm a sham . . . '

Best quote. Ever.

MrsDeVere · 11/02/2015 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

youngestisapyscho · 11/02/2015 22:25

But why is it assumed that you can afford trips because you work? We work but would not be able to afford that much money for a school trip for our DD.

woodhill · 11/02/2015 22:25

by my friend. it was contentious because this friend had to organise the bring and buy to raise funds.

MrsDeVere · 11/02/2015 22:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Juno321 · 11/02/2015 22:37

Well perhaps you should stop being one of those mums in the playground, gossiping with other mums about who has what car and who can and can't afford to pay for school trips and start assuming that really you know nothing about anyone else's cirsumstances, regardless of what you think you know.

woodhill · 11/02/2015 22:47

I wasn't in the playground by this point. I was working and didn't do school pick ups .The reason it was discussed was because the year group were asked for donations and to come to the sale so most people in the year were talking about it.

we were quite a tight knit year group as alot of us had dc in playgroup and nursery.

LeftyLoony · 11/02/2015 22:54

Focus Titanium. Not top of the range, next one down.
I'm getting it in 2 weeks. Because my 9 year old has to use a wheelchair most of the time.

Oh, and the reason we had to go for the Titanium? (and raise a £195 down payment)
to stop said 9 year old winding down a manual window winder and trying to escape.

It's an estate too, as it was the only car that would easily fit 2 wheelchairs.

Yes we did get a discount (not free) on my eldest's residential. If we hadn't no he wouldn't have gone. Why is that fair when the reason we're a lower income family is because we've had to stop work to care for our 3 disabled children? Previous to their needs getting too great we both worked opposing shifts, and were both full time.

MrsDeVere · 11/02/2015 23:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/02/2015 23:07

But why is it assumed that you can afford trips because you work? We work but would not be able to afford that much money for a school trip for our DD

this is just it really.

These things are always an "all or nothing" senario and very little in place to help those in he middle.

I do expect that better deals can be found to reduce cost.

installment payment plan maybe.

loving a Pp story of children helping to raise money by doing bake sales etc.

There must be ways or alternative trips that don't price out those in the middle. earning too much to qualify for fsm and subsidised places but mot earning enough to pay for these trips without seriously creating financial problems for themselves.

out of all the activities and trips available surely it should be one where everyone has the chance to go

woodhill · 11/02/2015 23:11

that was the point though. the dcs were asked to bring stuff in for the sale.

I think the problem was that the parents needing assistance thought the school had a contingency fund which it didn't and it was all last minute.

bedelia · 11/02/2015 23:35

OP, I'd suggest taking a look at the finer points of the school's OFSTED report which should give you an idea of the percentage of children attending who qualify for FSM and the PP. Judging by the cost of the trip, I wouldn't be surprised if that percentage was very low. I'd hazard a guess that the school was based in a rather affluent area, and that the number of children who wouldn't be able to go on the trip without assistance would be rather small, thus singling them out as being "less privileged".

Personally I think the use of PP to help meet the costs of school trips is a wonderful use of resources.

cottageinthecountry · 11/02/2015 23:37

Having read the posts about various parents jetting off on holiday whilst taking a free trip from school, I think schools should be a bit more on the ball regarding fraud because that's what it is.

Yes these trips are life-changing, but they're life-changing because they take the child into a different environment and you can do that for a lot less money. As a result there are fewer grudges held against the parents who get 'freebies' and more working low income parents can afford it comfortably too.

tintingirl · 12/02/2015 01:13

Pupil premium money is often used in this way and I cannot think of a better use to be honest.

In a fortnight I am taking a group of 15-18 year olds to Paris for 3 nights. A few have never been abroad. I have countersigned 4 "first passport" applications out of a group of 35 students. I have done the same trip for a few years and what those first timers get out of it cannot be measured but it is invaluable.

I teach secondary and our pupil premium students get an annual allowance and can choose to spend it on a whole range of things. Some save it for years for a residential trip in year 11/12/13 and it is their first ever time abroad or even away from home. Who the hell would begrudge them that opportunity?

Pupil premium money also ensures they have food tech ingrendients, PE kit, art materials, musical instrument loans, and revision guides during exam years. They get the option for breakfast every day as well which isn't covered by free school meal funding. They get summer schools if behind on progress, and what is left they can spend on trips. Or buy an instrument if they are musical and want their own. Or join a fee paying sports club. Or get singing lessons. Or get a maths tutor. Basically, whatever they/we feel they need to "level the playing field". And why the hell not?

Schools are accountable to Ofsted on how they spend the money and pupil premium student achievement can turn an outstanding school to a special measures one.

unlucky83 · 12/02/2015 08:35

I'm curious about this...
What I'm thinking here is if the pupil premium is approx £900 a year ...
This trip costs £672. Does the PP include paying for free school meals for the child? (I think will cost £380 pa - DD's friend gets £10 pw -school term is 38 weeks) - there is a short fall there. Is it carried over from previous years?
For every child on pupil premium there can't be a trip planned like this every year - or if there was that wouldn't be fair -seeing as the majority of people really couldn't afford to shell out £672 a year on a trip for just one child...
So what happens to the rest of the money - on the years that child doesn't go on a trip like this?
I'm guessing it pays for all the things parents not on FSM normally pay for uniform, the odd small trip, home ec supplies - I think that costs me about £250 a year, plus the FSM £380 - £630 - so from the PP it leaves £270 -not enough to pay for this trip unless it carried over for 2.5 yrs ...
Or does the PP go into a central pot?
So other children's PP is subsiding the trip?
Also where does things like the cost of a passport (£50) and spending money come from? People who are really struggling can't find that kind of money anyway - so unless that is also covered by the school the poorest children will still not benefit as their parents will not be able to afford the extras that go with it...