School trip - refund?

[Anon751117000]

Not sure if this is the right place for this....

I paid over £700 for a school trip for my son a few months ago (just paid it all in one go). He has now decided he wants to drop out of school (if he manages to secure an apprenticeship). Obviously this has come as a total shock to me but seems to be what he wants. Shame he didn't decide that before asking to go on the trip :-(

I'm well aware that I can't necessarily expect any refund on the trip but just wondered if anyone else had been in a similar situation. Obviously I know I will have to contact the school soon to ask them.

I'm hoping that if the trip was over subscribed, they may be able to get another pupil to take his place and get some money back.

I have no clue if I would just lose the whole lot - anyone had similar?

contact the school asap

Our school will fully refund if they can find another student to want to go on the trip. If not, then no refund.
So, I’d advise to get into contact with school asap to give them time to advertise the place available.

Its not a degree apprenticeship. There are absolutely loads where we are - he's applied for about 6 so far and already has 2 assessment days booked in. He already has the GCSE grades so hoping this helps.

I've emailed the school now and awaiting a response

@FNDandme @Emmz1510 I'm not sure its an option for Sixth form. He's only doing 3 A levels. I asked him if it would help to perhaps drop one. Sadly he is completely set on leaving and looks like I just cannot change his mind. I've obviously told him he can't leave until he has something secured. Believe me, I am gutted.

I certainly didn't sign anything. But you wouldn't sign anything for a normal holiday. The original email just had a link to put their name down then a payment schedule was added to the payment app. He got priority because its a trip specific to his subject, then it was opened up to the wider year group.

See what the school say because I expect they have a waiting list. If not I would speak to your DS and let him know that he needs to pay you back for the trip if there's no refund and he doesn't go. I'd have been mortified if my parents were that much out of pocket because of my own decision.

If you’d prefer him to stay, then this could be a good way of talking to the school about how unhappy your son is. As a PP said, an independent school will want to do everything to keep him on a they might change the way they treat him/sort out a plan of working together. Also agree with PP that A levels or equivalent are a good idea for the future. They give him options at 18+ as to whether he might prefer to go on to university or whether he’s committed to an apprenticeship.

I had almost exactly the same situation with my daughter for a trip to Italy. It had said no refunds on the school email when I signed up, and I’d paid instalments throughout the year. I contacted the school and because there were others on the waiting list they refunded nearly the whole amount (took a few weeks). Just took off a small fee for having to change the name on the plane tickets or whatever it was. I was very grateful to them

@queenofthesuburbs I mean I absolutely agree. I would rather he stayed and got his A Levels. He's always been clear he doesn't want to go to Uni and that's fine. Unfortunately he is in a very clear mindset that he no longer wants to attend school and wants to be earning money. Believe me I've tried persuading him in every which way.
Despite being an independent school (and one of the top schools in my area), I have not found them particularly supportive so far. I've not spoken to them yet but I fear the bottom line here is that he is just not prepared to put in the work. That's not good for him, the school or other pupils.

Gosh that’s tricky if he’s so set on leaving.

Personally, I wouldn’t let him make such a rash decision at 16. Would he be happier in a sixth form college? You only go in for your lessons ( ie 15 hours per week if doing 3 A levels) and there’s the option of T levels if he fancies something more hands on. Not having to go in to “school “ when he has no lessons means he could maybe work some mornings/afternoons to get a bit of money?

If you’re then saving on school fees, I’d be tempted to pay him to stay on at a college if only to give him options

I realise this doesn’t answer your original question!!

@queenofthesuburbs he'll be 18 in 3 months (he's an early birthday). He technically was only going in for his lessons anyway, but because he was falling behind and lack of effort, he had his flexible timetable removed (which only made him worse). Honestly if I could find a way of keeping him in education i would. He is absolutely hell bent on leaving and starting an apprenticeship.
Today for example, I pretty much had to force him to go in but he has bunked off school early (just had an email from the school). I think he's now trying to get kicked out. I'm having a terrible time with him. I just have to pray he gets one of these apprenticeships.
Thankfully this isn't a fee paying school!!

You should get your money back imo . Plenty of time to change plans .

It's a bit mad they've removed the flexi timetable because he's struggling to go! In my experience they should be removing obstacles and being more flexible until it's at a level he can cope with.
I hope you get sorted with the school trip, hopefully they can find someone else to go - personally I'd try and sort it whilst he's still a pupil and just say he's changed his mind, I suspect once he confirms he's leaving/no longer a pupil, then they will wash their hands of it all and ignore your emails!

Are you sure they didn't provide any terms and conditions? - pretty strange if they didn't - what paperwork did you receive about tge trop and on receipt of your payment?

If they didn't provide ant terms and conditions then you'll probably have a good chance to get a refund or at least a partial refund.... might depend on how "unpopular" you are prepared to make yourself and whether that would include threatening small claims court action to recover your money.......

I checked the original communication. All i received was a link to the consent form, a link to the proposed itinerary and information on the dates etc for the visit. No attachments of Terms or anything at all.
I have emailed the school and still awaiting a response!

@Ireallywantadoughnut36 I have subtly emailed the head of 6th form today. I've explained the current situation and asked for some 'advice' as to how we can get a smooth transition out of school. I may find out things I'm not aware of - perhaps they have offered him support already and he has not taken it up. Ideally I would like them to support him in making this move from school (if that is what he insists on) in a way that doesn't fully close the door. He is not guaranteed an apprenticeship and that concerns me.

Finally got an update from the school. The teacher called me (she was lovely) and said there are two options. Option 1: I pull him out right now and lose £260 which has already paid the flight with the agent, or Option 2: she goes out to the waiting list to see if she can fill his space and I would get a full refund.
This is great news even if I lose some of the money.
Although the call left me a little teary when she told me he's been doing so well in her class and really wanted him to go. 😥

My sons school have changed a 4 night trip into a 3 night trip at the same charge - he doesn't want to go anymore - will I be entitled to a full refund including our deposit back ???

You would at the school where I work (independent).
It’s not as advertised (unless they have something in the terms and conditions you have agreed to).

Contact the trip organiser and see if there's a wait list. Maybe someone else can take his place.