School Trips -how much is too much?

[shebird]

We has received a letter for the school this week asking for £50 for DDs school trip which is a day at an activity centre. I'm assuming a fair share of the cost is transport and insurance. I am so annoyed that the school expects parents to cough up such a large amount for a trip within weeks at short notice. They are also doing swimming this term which is quite expensive and they have been on 3 other school trips this year. I just really want to say no but I am worried about embarrassing my DD. I am just so fed up of going along with everything the school expects and really dont want to spend this much and an expensive day out I cannot afford Has anyone out there just said no?

[jamtoast12]

My dd went on a trip in march which cost £10. The school gave us notice in September as it was "such a vast amount of money" they said. I was impressed. I wouldn't want to pay more than that unless pgl or similar but certainly not for a day trip. I'd send in what you can. Lots in dds class don't pay at all!.

[BHouse]

I organize several trips at a Secondary School and find the prices a bit myself. We do have to add in the cost of cover for teachers which obviously bumps things up.

[breatheslowly]

Surely if you are taking children then you don't have huge cover costs as the children aren't in school to be taught.

[LadyIsabellaWrotham]

We've got a 25quid trip coming up as an end of yr 6 treat. we were given a month's notice and the opportunity to pay in instalments. However I think that's been the only trip that's cost in double figures in 12 child-years of school, they normally get two trips a term and the vast majority of them are completely free. I thank my lucky stars for the free TfL school travel scheme.

[BHouse]

Breathslowly - yes presumably for Primary this is true but at Secondary the teachers will obviously miss several lessons with various groups of pupils.

[Phoebe47]

At my school we use part of our Inset day at the start of the Autumn Term to plan class trips for the year. The morning is a training session on whatever the Head deems necessary and in the afternoon teachers get together with year group partners and plan trips for the year. The Head sets a spending limit and we have to keep within this. We book the trips by the end of the second week of the Autumn Term and that means that if costs for a trip go up during the year we are exempt as we have booked early. Parents are given notice of the trips their children are going on during the early part of the first half-term and can pay a set amount weekly/monthly or the full amount nearer the time of the trip. No class goes on more than two paid for trips per year (the school covers the cost of extra things such as visiting theatre groups or Mad Science group through department or subject budget allocations). Parents really appreciate having time to pay/paying weekly and we are lucky to benefit from the tfl free travel for schools. I think there would be an uproar from parents if we gave them short notice of paying for trips as most appreciate having the opportunity to pay in instalments.

[ICanTotallyDance]

My favourite was a £4100 trip to China...! Year 11 not primary school though, of course. I think £50 is too much at short notice and far too much considering it is not the only big trip of the year. Don't be embarrassed to pay less (if it is a state school). If it is private, I think you have to cough up or not attend.

I think more that £10 is too much without advanced warning and any money is too much if its so regular!

Have any children missed the other school trips this year? That would be a good indicator of whether your DD is expected to attend or not. TBH at this age she will most likely not miss out on anything amazing. Do write to the school and let them know your concerns.

[CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs]

DS1's Y6 trip was £189 for three days. Everyone knows it is coming because they do it every year. So you go into the school office at the start of the year and pay weekly or monthly.

It's just forward planning, and bring involved enough in the school calendar to know what is coming up.

£50 doesn't sound like much to me for a day at an activity centre, and I'm sure it's something they do every year, so it wouldn't have been impossible to start putting some money aside.

I'm poor and on benefits - I started saving for it a year beforehand!

[pointythings]

DD2 had a 3-day residential at an activity centre last year - £140 including everything. So £50 for a day trip sounds pretty steep to me. AND we got 4 months' notice. She has a trip to France coming up in Yr6 this October, we've just received the notification and payment schedule. It's £340 for 5 nights away including all transport, food and entrance to Disneyland Paris - I think that's pretty good, and we have plenty of time to pay for it.

[bubblesinthesky]

DD is at a private school and icantotallydance is right its cough up or don't go.

However, they tend to hold the really big trips during the school holidays which does at least mean people whose familes can't afford it aren't left behind at school. Its made very clear that they are optional.

The day trips and the cheaper residentials are during term but the ski trips, the trips to China or Africa etc. are in the holidays which I am grateful for as dd won't be going!!

[bubblesinthesky]

Oh and I agree I think lots of families would find it hard to find £50 at short notice and schools should give more thought to it. Lots of people are strugling at the moment and I know of families who are having to choose between heating and eating - school trips are not going to register on the radar.

[Startail]

£50 for one day at primary is too much and far far too much at no notice.
£20 max without a terms notice.

Mind you DD1 (Y10) has just done me for £45 for a theatre trip, but that's to London and from here that's £££