3 day school trip to London

[HanYOLO]

DS is in Y6 and their "leaving" trip is a 3 day trip to London (we are in Liverpool), see the sights, catch a show, houses of parliament etc

Am I being a miserablist to think this is a bit excessive for 10 & 11 year olds? I think they are too young to be in a capital city for 3 days withouth their family. I am also concerned about the logistics of 30 kids on tubes, 30 kids in a hotel etc etc. Not generally a worrier, DS has done scout camp etc - is confident and independent.

I think it would be great for them all Do Something together to mark the end of their time at the school but this seems.....unnecessary?

Why is a outward bound type trip more 'worthy' than a London trip?
My DD in Y5 went to France last year for a week and had great fun.

Thanks everyone. Maybe I am just being oldfashioned

Well, I don't know quite how old fashioned you think you might be, but when I was in Junior school in the first half of the 70s, our 4th yr Juniors (would now be called Yr6) used to do a 5 day residential to London. It was a fantastic trip - opportunity to see so many national landmarks. It had been happening for many years before I went. I still remember it fondly, and I have a terrible memory and don't remember a lot of detail of my childhood.

I don't think it's excessive at all, and would very much appreciate the work the teachers have put in to be able to offer such a fab opportunity.

Maybe I'm just being really really old-fashioned and a bit weird then

He's not going, and half a dozen others, including his best friend are staying back, so he's not bothered.

The DS's school do residential trips from Yr4 and in Yr6 it was a week in France for DS1. They were all fine. I think it is a bit of a shame he isn't going but your choice in the end.

FWIW he did a 2 night YR4 residential(10 mins drive away) AND a 3 night residential in Y5 (about 3/4 hour's drive). So it's not like he's missing out on the "residential experience" in any way and contributes to my views about it being excessive/unnecessary.

I wouldn't even contemplate a trip abroad with school for such young children. Too much too young, for our family, at least.

I'd have said no to this too op - I wouldn't want my young dc going on a 3 day trip to London either.

Why Stompy? A three day trip for an 11yo doesn't seen excessive.

Your being absurd OP. Sorry but you are. Be pretty shit if everyone else is going and he cant.

Its 2hrs 3 mins on the train to London from Liverpool.

What does the £325 include?

Where i stay in CL (Premier inn by Euston) it costs £100 a night- and thats at weekends. Add another £50-80 for a return train. Your looking at nearly £400 so if that £325 includes the train, hotel, attractions your getting a bargain.

Blimey. I did five days in London in 1978 when I was nine. Driving from NI I it was quite a trip! We stayed in some school residential place in Chigwell IIRC. I had a blast, they even let us off in Selfridges for a couple of hours with the only proviso being we had to stay in pairs! 😀 I can't imagine they'd do that now. Then in year 7 I went to the IOM and as I repeated year seven I then went to Edinbrugh! I loved it!

And you're being rude/pointless altctridel, when you clearly haven't rtft or even my posts when I mention that he's far from the only one not going, and that I understand it to be good value. Living in Liverpool, I also know how long the train to London takes, thanks.

Anyway we're all happy here with our decision

Not being rude at all. I pointed out the time because as you said in a PP he would spend over 3 hours on train and I dont see how that is possible when it takes just over 2.

Correct me if im wrong here of course

I can't work put what the reason is why the op won't let her son go? He doesn't 'need' to go seems to be the reason. Surely much of what they do at school is not based on need per se but in enrichment and opportunity and growth opportunities. Shame for the kids that are not allowed to go I expect they will have a super time.

What a pointless thread.

in that case alt i apologise. we have another overland connecting train first - bit north of city centre. technicality

actually it was quite useful to me, savage, I haven't gone with the majority view, but it is interesting to test my assumptions about things, and understand that most people think it's perfectly ok.

mouldy - i've said upthread, it's too much too young. I don't want him to be in London, when I'm not, at age 11. When he's 13 or so, I'll definitely feel differently.

For what reason though?

Well then yes Yabu and miserabilist and your son will miss out. Your role as a parent is to prepare your kids for an independent life. Being one of the few not allowed in the school trip to London because mummy isn't going doesn't achieve that. I feel sorry for your son and I also feel sorry for you because your anxiety is causing problems.

Obviously, totally up to you what you decide, but, I too am wondering what it is about this trip that's making you say no, given that he's already done both Scout camps and school residentials, and you acknowledge this is good value for money

I'm 48 and I went with my school to France for a ask when I was 11, so its hardly a new thing
Ds is 26 and he went to London for a week when he was 10
Dd went on an activity holiday in year 6
I think it was a very important thing for them to do in terms of confidence, independence and preparing for high school

Any experience is a new experience Lindon with the class s will be different to London with family - lots of kids don't like outward bounds - some kids never been to London - rather they were closer to amenities than in the middle of nowhere

I'm another one who did it when I was 10, 35 years ago. It was fabulous, living nowhere near London and getting to go for 3 days. A pigeon pooed on my hand, I got lost in the Science Museum and they showed us a film that had the Plague and Jack The Ripper in it.

I agree that it is weird that some kids have never even been on a bus

I hadn't been on a bus until I was 18 and went to uni. There was no public transport where I grew up. There isn't in lots of country villages.

I think yabVu. The vast majority of schools where I grew up (Kent) do trips to France in yr6 or yr7, without parents! At least in London the kids can speak the language!
What will you do if in eight months the whole year go on a trip to France or Germany? Keep him back by himself because he isn't 13 yet?

DD is off on a music tour to Belgium in March with her school, she will only just have turned 11. Great opportunity. She won't be on the French trip last term as we are home-educating for last term but not to avoid the trip. I feel a big part of my job as a parent is to gradually let go and at times gently push her on her own path without me there. It hurts emotionally sometimes and everyone will be different and ready at different times.

Crikey! I went on a week long trip to France with school (year 6) back in 1976! It was a new thing , then.I don't remember missing my parents once - we had a fantastic time!

The school I work in is doing a 3 day residential to London ,shortly , for the first time.(Year 5 and 6, in Yorkshire) Wish they'd done it when my kids were at the school, they would have loved it!

I totally disagree that the children are too young, it is a fantastic opportunity for them.

I went on a 5 day narrow boat trip at 9 with school, which was amazing. When I was 10 I went on a gymnastics tour to Portugal, Maybe 15 girls for a week? There were some younger girls there too. That was an incredible experience. That was in 1984. I don't think it is old fashioned not to let your son go. I think it is a very modern level of overprotectiveness. Our kids are so much less independent than we were.