School Trips

[user1488722687]

I'm looking at organising a school trip. Have you haggled down the cost for your trip? We are looking at Alton Towers and would like to know your tips and suggestions. Thank you

I wouldn't let my child go! However they usually have a party rate. Can't see how haggling will help further. You have to cost in everything, do a risk assessment, have a meeting for parents if there are concerns, do an itinerary, sort out medicines, sort out adult:child ratios and groups. Ask for parental contributions. Work out what to do if people can't pay. I guess you know all that if you are a teacher. If you are a parent don't do it.

I wouldn't let me child go to alton towers due to them being found negligent last year.
Who are you "haggling" with? I would imagine unless you are taking thousands of children that they are not particularly open to negotiations.

Just to add our school has never had a meeting for parents about a day trip I'm not sure that's necessary!

My kids junior school took them to Alton Towers twice in the last few years and they absolutely loved it. The kids weren't allowed on the Smiler though. I think some parents had raised this as a concern. I wouldn't have minded them going on it, I've been in it twice in the last year. Best rollercoaster ever!

Lego land (which is part of the Merlin group too) certainly does discounted tickets. Whole school (over 500 pupils) went once-wouldn't have liked to be there as a paying customer!
I'd start by phoning customer services and asking what discounts they generally give for schools. If you're a particularly large school then you may be able to haggle slightly.

We went to Alton towers in 3rd year secondary and it was great, particularly for people like me whose parents would never have paid for theme parks entry for anything.
I think there was a pub near the entrance the teachers stayed at Don't think you'll get away with that though!

I arrange lots of trips to theme parks and the like and always phone to chat things through and negotiate a good price. Many places also have generic risk assessments that you can then adapt or base your own on.

I personally can't see a point in sending school classes to a theme park. I am all in favour for school trips but I like to see a link to a topic or something like team building like a PGL-type or similar.

Our Y6 go for a week to the Isle of Wight, that's all about being independent and away from parents. The PGL-type one is in Y5 to do team building and stretch its personal limits, it is also for a lot of them the first time away from parents for more than one day.

A theme park - I would send DD most likely due to peer-pressure but won't like it.

The trips I organise aren't meant to be educational. We are a boarding school and they are purely for a fun day out at the weekend.

Thank you for your replies. Yes this is a year 6 celebration! We have a PGL booked. However our pupils have asked for us to take us and we feel that it would be appropriate to do so. Especially since the children have started fund raising for this. We want to support them and help them meet their goal!