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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

School trip - HOW MUCH???????????

100 replies

BethAndHerBrood · 04/05/2007 16:36

DS1 brought a letter home today about his upcoming school trip. Voluntary contribution of £11!!! WTF??? And if not enough pupils pay "there is a risk the trip will be cancelled" They might as well cancel it now, I can't imagine many parents will pay it!

As you can tell, I think it's a lot. You're all going to come on here now and tell me it's nothing compared to what you all pay, aren't you?!

OP posts:

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fannyannie · 04/05/2007 19:38

I agree definitely speak to the school if you can't afford it - at the beginning of last year when DS1 was in Reception I didn't think we'd be able to find the £4.50 that he needed for his school trip (not much I know but we were only just getting back on our feet after nearly losing everything) I spoke to the school secretary and told her that I'd signed the form to say he could go - but could they hang on for a week or so for the money - she turned round and said straight out "Don't worry if you can't find it he (DS1) will still be able to go on the trip"..........as it happens we managed to cobble it together so paid - but it was reassuring to know he wouldn't have missed out have we not been able to find it.,

sugarplumfairy · 04/05/2007 19:44

My dd2 is going on 2 day trips this term with a total cost of about £19.00 and the school offered for us to pay £2.00 per week as they thought it was alot of money.
For the rest of the year they have had about 3 other trips but as the school is very near a tram station into Manchester/Salford they go there alot to museums like the Science and industry and imperial war museum and art galleries so they tend to be quite cheap, just entrance fees. Also went to the theatre at Christmas to see a show on the tram. That was a bit hair-raising making sure I didn't lose any children on the 5 mins walk from the tram stop to the theatre through all the christmas shoppers!
Today she has been to the local pub with her class for breakfast as they had earned a treat for being good. We had to pay £1.50 for it and the school managed to get the chef to come in early before anybody else was in there!

Jomist · 04/05/2007 19:51

For ds2's end of primary school activities they have asked for the princely sum of £120. There are 2 outside visits, one to the Houses of Parliament and the other to an old age home. The other activities are held in school.

The same activities 2 years ago when ds1 was at the same school were £40.

There is the usual letter saying that no child will be disadvantaged if their parent is unable or unwilling to contribute towards these activities, but without sufficient parental support we may not be able to proceed with some of all of them. Then they go on to say that if you don't pay £120 they will have a non-parent governor call you to discuss why you can't afford it.

I have given my contribution and await the governor's call with relish.

fannyannie · 04/05/2007 19:52

"The same activities 2 years ago when ds1 was at the same school were £40."

Yes and the cost of insurance and coachhire has rocketed since then.....

Dadsgot3 · 04/05/2007 21:04

Jomist, why are you looking forward to the call with 'relish'? This governor is someone who is volunteering to make sure the education your child gets is of high standard. Schools do not see trips and visits as a way of making a profit, they are not allowed. They are trying to provide your child with a varied and broad education. This is not covered by the amount the government gives for education. Teachers do not have to arrange trips and people into schools they do it because of the benefit it brings to the children.

I do agree that £120.00 is a huge amount of money and I am surprised that they have arranged so many activities if they are going to be that much money, but fannyannie has explained why the price is likely to have gone up so much.

MegaLegs · 04/05/2007 21:08

Beth - are you from my neck of the woods? Have had letter home this week. DS1 and 2 both have trip, same day, different places, both £11!! Used to be £6 max.

Original poster

BethAndHerBrood · 04/05/2007 21:14

Crikey, I didn't expect all these replies!! I wrote a great long post earlier, then the gremlins got in and it all disappeared!! I'm only just back up and running!

I feel a bit tight now, (I'm northern, it's in my genes!), But DS1 will be bored to tears on this trip. We have no problem paying, it's just the snotty tone of the letter, and just lately they seem to want money for all sorts! But there will be children who's parents will struggle to pay, and the letter gives the impression that if you don't pay, no-one goes.

OP posts:

carol3 · 04/05/2007 21:15

ds year 4 just come back from a 2 night stay away 30mins away. £180
Thank god for grandparents

littlemissbossy · 04/05/2007 21:18

just wait until your DCs go to high school and they want £450 for a youth hostel type 5 day trip to France

ceolas · 04/05/2007 21:19

Never been asked to pay more than a few quid.

If asked for £11 I suppose I'd pay it though. Actually I have just paid £10 for myself and DS to go on a nursery outing. And that is subsidised.

GiantSquirrelSpotter · 04/05/2007 21:19

£3.50 for mine

Come to think of it, I'm now puzzled. The trip is to somewhere we go quite regularly and it never costs me £3.50.

Oh well...

Blandmum · 04/05/2007 21:21

The difficulty with school trips is that the school is unlikely to have the spare money to fund the whole thing.

Equal ops poilcy dictates that there should be money available to assist those families who can't afford to send their kids (fair enough). But the money will not stretch to cover all the kids.

I think what the letter is trying to convay (badly by all accounts) is that if people can pay they should, so that the school fund can cover those people who really can't afford to pay. And if not enough people who can cough up do so, the trip will have to be cancelled.

Blandmum · 04/05/2007 21:23

GSS, rember that the difference in cost could be due to transport. Or to having to pay for the teacher and other adult helpers to get it. That cost is spread over all the children going.

wheresthehamster · 04/05/2007 21:23

Agree littlemissbossy, I have the dubious pleasure of forking out £990 for a 7-day trip to Russia next year!

littlemissbossy · 04/05/2007 21:24

OMG MB
But at least it's further than just over the channel - DSs trip is to bloody Normandy. I've told him I'll drive him myself. Just imagine the shame

littlemissbossy · 04/05/2007 21:25

sorry not MB - WMH - too much wine

wheresthehamster · 04/05/2007 21:26

Blandmum · 04/05/2007 21:26

was a tad confused there! Didn't think I'd written anything that shocking

Spidermama · 04/05/2007 21:29

Yep. DS3 has just had a £12 trip and now I'm forking out for DS2's £12.50 trip. And these are heavily subsidised by the PTFA.

I can't help thinking they'd be better off going down the local park for the day because I've been on these trips and they spend at least half of the time waiting IME.

Jomist · 04/05/2007 22:08

Dadsgot 3, the reason I am looking forward to one of the non-parent governors ringing me is I would like to point out that I think it's highly inappropriate to be contacting parents who say they can't afford to pay asking them why they can't afford it.

My last contact last month with the chair of governors was after I complained about the head teachers obstructive behaviour in dealing with my son's medical needs at school and was told by the chair of governors that I shouldn't be complaining about the head as this would jeopardise my relationship with the school.

I appreciate that they volunteer their services to the school and do a lot of good work. But sadly not all schools are like this one which is probably a matter for another thread.

cat64 · 04/05/2007 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LucyJones · 04/05/2007 22:22

are you sure he will be bored though? It might bring a while new perspective on this sort of thing going with school, with his mates...

pickledpear · 04/05/2007 22:33

my daughters trip costs £80 for 2 nights away and she is about 1 mile away but they dont realise it as they go round the houses to get there but as it was made out in the letter that they expect us to let our children go or they put as a guilt trip they would miss out and all their friends would be talking about it and they would be excluded and feel bad something like that! basically if it is part of the school curriculam (SP) then they should fund it not us
i do pay for school outings normally £2 but i have 2 children at mo in school and single non-working parent so how am i meant to pay really but voluntary does not really mean it i am made to feel

gosh that was long winded sorry

Aero · 04/05/2007 22:39

Our school asks for a voluntary contribution of £16 per child at the beginning of the school year (max £32 per family), so we don't usually have to pay anything much further for trips except pocket money (unless they're exceptionally 'big' trips and then we might be asked for a couple of £s if tthe voluntary fund won't cover the total cost). I don't mind paying either. Am a bit worried about the yr6 trip away for a week though - that is loads - £200ish I think!! Wil need to start saving now - I have a couple of years before ds1 reaches that stage!

kslatts · 04/05/2007 22:52

My dd is going to a farm in June and the school have asked for £15, I don't mind paying, they wrote to us this week and the money doesn't have to be in until the week before the trip, they have also given the option of 3 £5 instalments.

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