School trips

[Tirednorthern78]

It’s that time of year again where every school seems to think arranging a last minute school trip is a great idea. And whilst I’m all for school trips to enrich their education I can’t help but feel frustrated the way schools going about it. Within the space of a week my Yr3 DD has come home with 2 forms for varies days out (limited educational value from what I can tell) cost is £47 for both.

My YR4 DS has come home with a last minute PGL day trip that’s been organised, £85, and my eldest DD whose in secondary school have dropped the bombshell that there’ll be a trip to Thorpe Park at £65!

why do schools put so much pressure on parents at such short notice. We’re financially well off (allegedly) in stable jobs but our energy bills have doubled in the last month and we’re having to tighten our belts. We’d not qualify for any support from school and with all three nagging me I feel at my wits end!

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

YABU to only value trips with "educational importance"

YABU to be cross that various schools have stuff which overlaps- they don't know or care what other schools are doing

YABU to pay for these if you don't want to/can't.

YANBU to think that costly days out at short notice isn't frustrating as hell.

Question is, what will you do about it? You could contact the school and suggest they offer more notice. You could ask to pay in installments if needed. You could say no to your children.

[ohidoliketobe]

Certainly not my experience. DS (year 4) went to a museum about an hour away last week. We had at least 6 weeks notice and the contribution to cover the coach (free admission) was £3 per child.
DD (Reception) is going to a circus event in the next town in mid July just before they break up. Was told about it this week and the requested contribution is £3.50 to covet transport and the circus school.

[redskyatnight]

That's not "every school" though. My DC's school have always given good notice of trips, tried to keep costs down and offered payment schedules to those struggling.

Have you raised with the school that many families will struggle to find so much money at short notice? They won't know if no one tells them.

[nearlyspringyay]

DTs have got a trip to legoland next week for end of SATS celebration, £35 each. We had two weeks notice, it's fine for us but there are a few who aren't going.

The end of year residential is £485 for four nights, then it was £38 each for a leavers hoodie, a donation of £60 each to cover a leavers party, leavers book, presents to teachers and refreshments after the end of year production.

This is in a very normal primary.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

our school charges us £15 for the year (paid in september)- the trustees match it- covers us for all the trips, apart from the odd own clothes day £1/ red nose day, I never get requests for more. It works so well.

[Tirednorthern78]

I don’t think I’m being u reasonable asking for their primary school to be reasonable give the total charges that I’ve been emailed the last week totals £102. Had notice been given earlier and have arranged a payment schedule to pay it. But this is with 2 weeks notice that needs to be paid in full. I think there’s been a few emails as we received another one today saying that if there wasn’t enough donations it wouldn’t go ahead but to get in touch with school if your struggling to pay.

We are struggling financially at the minute, but not to the point we receive benefits, nor would we receive financial support from school (wouldn’t even ask as I’m aware there are loads in more unfortunate positions than our family) but with mortage and energy bill doubling means things are being chopped back, and unfortunately school trips will have to be one of them.

[Drywhitefruitycidergin]

Apart from yr4 & 6 residentials we pay £35 at the beginning of the year to cover all trips, workshops etc, but they don't get cool stuff like Thorpe Park.
Anything unspent is rolled over to the next year.
Poor old dd2 is in yr2 & has never been on a school trip.

[Yellowmellow2]

It’s been harder for schools to arrange trips this year. Remember that there were still a lot of COVID restrictions in place earlier in the year and so we are making up for lost time now and trying to give the children the experiences they’ve missed. As all schools are doing the same, it’s hard to get booking and sometimes you have to just take what you can get. I’m sure your children’s teachers would prefer not to be trailing round an amusement park with 30 hot, excited children, but they do it for the children. Sometimes we can’t win…