School RE Trip

[DillyDallyingAllDay]

Hello all,

I hope someone can give me some guidance on this issue that has come up with my childs school. The school make us sign a blanket trip consent form that covers all trips within the city limits. However, they seem to think its not important to actually tell us when and where the children are being taken- usually its places the children can walk to, because if a coach is involved we have to pay and thus, are informed that the trip is happening. Does this sound right? To me it seems like a safeguarding risk that I'm not even aware where my child will physically be during the day?

Ours does various outings with annual consent form. Local church, library van, community orchard, sometimes do a bit of forest school, den building etc. It’s mostly in termly newsletter but outdoor stuff is a bit loose as no point if it’s pouring down.

I have to admit this wouldn't concern me even if not studying Christianity this term as I’m sure the teacher is capable if referring back to church visit when they do study Christianity.

Thank you. Wouldn’t a note of such a thing be on the child’s file, though? Either a specific place to avoid or “please check all outings with parent” kind of thing?

But if you were a family where there have been issues, which may affect the child, this will have been shared, by the parent, with the school, well before now.

What if this same person turns up at school, what if the child requires ongoing emotional support?

Apart from the fact that’s very unlikely on a school trip do the parent and child in your scenario never go anywhere in case they bump into problematic people?

If the problematic person were just visiting the same museum at the same time how would the parent know that in advance?

Yes, such issues would be known about and the necessary steps taken if there was someone in particular that had been identified as a potential risk to the child.

It’s normal, my DDs school will take them for walks/the playground/local church etc fairly regularly

I’m not sure how a trip to a church is an issue if it’s Christmas adjacent, whatever that means but not an issue if it’s RE related?

Yes, in theory, but unfortunately there have been occasions when that basic check prior to the trip hasn’t been done, eg there’s a new member of staff in the picture.

There's no harm in an email or class WhatsApp mentioning the proposed outing.

LOL if only you knew me IRL, I’d LOVE to be THAT parent. I’ve always tried not to be THAT parent but I think it might be over rated; am internally raging about many things but my fear of being THAT parent has actually stopped me saying things and I’m beginning to feel like it’s a disservice. Other than querying the trip this am, I haven’t actually said anything to the school…

I'd love my kids school to do more trips, but for health reasons I'd like to know where they were. There’ll be health related things they'd probably never consider.

Xmas adjacent being the religious and cultural values of Christmas specifically; religious worship as part of Christmas. Let’s not forget that Christmas is in fact a religious event not just presents, lights, Santa and a tree. Learning about religions is not the same as preforming acts of worship ascribed to said religions. One is educational, the other is religious.

It honestly doesn’t surprise me.
I’m a governor at a primary school and this sort of thing is becoming more and more common. It’s a nightmare for school staff.

We had a a family who wanted to be informed every time their child used an iPad or had any type of screen time so they could come into school to remove them from those lessons. They kicked off when they found out they’d used an iPad to take pictures of plants for a science project!

Nonsense, tou are just desperate to have a problem with it. For a not insignificant number of people nowadays Christmas has no religious element at all. That may be the origins, but a lot do see it as simply a time for being with family, Father Christmas, decorations and sharing gifts now. I really think it is bizarre to be in anyway annoyed about it.

Our school takes them out regularly. If they're going anywhere other than the park/ woods behind school when they use the back gate and avoid the roads we usually get an email asking for parent helpers.
We only have additional forms if there is a cost or public transport involved

Absolutely agree with you, but don’t you think going to a church changes the dynamic somewhat? And if it was all so innocuous why not be upfront with the parents? It’s the lack of clarity about why they were going, what would be happening that has pushed me over the edge.

Normal to me my dcs are now 18 & 15 and in primary they usually went to the library 10mins walk max. At Christmas they may go to a care home to sing carols again 10mins walk.
For Easter & Christmas they would visit the local church to decorate a tree, this was across the road.

Because there is so much else the teachers need to do that they probably wouldn't do these lovely trips if anything extra was put on top. And no, I don't see why it being a church would change anything. Especially if you have no religion. It is just a building. I'd see it as the same as anything else, an educational trip.

Hahaha do you honest think the school is trying to indoctrinate your child by stealth 😂😂
Getting parents to sign a blanket consent form for local trips is about efficiency not secrecy.

OP, I am afraid you are coming across as one of THOSE parents who teachers dread having to deal with. I bet your child had a lovely day, and isn’t in the least bit indoctrinated or traumatised.

Don’t like the school? Find another one or home educate.

Surely you've told the school about any medical issues ?

@DillyDallyingAllDay what did the school actually say the trip was about vs what your child said it was about?
Are you basically saying the school lied to you or is it just something "lost in translation" a bit from your child (children often interpret things differently).

All state funded schools must hold collective worship "of a broadly Christian character." Therefore, you can't have a year where they don't teach Christianity in some way.

But going to a church, a mosque, a synagogue is a key part of RE, doing so as part of one of the religious festivals brings the learning to life.

Teaching (learning facts) and "collective worship" aren't the same thing though.

What on earth do you think could or would be happening?