Secondary school French trip. Does DS1 have to have a passport to be able to go?

[Tortoise]

DS1 brought home a letter tonight from school about French trip.
DS1 thinks he can't go because he has no passport but i have never had a passport and i went on a weekend school trip to Paris.

Reply slip must be in tomorrow so i can't phone school and ask.

Also if he does need one how long does it take? (Trip is end Nov)

Group passport? DD is going on a French trip next month and for those that don't have them, the school is organising a group passport.

Yov've got plenty of time to get one but the school will probably organise a group passport.

Yes, he does, see here, there was a similar thread recently, I'll see if I can find it

ds went on a group passport last year

Yes he does.

Here you are www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/1038766-SCHOOL-TRIPS-PASSPORT

Most people have needed an individual passport

I went to France about 9 years ago with no passport, well I had an out of date one. I thought in theory you didn't need one as the EU was supposed to be without borders. I remember a journalist did an article testing this once and got right round Europe with no apssport but did have some real arguments at some borders.

Anyway English customs let me out and said they would let me back in but warned me that French customs may not let me into France. I took the risk and didn't have any problems.

I suspect things may be stricter now though with immigration, etc. Also I was in my 20s and took the risk of having to sit on Dover dock for the day waiting for my mates to come back. I wouldn't let one of my DC risk it.

info about group passports here allow 6 weeks for processing by Passport office.

Thanks for info. Will contact school tomorrow about the group passport. Will still send reply slip because it is just to see how many are interested.

I don't know if he will need a passport but I recently arranged one for DS2 and it took 6 days! It was £49 (eek!) but I cannot complain about the service at all.

I'd send the rely slip in and then ask (which is what you are doing, I think?), some trips are quickly filled.

Most of the schools I've worked at the children have a group passport but even if they have to have individual ones this shouldn't take too long as it isn't close to a major holiday.

Hope they get on the trip :)

Surprised it doesn't say on the form.
DD had a four day French trip in the summer and the forms specifically said passports and the new type of EU medical cards were required. Also detailed that the passports would be held by the teacher allocated to their group.

Thought possibly due to length of trip, but same needed for one.day trip to Belgium next month.

Have spoken to the school and, yes, he does need his own passport. I'm not even sure i will be able to afford the trip so need to wait and see how much it would be but don't want to leave it too late to get a passport for him.