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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

School Trips! Arghhhh!

33 replies

TequilaMockinBird · 14/12/2010 14:51

This has probably been done to death on here but after receiving a letter from the school regarding the next school trip, I was Shock more than ever before!

Basically they want a minimum of £800 for a weeks skiing holiday. If there are less than 50 children going, the price will increase. They will be travelling by coach not flying. They will be staying B&B so will also need money for meals.

On top of that they will be taking the children to skiing lessons in the UK beforehand, and this is also not included in the price.

We will have to buy clothes (salopettes etc) aswell.

Now, this obviously isnt a compulsory trip or anything but how on earth do they expect people to be able to afford this? Where do they get their prices from?!

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 14/12/2010 15:06

They get their prices from the companies that offer this kind of activity for schools. Most of them seem to charge around £800 per head for a week's skiing using coach and ferry. Indeed, prices can be significantly higher than this depending on dates and destination.

scurryfunge · 14/12/2010 15:10

My DS' school(comp) offers a ski trip to the USA for £1300. That includes all skiing, all meals, all entertainment in the evenings, flights and hotel. They do a ski-fit class at school before hand for free and don't feel the need to have lessons beforehand.

We only have to buy or hire the clothing.

Greenshadow · 14/12/2010 15:15

If you want to ski, that's the kind of price you have to pay.

I suppose this kind of school trip is good for families where parents don't want to/can't afford to ski themselves, but would like Little Johnny to have a go (i.e. could afford it for one child to go, not a whole family).

Original poster
TequilaMockinBird · 14/12/2010 15:32

I found a deal on the internet for a family of 4 skiing for a week over Christmas (19th - 26th December) for £680 which included flights! That's what made me think £800 was a bit steep!

We've never been skiing before so I have no idea how much it all costs. DD wants to go as most of her circle of friends are going. Just not sure we could really afford it. Surely we'll be looking at approx £1500 all in, will we?

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scurryfunge · 14/12/2010 15:36

You probably would find a cheaper trip but the school will have used a specialist school trip company which will be more expensive and parents will be paying for teachers places too. On a school trip the ratio will be quite high, so plenty of teachers/helpers need to go too.

I shop all year for ski bargains and buy plenty of e bay stuff too. If the school trip is a regular thing then there will be parents of older children who want to sell off their ski wear.

sleighBELLasringing · 14/12/2010 15:38

The letter that came home from DS1 last year re a snowboarding trip was £1300 - that was without all the extras!

Original poster
TequilaMockinBird · 14/12/2010 15:44

Shock £1300?!

I've told her that if she does want to go then she can but it will mean we do not have a family holiday that year (it's in 2012).

She's currently deciding what she wants to do, I'm secretly hoping she decides she'd rather have the family holiday Wink Grin

OP posts:
sleighBELLasringing · 14/12/2010 15:45

Tequila - he didn't go!!

Original poster
TequilaMockinBird · 14/12/2010 15:48

sleigh - if we get the forecasted weather here this weekend, you could bring him up here to snowboard for free Grin

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sleighBELLasringing · 14/12/2010 15:50
Grin
GrungeBlobPrimpants · 14/12/2010 16:08

We've just had one of those - £1,000 but that includes everything

DS not sure whether he wants to go 'cos not sure if his friends will be going. Now, we would be prepared to pay because we've never done skiing (not interested and too pricey) but we think he'd love it and it's something he'd never do with us. However, that would be at the expense of a family holiday or something else.

so for once his apathy has come in handy Grin

Chandon · 14/12/2010 16:13
Shock

and these are all State secondary's ?!

I guess the economic crisis is a myth then.

christmaseve · 14/12/2010 16:18

DD went a few yrs back and it was £800 then, included meals though. Cost a bomb to kit her out too. She enjoyed it and it gave her the opportunity to ski. I haven't been skiing since school.

She didn't want to go again and preferred to have holidays with me. She didn't enjoy being bossed around by the teachers when on holiday.

Original poster
TequilaMockinBird · 14/12/2010 16:24

Yes Chandon, state secondary here!

Grunge, I am prepared to pay for that very reason. There's no way I'd go on a skiing holiday so she wont get the opportunity with us.

However, at the expense of a holiday in the sun that year, I'm hoping she'll decide skiing isnt what she wants Grin

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PerpetuallyAnnoyedByHeadlice · 14/12/2010 16:34

these sort of trips existed 20-30 years ago when i was a child - I just never expected to be able to go on them, and it honestly did me no harm - 3 weeks of family camping holidays a year and i saw and experienced stuff my peers never even new about

I do not say this with envy, I just accepted that my parents could not afford these sorts of trips - do todays parents feel they are failing if they have to say no? do todays kids demand more? what does it teach a child about money if their school trip costs more than the family holiday?

My children will also not be brought up to expect that they can go or do just as some of their friends

they need to learn that life is like that!

GrungeBlobPrimpants · 14/12/2010 16:37

Yep, state and these trips are always over subscribed Grin

Apparently last year's was a £1400 USA ski trip so this is a cheapie.

Tequila - snap!

dexter73 · 14/12/2010 17:26

My dd is going skiing in January with her school and the trip cost £800. We have got all her gear for about £100 - £60 for jacket and salopettes, £20 for goggles and £20 for 3 microfleece tops.

penguin73 · 14/12/2010 23:15

Our school offers this and I'm always amazed at the pupils who believe it is their right to go even though their families obviously can't afford it. Although they are a good opportunity it is ok to say no and spend the money on things that are really needed or the whole family can benefit from. I would be shocked and saddened if DS thought it ok for us to go without spending quality family time on holiday when we work incredibly hard all year so that he can go off with his friends for a week.

LynetteScavo · 14/12/2010 23:20

I agree with Greenshaddow.

We can't afford for us to to skiing as a family of 5, but could afford a school trip. Ski trips were one thing I checked out when choosing high schools.

Although, I find it hard to believe coach is that much cheaper than flying. But then I'm old, and would get bored and stiff on a coach.Grin

goingmadinthecountry · 14/12/2010 23:22

Tequila - don't you think that's quite a lot of pressure to put on your dd? My dd2 and ds both went on school ski trips last year and loved them - we're not a family who'll do a ski week together! - but I would never expect them to make a choice between that and the holiday I'd go on. Lots of kids can't afford it. Such is life. Sadly, skiing is expensive. Dd's school offers a chance to pay £40 a month over about 18m which is great. Ds's is more £200 deposit by half past 3! TK Maxx and ebay are great sources of cheap stuff if she does go.

cat64 · 14/12/2010 23:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

goingmadinthecountry · 14/12/2010 23:34

I went on lots of Youth Orchestra trips my parents paid for including Argentina in 1980. I'm sure they struggled, but I still really appreciate it - started a lifelong love of travel.

mumoverseas · 15/12/2010 11:40

That sounds about right to be honest. DD's ski trip next Easter is 738 but she needs extra money for meals/drinks etc.

pippop1 · 16/12/2010 14:43

I think I'd prefer to spend the money on more of an educational trip. DS2 did Latin A level and they went to Pompei. It brought it all alive.

Original poster
TequilaMockinBird · 19/12/2010 20:41

Well, she's decided she would like to go. Her friends are going and as it's possibly the only opportunity she'll get to go skiing (for a few years anyway - I don't do cold holidays Blush) then I'm happy with her decision.

So the saving starts here....

I'm hoping to get her clothes - salopettes etc - this coming summer when hopefully they might be reduced in the sales! Does anybody have any ideas of where the best sales will be on? And also when they'll start!

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