"Trip of a lifetime" half way through A-levels - good plan or not?

[AChickenCalledKorma]

DD1 has the opportunity to sign up for a Camps International trip to Tanzania. It will be for four weeks during the summer holiday after year 12 - ie midway through her A Levels.

She's planning to do Physics and Maths, plus either another science or a humanity - as yet undecided. She will almost certainly also do an EPQ.

We have a few concerns about the trip, one of which is the impact it may have on her studies. There is a massive fundraising commitment which would start now, in year 11 and continue until May of year 12. And then she would be away for two thirds of the long summer holidays. And I have no idea what the expectation is likely to be that she also uses that summer to study and/or complete her EPQ.

She is potentially interested in applying to Cambridge, so A level grades will really matter if she goes ahead with that.

But on the other hand the trip does sound fantastic and it's very likely that at least some of her closest friends will be going.

Just wondered if anyone has any words of wisdom. We intend to talk to the sixth form staff about expectations and whether they think it's a good idea. But as the school is promoting the trip (and it looks great in their marketing material) they may not be entirely unbiased!

CappuccinoCake
I'd have assumed they're a charity from that info without digging into the accounts You wouldn't bother reading the company website first then?

I cannot see that Camps International are being sneaky - they are quite transparent in what they offer:

Their Instagram page (4428 followers) quite clearly says 'Travel Agency' as does Facebook (28,000 likes).

You don't have to look very far on their website to see phrases such as;
As a social enterprise we are a business; a business however with a conscience
unlike other travel companies
Camps International are global leaders in ethical and sustainable school expeditions

Their projects seem worthwhile:
We don’t paint the same classroom over and over again

They also run a healthcare outreach programme:
campsinternational.com/blog/2016/02/23/healthcare-outreach-2015/
campsinternational.com/product/healthcare-volunteering/

The fundraising blog makes it clear what they are and why people might like to go on the trips:
campsinternational.com/blog/2016/06/21/why-is-fundraising-so-important/

Do some further research into Camps and make sure you are comfortable talking about what you will be getting involved in
Understand why Camps are NOT a charity

But remember, when you travel with Camps International on expedition, approximately 40% of your money is spent investing in local economies, communities, wildlife and environmental conservation

The charitable Foundation which runs alongside the business was set up to raise the additional funds needed to support the huge range of project commitments by Camps International The associated costs can not always be sustained by the business There is a link on the website to the 2015 Foundation accounts (much less raised in 2015 than 2016) - why would they link to the Foundation accounts if they wanted to be 'sneaky'?

The nine directors pay themselves over half a million pounds a year
Is that annual salaries of £55,000 each? Director of operations/ finance director etc.?
Turnover in 2016 £10,592,236
Does it say how much of this is spent on air fares and project costs?

I cannot see that they are conning anyone.

MNy people do not read the big, never mind the small, print.

NCS - I have no idea how someone could describe it as “a cash cow” for schools? In my experience schools have nothing to do with it except a bit of publicity. Now it could make money for “activity” places and Unis, but it also does a good job of raising awareness of smaller charities.

The girl I mentioned doing vso was actually 20

Bekabeech
DCs old school is a "hub" for NCS and it is most certainly a massive cash cow.
The head has become the director of the NCS company and made herself the "executive" head (with a £30k pay rise) and made one of the deputy heads the "school head" (with a £20k pay rise)
NCS provides "community facilities" which are magically available to the school.
Staff are seconded between the company and the school willy-nilly
but as its a stand alone academy, the accountants just nod it all through.

Many other NCS hubs are stand alone academies.
It stinks.

Clavinova
The accounts of Camps international Group Ltd are there for all to read on Companies House.
The accounts of the multiple overseas companies are not transparent.

Looking at the accounts, there are max 4 exec directors each paying themselves over £150k and the rest are on nominal fees and dividends
but I've not checked how much is extracted from each group company --as I CBA__

Nope Ta1kinPeace doesn't work like this around here - the staff tend to be young Students etc. Nothing to do wth any local schools - although the Leadership weekend was at a private school (DD declined to go having been chosen).
I'm happy for schools to make extra money - DC's school made a lot training teachers, building joint facilities, training other staff etc. etc. And yes the old Head gets a wage in retirement as the Academy chain head. But most of the money supports filling in for government cuts.

And NCS is so cheap compared to anything else comparable .
I don't know how anyone could get rich from it.

Beka
And NCS is so cheap compared to anything else comparable.
I don't know how anyone could get rich from it.
You do not honestly think that the money the parents' pay covers the cost
do you ?
NCS pays a grant to each provider to cover the cost less the parental contribution
hence how the scheme has cost £2 billion so far
and is well and truly in the NAO's sights for appalling governance and oversight failings

Also, travelling is tiring - and A level studies are exhausting. What about a summer of relaxing, going to a festival or two, and actually not having to squeeze studies into her one or two weeks she will actually have 'off'. I would be the bad guy and veto on cost and other grounds, but maybe promise to fund a shorter cheaper trip that holiday (maybe a trip with you), or something after A levels.