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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Skiing trip in regular state secondary?

106 replies

Goingonandonandon · 06/02/2019 16:15

I just wondered if many (or any) normal comprehensive secondary schools run ski trips for pupils. I can’t quite see the point of them myself, I’d happily send my kids on outdoor stuff, camping, language and cultural trips/exchanges, but skiing? Are many state schools offering this?

OP posts:
EduCated · 06/02/2019 16:20

It’s increasingly common. Some are good value, some much less so. For some it’s an opportunity to try skiing without the whole family having to splash out. For others the cost is still unattainable.

Out of interest, why do you see skiing as so separate to ‘outdoors stuff’ and language/culture trips, given that it’s outdoor activities in a foreign country?

TeenTimesTwo · 06/02/2019 16:25

Ours offers it.
Doesn't impact us as my DDs have no balance skills.
Expensive as a holiday, but not as expensive as taking a whole family, so if people want to send their kid for the experience, it's fine by me.

Todaythiscouldbe · 06/02/2019 16:26

Our school offer it. DS isn't going.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 06/02/2019 16:27

Yep our state secondary have done it for years and I went ski-ing with my school (state) in 1983!!

presentcontinuous · 06/02/2019 16:27

Yes my DS's school does it, it costs a fortune but it's always full.

Original poster
Goingonandonandon · 06/02/2019 16:28

Mostly because of the costs, and the risks. We are in inner London with nearly half the kids in our school on free school meals, yet some of the wealthier parents are pushing for skiing trips to be available. I am sitting on the fence on this one. I am just trying to weigh both sides of the argument. And maybe I am prejudiced that skiing resorts are not necessarily the best place where children would be exposed to a lot of what a country has to offer in terms of culture.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 06/02/2019 16:31

DS's school does (more rural area, everyone from town and surrounding villages go there unless going private). I have no idea how many kids go, but ds might go next year - he likes skiing at the Snowdome, but neither dh or I ski (or want to) so it would be his only chance to go.

AWishForWingsThatWork · 06/02/2019 16:32

Ours does. It's bi-annual, for 2 year groups, and quite expensive. I'm not sending our oldest who could have gone as it's quite expensive and frankly, not good value for money. I suspect they'd get not nearly enough skiing time to make it worthwhile, either, as they'll have to be supervised at all times.

We could holiday as a family for a week at what it would cost!

Original poster
Goingonandonandon · 06/02/2019 16:35

Can I ask, how much do these trips cost more or less?

OP posts:
MaFleur · 06/02/2019 16:35

Outer London state school. A ski trip is run every other year for Y10&Y11. Very cheaply done (coach and dormitories) and lots of time to save up. Ski wear is pooled and recycled or bought very cheaply. The school also run ski fit sessions in the months running up to it. Some kids from the leafier streets have experience, but for most it is a once in a lifetime thing. The school has quite a broad range of family income, but I think 40-50% do the trip.

WarIsPeace · 06/02/2019 16:37

My state comp did, I went twice, and it's the only time I've ever had or will have the opportunity.

My kids school does a watersports in France trip that's £700, they will be going on that but we have several months to pay for it.

Nodrama999 · 06/02/2019 16:37

Yup the step son came to us and asked us to pay for his skiing trip. His face has been slapped for a while since our answer. After all, we all could go on holiday for the price of it.

EduCated · 06/02/2019 16:59

The trip I am aware of is in the region of £750, which is very good value for what it includes, but obviously not cheap compared to other trips. Payment over 13 months.

SuePerb · 06/02/2019 17:01

Yes my dc's inner london school ran a trip every two years until this year. Iirc it only stopped because the teachers didn't want to go on it anymore. it cost in the region on £900 so really pricey!

BigSandyBalls2015 · 06/02/2019 17:03

I think at my DDs school it is about £1K.

DoorbellsSleighbellsSchnitzel · 06/02/2019 17:05

The ski trip on offer at state secondary next year costs £1800. £1800! We barely spend that on a family holiday;

dontknowwhattodo80 · 06/02/2019 17:07

Ours offers it, DS went in year 9. I wanted him to go as it's not something we'd ever do with him and we'd had a rubbish few years where we'd had to focus a lot on his little brother so I wanted to treat him. He loved it but it was bloody expensive!!

Kithulu · 06/02/2019 17:08

I wish my kids school did. I went skiing with secondary school back in the 80's and it was amazing.
As a family of 5 there is no way we can all afford to do a holiday like this ourselves. We have only ever been abroad to France once.
A school trip would give my child a wonderful opportunity.

grasspigeons · 06/02/2019 17:08

ours offers one. its £800 and its in term time. It has no specific language links or links to a particular education department. The IT teacher has gone so there is no IT for other pupils this week, one of the English teacher has gone so sets have doubled up.

Not that we can afford to go skiing but it annoys me that a parent taking their child skiing in term time would be fined for an unauthorised absence.

Applesaregreenandred · 06/02/2019 17:08

State secondary schools have done ski-ing trips for years - my DH went on one 40 years ago!
However I would agree that a lot of secondaries are offering what I would consider to be unnecessary trips at extortionate costs - e.g. A sports match in Barbados; a week long trip to USA west coast inc Grand Canyon, taking the DC the first day to get over the jet lag.

dontknowwhattodo80 · 06/02/2019 17:09

@Goingonandonandon - we paid £1200 for the trip then about £150 to hire a suit and buy goggles etc. Definitely not a cheap trip but is the highlight of the last few years for DS

Toorahtoorahaye · 06/02/2019 17:11

My kids go on their state schools ski trips, they love them. Costs are around £1000. My brother went on a school ski trip away back in the 70’s and that was a low attaining school in a very deprived area - so ski trips are nothing new.

Ragwort · 06/02/2019 17:13

My DS’s school offers a ski trip every other year, costs in the region of £900 and is in the Christmas holiday. My DS has been three times Blush, he is an only child though, not not sure how families with more than one child afford it. I opened a separate bank account to save for it & collected all my £2 coins Grin.

notquitethesame · 06/02/2019 17:21

My DC's school do a ski trip every few years. This year's was £950 plus spending money and the cost of ski clothing etc. Thankfully my DC have no interest in going or I would be having to deal with tantrums about why I don't want to spend nearly the price of a family holiday on 4 days for one child.

Another school in the area are running a similar trip for £1300 (plus spending money etc). It seems like madness to me. And as PP have said, disrupts the teaching for the children who don't go as teachers are away and also clearly they don't want to teach anything new when a good few of the class are not there. I really can't see why this is OK but taking your own DC away for a few days is not.

But in the other hand, some of my friends' DC are going and they think it's the highlight of their school days so I suppose you can't please everyone.

GinisLife · 06/02/2019 17:26

My FS is in a SEN High school and they go every year. I think it was £810 this year. He went last year and loved it so he's going again this year. All ages and abilities go with a mix of parents and teachers to support.

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