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Secondary education

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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:
PUGaLUGS · 06/02/2019 17:26

Yep the school my DS’s went to offered skiing.

Both had the opportunity to go, only DS2 went. Back in 2013 I think it cost around £750.

BubblesBuddy · 06/02/2019 17:29

Mine went to private schools and they went in half term. The teachers gave up half term to take them! Having said that, one teacher decided to learn to snowboard and took no notice of the children at all. That was a great opportunity for her.

cheesenpickles · 06/02/2019 17:31

My school held one but I was never allowed to go on it. Sad

Furrycushion · 06/02/2019 17:35

Ours goes to the USA for a week. Madness. Mine didn't go! No idea how much it was as it wasn't an.option for us

fanomoninon · 06/02/2019 17:35

yup, our state secondary (inside M25) offers one every year. DS is lucky that he also gets offered it with his scout troop, which is better value, so if he goes on one it'll be with them. I don't mind it being offered at school - its always going to be a minority who go, though.

AChickenCalledKorma · 06/02/2019 17:38

Yes, every year and it's always full. About £1000 a head and my kids have never been. Lots don't, for obvious reasons.

Ivegotthree · 06/02/2019 17:40

OP why do you not see the point of them? Sounds unnecessarily chippy to me.

youngestisapsycho · 06/02/2019 17:41

I’m in West London. Our local secondary does. It did when I was there 30 years ago and it was running years before then as well. It’s now about £1k. My DDs have never been as neither were interested in skiing.

YouCanCallMeJodieWho · 06/02/2019 17:41

My kids' state comprehensive school offers it. I'm delighted as we can't afford to go as a family and only one of my kids is interested.

babysharkah · 06/02/2019 17:41

Dh is a teacher in a zone 4 bog standard school - they've done it for years. £1850 this year. It's in holidays, enough kids go to warrant it.

Tonsilss · 06/02/2019 17:42

It's very expensive. A much much cheaper way, which both my dds have done, is do a French language exchange with a family who will take your child away skiing with them. French families go skiing all the time, and taking your child is no big deal to them. Plus your child speaks French.

eatingtomuch · 06/02/2019 17:42

My children's school does and my DS went. I have no interest in skiing, but he loved it and I'm sure will go again

youngestisapsycho · 06/02/2019 17:43

Maybe the price difference is how they get there? Our school goes by coach.... maybe some fly?

Winnie2019 · 06/02/2019 17:44

Yes they do and they have a huge waiting list. Ds went, it was expensive but we wanted him to have the opportunity as we'd never be able to go as a family of 4.

The spaces are limited so most kids don't get to go.

I went to school in a very deprived area and they offered ski trips.

LAlady · 06/02/2019 17:46

My DD's school had one to Canada last year. They only really had 5 days skiing with the long journey etc. Cost was £1800. She didn't go.

Witchend · 06/02/2019 17:46

Yes, but the costs for my dc's school is around £1300 for year 7-8 and £2000 for years 9+
That's more than our family holiday, so no chance.

lanbro · 06/02/2019 18:09

I went skiing with my state middle school in 91 and 92, and I would like my girls to.go in the future if the opportunity is there

megletthesecond · 06/02/2019 18:11

I did this at a crappy comp in the 80's. No idea how much it cost my parents.
I've never been since Sad.

Livedandlearned · 06/02/2019 18:17

My dcs school offers one every year, this year's is good value imo, £970 for 8 days, 6 days are skiing, to Italy. I can't afford to take my dcs on holiday as a family and only my ds enjoys skiing, in fact he's really good so I'm happy to pay.

MeganChips · 06/02/2019 18:25

Ours do one, DD is going for half term. It’s £950 for 8 days which I actually don’t think is too bad.

Our school did them (30 years ago) but my parents couldn’t afford to let me go.

Hushnownobodycares · 06/02/2019 18:38

Dd went nearly a decade again. Was in the region of £1K I think and she paid half from her Saturday job and cash gifts with us matching it.

We bought the gear from TK Maxx and charity shops so it wasn't too pricy and she had a whale of a time. She hasn't been since but it was a great experience and one we would never have chosen as a family as I loathe snow with a passion Grin

lovingmatleave · 06/02/2019 18:45

Ours does too, along with various other trips. State school in Scotland, middle class area. We do plenty of outdoor, camping, cultural stuff etc as a family but I would never go skiing (I don't like the cold, hate snow, my idea of hell etc) so I let my son go on the trip (c. £1,000) to experience something he never would with us. This is in itself is valuable imo. He visited a new country, outdoors exercise everyday, learned to ski, mixed with other kids from other schools at night and loved it!

CruCru · 06/02/2019 18:57

My school used to do this. One year a couple of separate teachers mentioned it to me (I think they were short of a couple of prople and told me how reasonable it was). It was £500 which, in the early 1990s, was a lot of money for my Mum. I don’t think I even mentioned it to her.

brizzledrizzle · 06/02/2019 19:07

Three teenagers that I know, all at different state schools, are going skiing this half term plus one primary school pupil - again at a state school.

Buttercupsandaisies · 06/02/2019 19:10

Yes ours does one every year £1200 france ....., by coach!