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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:
GnomeDePlume · 08/02/2019 05:59

It is the hypocrisy of having a strict uniform policy so that rich and poor dress the same and then offering a school trip which only a few can afford.

Decormad38 · 08/02/2019 06:02

Yes I am just paying for my dds at the moment- £1000! But we will probably never go skiing as a family so we decided we would pay for her to go. My work colleagues are donating their kids nice ski wear.

Decormad38 · 08/02/2019 06:05

I think things have always been this way. Forty five years ago my brother when on a school cruise to Libya!!

Fazackerley · 08/02/2019 06:09

Ours costs 950. Good value.

LoniceraJaponica · 08/02/2019 06:30

Life isn't fair Gnome, I agree, but you do seem very bitter about it.

Fazackerley · 08/02/2019 07:19

We have a year to pay for it.

Original poster
Goingonandonandon · 08/02/2019 07:31

That's what happens though. As I said earlier, half of the kids at our secondary school are on free school meals. Life isn't fair, yes I know, we are not idiots, no need to be patronising. I could well afford to send my two children, but that's not the problem for me. I feel that the inequality would become even more obvious and no, I don't like how it makes me feel or what messages it sends to my teenagers. Some of us actually do care that others can't afford as much, and even if we are not on the wrong side of the unfairness, I don't feel it would the right thing to do. Not in the current economic situation.

OP posts:
ILoveMarmiteToo · 08/02/2019 07:51

Both of my DC went on their comp school ski trip. One was during half term and the other was in the Easter holidays. Cost was about £900 for the week in Austria/Italy by coach.

Fazackerley · 08/02/2019 07:57

Thanks to all the hardworking PE teachers who make these trips happen. We definitely couldn't afford to ski as a family and it's something that one of my dcs has discovered he's very good at. It was a great opportunity.

anniehm · 08/02/2019 08:11

Yes, all of my kids schools offered it, usually feb half term

SileneOliveira · 08/02/2019 08:16

Our school offered a ski trip to Italy last February. My kids didn't do as they're not interested in skiing. I think it was about £800 for 5 days, flights though not coach as we're in Scotland.

CottonSock · 08/02/2019 08:19

£2k, flippin hek. My kids are 2 and 5, but I just decided they won't be going

NeverSayFreelance · 08/02/2019 08:48

Our school did. They were pricey and only the rich kids could afford it. Never saw the point myself - and I wasn't a rich kid so I never went.

whiteroseredrose · 08/02/2019 08:50

My DC's schools offer skiing. DS's school does Europe and coach for £800ish. DD's school's offer was Whistler by plane for nearly £2k - she didn't go!

Her trip to Vienna for German/History was about £800.

All school trips seem expensive compared to family hols as they include everything - trips, food etc.

CherryPavlova · 08/02/2019 08:58

Ours used to go and it set them up as skiers for life. It took place in holidays, was Italy or France rather than Whistler so not as expensive as it could have been. We don’t ski so it was a fabulous oppportunity that they wouldn’t otherwise have had.

It was always a lottery for first timers as fewer places than pupils wanting to go. I’m really pleased the staff were willing to take them.
Yes, some children couldn’t afford it but then some children didn’t go on family holidays or drive cars at 17 either. Sadly, life isn’t always fair but I’m not sure why if everyone can’t, nobody should have the pleasure.

GnomeDePlume · 08/02/2019 10:15

Goingonandonandon I do agree with you. People know that life isnt fair, they know (despite claims about uniform masking it) that some students have a lot more than others. But school should be the one place where life should be as fair as is possible. Deliberately running a trip which will exclude large numbers of students for economic reasons does seem to run completely counter to the idea of keeping education fair.

AnneElliott · 08/02/2019 13:16

My DS school does it every other year. This time it's to Boston but it's £1900. DS not going and we don't know anyone who is.

Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 13:40

If they're going to offer a skiing holiday, then they should make it as cheap as possible.
Surprised no-one is interested in the nearly free option of going on a skiing holiday as part of a language exchange. My dcs can now ski AND speak French!

Buffymum · 08/02/2019 13:49

My DD school runs one yearly for year 10. is in Feb half term and is £1000. They are away 8 days and get 6 full days tuition, plus evening activities. They go by coach ( 26 hrs ! ) and stay in a youth hostel ( make own pack lunches etc )
We had 2 years to pay for it. I think good value compared to other school trips.

WombatChocolate · 08/02/2019 17:06

They DO make it as cheap as poss. I’d challenge anyone to find a week of skiing in Feb half term for £800 with all included. And remember it’s hours and hours of work for the teachers organising it beforehand and a big burden of responsibility during the hols....and yes they will ski for free but I think they’ve earned it. Most schools insist of an approved travel co being involved now for risk issues and they have to make some money from it. Goodness who would organise trips abroad without that backup these day when so many people would sue you for next to nothing.

There are lots of things schools do to broaden access for those of limited means. Schools cannot remove inequality and it’s not their remit anyway. I don’t think they should stop offering the more expensive trips because not all can go. In most cases most don’t go so it’s not the issue some seem to think it is in terms of singling people out.

BubblesBuddy · 08/02/2019 18:40

I think going by coach takes so much time and it’s a real drag. Just flying to a nearby Alpine country is pretty cheap really. School trip prices include paying for the staff! That’s why they seem expensive!

Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 18:41

We've seen that some schools charge twice as much as others.

zod1ac19 · 08/02/2019 18:46

Our school does it each year to Austria. Costs about £1,000. Eldest DC went twice and youngest will go next year.

Great lessons included and both DC are now competent skiers. It’s a skill for life, like riding a bike you don’t forget how to ski. Well you maybe get a bit rusty but after an hour or two you are soon back in the swing of it.

Oblomov19 · 08/02/2019 18:49

I went skiiing at normal secondary, donkeys years ago.

Ds1's secondary does still offer. Expensive. But manageable. £700.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 08/02/2019 19:02

We always did (rural comp, now in a mat) It's been ditched this year. I wasn't sorry (cover manager) as it was either a gamble getting decent pe cover, and then last year I had to do it all myself as we don't buy supply. And we've had some spectacular injuries. It was always full, but not open to payment by pp, so not inclusive. It was supposed to be for the benefit of A level pe.