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Secondary education

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Original poster

Missing out on School Trips

65 replies

Itsmylife2 · 17/12/2022 20:47

Any advice for a frustrated parent who's child has missed out on two school trips in a row.

The school has a ballot for each trip and my son's name was not pulled out of the hat last year or this year. He was bitterly disappointed last year and feels even worse this year. OK life isn't fair but the school could at least help even the playing field. Surely its only fair that if a few children miss out one year they are given priority on the next selection. Otherwise some unlucky children risk never going away while others get to go on all the trips.

Anyway we've taken the first step writing to the school but suspect we'll just be told its the school policy. Would very much appreciate any suggestions on how to pitch an approach to head teachers, govenors etc?

OP posts:
KindergartenKop · 17/12/2022 20:54

What's his behaviour like? Could they not want to take him?

BungleandGeorge · 17/12/2022 20:56

This is annoying, I don’t know why they can’t just take them all. If it’s a curriculum trip on a school day then they should all be going. If it’s not part of the curriculum it shouldn’t be happening on a school day!

belowfrozen · 17/12/2022 23:48

Are these free trips or paid? What type of trips? Our state high does tons.

Original poster
Itsmylife2 · 18/12/2022 00:24

Its not a behaviour issue, we've never had any problems like that. Its a few days away as part of the curriculum and I agree all the children should have a chance to go.

The school's perspective is there are limited places so they pull names out of a hat. My son and a few others missed last years trip and unluckily he will miss out again this year. That means nearly all of his peers will have been on two trips but he hasn't been on any. You might call it bad luck but the school could moderate it by giving priority to anyone who missed out in previous years.

I'm expecting a "that's just our policy" response from the school so trying to think of ways to counter that argument or seeing how other schools handle the selection when there are limited places.

OP posts:
TheArtfulStodger · 18/12/2022 00:30

That is actually quite shitty. The previously missed out kids should automatically get to go the next year.

LolaSmiles · 18/12/2022 00:34

How can it be a few days away as part of the curriculum but only a handful of students get to go?

If it's part of the curriculum they should all have the opportunity, and the trip would usually run for the year group who are studying the topic.

If it's an enrichment trip ran by a department then that's different.

jellyjellopeea · 18/12/2022 00:41

Yep absolutely shitty and you should lobby the school for a policy change. Missed out last year? First dibs this year.
Make a big deal about this, OP. It's completely unfair.

VimFuego101 · 18/12/2022 00:45

I agree, if a child doesn't get selected one year they should get first priority the next. How many kids get to go vs how many stay behind? Seems odd that it's 'part of the curriculum' if not all kids are included.

daisyjgrey · 18/12/2022 00:46

This method sounds chaotic. Why on earth would a school think that was a good idea!

Either book trips that all kids have the opportunity to go on or don't run them.

Original poster
Itsmylife2 · 18/12/2022 01:24

Its a three day residential trip for Yr8 paid for by parents. I don't know exact numbers but last year I'd estimate that 10-20 out of 240 students missed out on the annual event and probably a similar situation this year. So a relatively small number miss out every year and occasionally some will miss out twice or even more if they're very unlucky.

I suspect only a few children/parents are that unlucky so the school just ignores the complaints and falls back on the "its our policy" or "it's just bad luck" or "life isn't fair" argument.

Harsh, even cruel and totally avoidable, with a little admin, to use the schools existing database of who's been on previous trips to ensure fairness each year.

OP posts:
theblackradiator · 18/12/2022 01:47

My dcs school trip had to be cancelled because they couldn't find enough students that wanted (or maybe couldn't afford) to go. it was a residential trip abroad for 4 days dc was extremely disappointed as it would've been a great experience. These trips can be very expensive so I'm surprised to hear of the amount of students going on the trips from your ds school. But yes I definitely agree with you that the students that miss out should be prioritised next time definitely email school. maybe have a word with the head at the next parents evening if possible. Our head usually is around at parents evening incase parents have any questions.

starray · 18/12/2022 02:10

That's awful and really unfair. You are not being unreasonable to be upset about it. Can you find any other children who have been affected by this policy and complain as a group?

starray · 18/12/2022 02:13

Especially that only 10 or 20 out of 240 miss out. All the children will be talking about the event and really excited about the trip and those few children will be left out. Really shocking. Your poor son. I feel really angry on your behalf.

starray · 18/12/2022 02:16

Yes, life isn't fair, but if it is within the school's power to be fair, then they absolutely should be fair. They are treating the children unfairly when they have a choice to treat them fairly. It's not like it's something that cannot be helped.

catsonahottinroof · 18/12/2022 02:18

That's really poor - if they can't allow for the possibility that everyone wants to go then they shouldn't run it at all. It's different if it's a trip abroad as these are usually so expensive that only a handful of children apply to go anyway.

MintJulia · 18/12/2022 02:44

That's ridiculous. Are they claiming that the venue cannot accommodate everyone? Then they should run two trips. I'd consult the LEA or if an Academy I'd be kicking up a massive fuss - Ofsted, social media, local papers.....

Force the head teacher to understand that is not acceptable.

SouperWoman · 18/12/2022 03:04

contact the chair of governors to express your concern. I suspect this is an oversight. of course kids that missed our last year should get a guaranteed space this year, only fair… but now they’ve allocated spaces it might be hard for them to backtrack. Hopefully they will find a way to redress the balance.

MarshaMelrose · 18/12/2022 03:18

At first I thought it was unfair your child didn't get an automatic selection the second time round but I've now changed my mind.

The school is beyond unfair to leave 2 - 8% of children out from the trip. That's blinking shocking of the school. So forget about getting first dibs the second year, none should be left out of any year.

I mean, is this for real? I can't think of any schools even contemplating doing this.

marcopront · 18/12/2022 04:15

Who has told you about the ballot?
Is it your son or have you heard from the school directly?

It seems very odd that in a school of 240 students, they would take 220 on a trip and leave so be behind. Taking 20 more doesn't make much difference in the accommodation arrangements, or the number of staff. I am surprised all parents can pay as well.

It is probably more hassle for the school to have 10 to 20 staying behind than to take them.

ElegantPuma · 18/12/2022 09:05

Jeez, if I was a teacher giving up my time to organise the bloody trip, then spending day and night for several days looking after other people's children with no extra pay, no TOIL, and often not even a bottle of wine or a "thank you" from the parents I'd just stop now.

ChateauMargaux · 18/12/2022 09:13

When we talk about class parties the usual answer is ask everyone or ask 50%.. the same should apply here.. accomodate the entire year or make it 50/50 in school / on trip. And yes... efforts should be made to ensure students don't miss out several years in a row.

icanwearwhatiwant · 18/12/2022 09:17

That's a ridiculous system, they just need to book more places and take everybody, where's the rationale?
But failing that then the ones who missed out should automatically go on the list for the next trip before the ballot starts. I'd have to kick up a big fuss I think.

Bimbleberries · 18/12/2022 09:28

ElegantPuma · 18/12/2022 09:05

Jeez, if I was a teacher giving up my time to organise the bloody trip, then spending day and night for several days looking after other people's children with no extra pay, no TOIL, and often not even a bottle of wine or a "thank you" from the parents I'd just stop now.

well perhaps the OP would be grateful and say thank you or offer a bottle of wine if her child had actually been allowed to go! What is she meant to be grateful for at the moment? A trip has been organised and teachers have spent time looking after other children, but not hers.

That sounds very unfair, OP, and I think you're right to complain - not just that your child didn't get first dibs this year, but that anyone gets left out in a trip that most children in the year get to go on. Do they do these residentials every year in secondary? There must be a better way to organise that then - perhaps not every year for every year group, but once or twice for the entire year.

beckypv · 18/12/2022 09:35

Is it actually 20 out of 240 that don’t get a spot, or is it that there are 240 in the year? My sons school does ballots for trip. There are 240 in the year ….. the trip has 90 spaces and maybe 40 get put on the waiting list. So in reality there are 150 kids that don’t go on the trip. It’s always sad missing out on a ballot, but as I said to my son, there will be loads of kids who don’t even get the choice to be in the ballot because they can’t afford it. It’s even tougher for them. I would be amazed if a school ran a trip with capacity for 220 out of 240 kids in a year.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 18/12/2022 09:36

It sounds very odd that a school would take 220 of 240 children on a trip and leave a small number behind - this isn't normal at all and I would be asking why that is. Definitely they ought to be giving those left behind last year first priority.

But I can't help but think there is something more to this as it's a very unusual way to run a trip.

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