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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

School trip concerns

23 replies

Teddybear235 · 04/06/2025 06:25

My son is going on a school trip to China. They are leaving at 4pm for a 12 hour flight from Heathrow at 10pm and expected in school for the full day before they travel.

When they arrive back at school in the Uk it will be about 11pm and are expected in school the next day. This is after an 8 hour time difference and 12 hour flight.

I have concerns about my childs health and safety as well as mental and physical wellbeing if they go in.

Do you think it is right they go to school?

OP posts:

TeenToTwenties · 04/06/2025 06:35

Almost certainly yes he should go in.
DD's school had a similar policy for trips.
It causes less disruption to the other classes and teachers.

No reason at all why he can't go to school on the day before travel. He can sleep on the plane.
On the day after, you judge how he is and decide then. Maybe sleep in and go in for break.

JockyWilsonsaid · 04/06/2025 06:41

Unless you are about to drip feed some massively relevant information, concerns around mental health and emotional well being because he's expected to go to school are very dramatic. Either he goes or he doesn't - school won't be coming to drag him there - but don't be so precious about it, there's no need.

Hercisback1 · 04/06/2025 06:41

If they're old enough to go to China with school, they're old enough to cope with sleeping on a plane and a bit of jet lag.

It'll be the best thing to get them back in routine.

No one forced him to go on the trip, withdraw if you don't want it.

WonderingWanda · 04/06/2025 06:42

The school are under massive pressure to encourage high attendance so they cannot authorise days off for things like leisure travel. Your son will be so excited on the day of travel but should you feel he is too exhausted on his return then you should phone in sick. What a great trip!

WhatNoRaisins · 04/06/2025 06:45

I wouldn't have thought it would harm your child.

It sounds like a bloody nightmare for the teachers managing loads of jet lagged people in class. I've never been able to sleep on a plane.

hopeishere · 04/06/2025 06:54

What exactly are your concerns? Is he driving to school or operating heavy machinery? I think if he missed out on all the first day chat about the trip he would be disappointed. He’ll be a mix of knackered and running on adrenaline. Getting back to a normal routine is the best option.

DongDingBell · 04/06/2025 06:56

School will almost certainly expect many of them to come in a bit late, and some not at all. You need to judge your child on the morning. They are just stating that the expectation is those that are fine, just a bit tired,will come into school. And the teachers will be expected to teach that day.
I'm pretty sure most of them have nights where they are awake at midnight!

Hercisback1 · 04/06/2025 06:57

Good point, the staff accompanying the trip won't get a day off, and their time away is unpaid. I think your child needs to learn to deal with it and stop being a snowflake.

Can you imagine going to work with this attitude?

tripleginandtonic · 04/06/2025 07:08

If yoy are that concerned about their mental amd physical wellbeing I'd cancel the trip. They'll be tired, so will the teachers. No big deal.

WhenYouSayNothingAtAll · 04/06/2025 07:18

Going to school the day the day before is not an issue. For the day after, just wait and see how he is. If he’s fine, send him to school. If he isn’t, keep him home.

privatenonamegiven · 04/06/2025 08:13

Staff are adults so depending on the age of the child in question that’s quite different.

Every child is different, I think the age of your child is important, asking a 11/12 year old versus a 15/16 year old or a pupil in year 13 who would be nearly adults is vastly different.

FuckityFux · 04/06/2025 08:15

God no. But then our schools are a lot more flexible and sensible and put children’s welfare above petty rules. (Ireland)

Tiswa · 04/06/2025 08:18

The school can’t sanction time off for this that easily especially as their will be children who want to and can go

you and your son have the choice to see and not go in - I suspect quite a few will and it will be fine

see how he feels

TheNightingalesStarling · 04/06/2025 08:20

Just play it by ear. The worse that will happen is you have to keep your child off and they will have 1 day unauthorised absence which actually means nothing unless you are planning a holiday yourself.

Many children however go to school the day after a holiday and are completely fine. They sleep on the plane and on the bus.

(Mine got back at 3am from a sports trip last year, and were in school at 8am.)

Seeline · 04/06/2025 08:24

How old is he?
Do they arrive back on a Monday or a Friday?
I think most kids would cope with a late night and school the next day. Just make sure if a really early bedtime that night to catch up.

FrenchandSaunders · 04/06/2025 08:26

Presuming he’s at least 15/16 for a trip like this …. I’m sure he’ll cope!!

SoftPillow · 04/06/2025 08:29

School the day before would be fine.

School the day after, it would depend on how they were feeling but broadly yes, I’d expect to send them to school more than expected to keep them at home. Many people do long haul international flights and go straight into work the next day.

Make the decision on the day, and if they’re too tired to go to school, just call in sick.

RareGoalsVerge · 04/06/2025 08:34

School policy has to be that they must come in next day. Schools do not have the discretion to give kids an extra day off.

No one will bat an eyelid if you message in saying he is not well enough to attend school if he's still asleep in the morning.

phyllidafosset · 04/06/2025 09:35

The day before I would 100% send them in. The day after they arrive, I 100% wouldn’t. They won’t get home until after 11pm (if everything is on time). I am sure the school are not allowed to tell kids they can have a day off. But the huge journey and the likelihood of significant jet lag, I wouldn’t plan to go to work the day after such a trip, so wouldn’t expect my kids to have to be in school.

Sweetleftfood · 04/06/2025 09:53

What a non problem, don't send them on such trips if you are so precious or as mentioned some massive drip feed.

PurpleThistle7 · 04/06/2025 14:11

Surely the school has to say the expectation is that they'll be in school and then it's up to you if he's fit and well for it. Before the trip it's obvious they should go to school, after... well he might be fine, he might not be. But I wouldn't assume anything.

My 12 year old daughter arrives back from the states at noon on a sunday and has a 3 day ballet intensive starting the next morning. She'll be fine.

Octavia64 · 04/06/2025 14:13

He can absolutely go to school before he travels.

he’ll be able to sleep on the plane.

once he comes back - well, look at him and see how he is. If he’s too tired then tell school he has a cold.

BreakingBroken · 04/06/2025 14:19

This is where you get to adult and use your adult skills.
The school can’t say to stay home so they say please attend.
When you pick up your child, if he’s unwell (cold/flu) exhausted (horrid turbulence) or distraught then you keep him home.
imh experience “half” will miss the first day back.

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