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Secondary education

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Original poster

skiing trip in Y7

8 replies

gypsyme · 14/03/2010 20:55

My DD is very keen to go skiing in Feb. Any experiences gratefully received as I am not keen. Main reservations are that she has never skied and is not sporty and also prone to high anxiety. Also, they will be staying in a hotel with disco etc and have fears about supervision in the evenings. Feedback please from any mum's who've done this.

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amicissima · 14/03/2010 22:07

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Fruitysunshine · 14/03/2010 22:10

My DS went skiing in year 7 to Italy. He LOVED it! I was so worried about him being away from home for a week but I needn't have.

The school had the kids schedule set up from morning to night and they were always supervised. I think the older kids had some "free" time.

DS still talks fondly of that trip - he is nearly 18 now.

Fruitysunshine · 14/03/2010 22:10

My DS went skiing in year 7 to Italy. He LOVED it! I was so worried about him being away from home for a week but I needn't have.

The school had the kids schedule set up from morning to night and they were always supervised. I think the older kids had some "free" time.

DS still talks fondly of that trip - he is nearly 18 now.

annh · 15/03/2010 07:53

Do you mean next Feb - so she is still in primary school now? It seems very early to be thinking to much about the trip, a lot will change between now and then. Starting secondary school will be a change for her and you may well find that by next year she is more confident, mature etc. From a supervision point of view, our school doesn't go ski-ing until Yr 9 but there are other foreign trips before then and we are always welcome to call the trip leaders at any time beforehand to check arrangements. There is also, of course, a meeting before the trip with parents but that is obviously a bit late to be airing concerns about whether your daughter should be going.

willali · 15/03/2010 12:51

they will be supervised to within an inch of their lives (3 times school ski trip veteran here!) - the risk assessments etc that the school will have to do could wallpaper the Vatican.....

Sportiness or otherwise doesn't make a difference for ski-ing, and she won't be the only beginner

Only you can judge re the homesickness / anxiety aspect but again she won't be the only one and if the school is sensible they will ban mobile phones so that the homesickness can't be fuelled by frequent sobbing phone calls home!

I say go - but I am ski mad!!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 15/03/2010 13:50

We are a skiing family ( clue is in my nn!) but we made DD wait until Year 9 - so next Feb to go on the school trip. We have said it is a one off trip, and we felt it better to have made friends and settled properly. She is so excited and has a year to wait!

Don't worry about the organisation of these trips - we see them on the slopes, and they are very well organised in ski school. Often school parties have a coach with them that then transports them around ( you see lots of English registered coaches full of excited children around!)

Don't worry about the lack of ski ability either. For lots of these children this will be the first and last experience of the piste. On DD's form for next year we have had to estimate her ability, and I'm sure they would be something similar for your DD. Ski schools are very able at taking on complete novices.

On the homesick front, she will be so exhausted by the fresh air, excitement and altitude that when she gets to bed she will crash out!

vonnyh · 15/03/2010 15:07

My son went on his first ski trip in year 5. we were living in Spain at the time and it was his first trip away without us. He had no skiing experience at the time, and he absolutely loved it. I was of course a nervous wreck until he came home!

Original poster
gypsyme · 15/03/2010 22:15

Thanks so much ladies your responses are very helpful. Unfortunately she might have blown it by throwing the biggest tantrum imaginable tonight - you might have heard her from your house? I was only made aware of this trip on Friday and tonight she is insisting that if I don't commit and pay the deposit in the morning she wont be able to go. I am still thinking on it and know that there are lots of places left. Could start another thread here about pre-teen tantrums or rewarding bad behaviour or how to not lose the plot when your daughter is screaming that she hates her life and it's not faaaaaaiiiiirrrrr. Am seriously feeling now that after such extraordinary rudeness and monumentally obnoxious behaviour that actually I have to say no! Phew :-(

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