School trips

traveller

Hiya, i don't know if i'm just completely out of touch, but DS who's 15 has brought home a letter requesting 419 quid for a 4 day trip to Germany as part of his history gcse. And, to put the top hat on all of it, they want £150.00-by monday,the letter came in yesterday!It's costing me less to take him to dubai for a fortnight!

For tht price i'd expect at least a week.I always let the kids go on trips as i think travel is very important-but this is a bit much i think.Is this the average-the school has never taken them abroad before.Do other people find school trips excessive?

Oldernotwiser

If the school has never organised study visits before then they probably don't have the experience of doing price comparisons and making some booking independently. It sounds to me as if the history teacher has just picked up the phone and made arrangements through the first educational tour operator they've come across.
Having said this, I'm not sure what you can do about it. Is the trip compulsory and what does it actually cover in the way of transport/accommodation/visits/talks etc?

traveller

Hi older not wiser, it's not compulsory as such, but the kids are being led to believe the trip will be invaluable to their studies.The trip covers:
return flightsfrom london to berlin then krakow to london, pass for berlin public transport,overnight train from berlin to krakow,half day excursion to auschwitz, travel and medical insurance, 2 nights half board accomadation,airport taxes and group passport.

I 'spose i was just having a moan at how shocking the price was.I would like him to go,but have not made my mind up yet.

Alikay

I was a travel agent for many years and couldn't believe the costs of the educational trips my 3 kids have been on! I'd have been able to get them flights and 4* hotels for the same as we were charged for a coach, ferry and dormitories! However, I think the costs have a lot to do with all the planning, risk assessments and so on that have to be carried out - I think schools just don't have the resources for doing these themselves, particularly overseas, so they just use one of the specialist school tour operators...hence the extortionate prices.

We let our kids choose 2 trips each over the course of their time at secondary school, and insisted that it had to be related to studies, sport or performing arts, not the annual skiing trip. We also made sure they saved up a small amount towards it themselves ( maybe a contribution of £30, plus the spending money) and any clothing or equipment such as hiking boots/sports gear was to be requested as xmas pressies from the adoring grannies!

They all got a great deal out of their school trips, and whilst I can never say it was good value for money, I think they were a very worthwhile experience.

Fen1

If you know the itinerary, could you not take your son yourself for a weekend? There's plenty of info out there on Krakow and the concentration camps. Doing it after the trip would also be good, as then your son could have a good nosey at what they actually did on the trip before he goes.

It sounds that they are doing a LOT of travelling for very little time learning anything on site.

LondonDiva

You also have to include insurance, the cost of the teachers' transport & accomodation

Bearing in mind that it's:

flights from london to berlin
flights krakow to london
pass for berlin public transport
overnight train from berlin to krakow
half day excursion to auschwitz
travel and medical insurance
2 nights half board accomadation
airport taxes
group passport

That's not that expensive as if you sourced it yourself, but you don't have to take all the same things into account. They have specialist insurance, not Insure & Go.

An idea would be broaching the expense with the teacher / school and offering to volunteer to organise the next trip with all the considerations in mind - at least they will see you a s proactive, your kids will get a cheaper price if possible...

You could set an MSE trend for parents to haggle mass discounts at travel agencies for school groups.

santashelper_2

It may be beneficial to go but in todays day and age why cant a couple of teachers go and record a video of this trip ok they wont get the same live effects but how do they think parents can afford these costs and then be told they are only allowed to take summer holidays in the school holiday season when everything is more expensive.

Parents with children must feel exploited for having them in todays society because everything is geared up to making parents feel guilty if they cant participate in these events, yet parents pockets and time (i.e. helping children to read etc because the school fails them) are being more and more eroded away.

It is my opinion that more and more responsibility is being put onto individuals and organisations are doing less and less in general anyway, eventually parents wont have time to go to work and pay for these trips so no one wins.

floss2

Has this letter been lurking in a school bag...?

Perhaps you could write a carefully worded note to say "yes, but with at least 3 months notice of when you want the deposit please"......especially in the current climate of cutting back & moneysaving.

I bet you aren't the only one to have a sharp intake of breath when they read the letter!

traveller

Hi, i've told DS that he has to put 75.00 towards it-he has an account set up for things like this, but so far has funded consoles and games:rolleyes: and he can go.I think 'cos he's the eldest i'm just shocked at the price,as you could get to NY for that on some deals,lol.

London Diva-i liked the bit about us MSERS haggling prices of this trips down:D
Thanks for everyones opinions-much appreciated!!!

traveller

floss2 wrote: »

Has this letter been lurking in a school bag...?

Perhaps you could write a carefully worded note to say "yes, but with at least 3 months notice of when you want the deposit please"......especially in the current climate of cutting back & moneysaving.

I bet you aren't the only one to have a sharp intake of breath when they read the letter!

That's what annoyed me too-it was dated 1st july, but he swore he only got it yesterday-although they were told it's in the pipeline!

basketcase

1 July still isn't long enough!