School trips

something_girl

can someone tell me what EMA is please? If it's the school allowance for 16 year olds, I've been trying to find out information about this, but couldn't find a thing!

As for the trip, my daughter did the year 6 PGL thing in Cornwall and that cost £400, I was never allowed on school trips myself, due to money, so I vowed I would not let my children miss them. Bloomin' expensive tho!

Smashing

EMA - education maintenance allowance.

http://ema.direct.gov.uk/

something_girl

Thanks for the link

foreversomeday

When I was at college there was a trip both years to a European destination - it was not mandatory, but deemed important to go, especially in the second year.

Because we were on a low income, my tutor advised me that the college had a fund available for trips etc for students who lived alone or whose parents were on a low income. We applied for it and they paid 75% of the trip cost, although I suppose this doesn't help people above the threshold. It also might not be available in all colleges/schools, the college I went to was doing very well and didn't have any debt as a lot of other educational institutions seem to.

RoxieW

silvercar wrote: »

Although the trip does seem expensive, it must be voluntary or else there should be a paragraph that states that if parents can't pay their children can still participate.

This doesnt happen with these types of trips. They don even put it on the letter for normal daytrips anymore - although they used to when I was at school.

One of my worst school memories is the whole class, barring me, going on an adventure holiday to France. I was desperate to go on that trip. It was all the class talked about for a month before and a month afterwards and I was very excluded even down to my best friend 'taking off' with someone who was going on the trip (we were about 10 at the time!)

Strapped

hm71 wrote: »

http://www.pgl.co.uk/PGLWeb/Schools/Secondary-schools/adventure-study/courses/Mathematics

Don't know if this helps, but it is a breakdown of the activities and how they use maths. Also do other subjects as well.

I used to work a PGL instructor. I'd say the "maths" element was a very small part of the benefit of this trip, and that the school/PGL could be more upfront about that.

silvercar

roxiew wrote:

silvercar wrote:

Although the trip does seem expensive, it must be voluntary or else there should be a paragraph that states that if parents can't pay their children can still participate.

This doesnt happen with these types of trips. They don even put it on the letter for normal daytrips anymore - although they used to when I was at school.

Then the trip must be voluntary.

Savvy_Sue

Only talking about the boys' 6th form here, but I recall seeing a note in the prospectus / subject guides that for some subjects the field trips were required. And with it a note to say that there is no help available from the 'Enabling Fund' - which in the lower part of the school is a fund you can apply to if you can't pay for a trip / activity which has been organised as part of the curriculum.

However I am sure my boys' school would help parents who could not afford 6th form trips in some way, if only by helping them find grants they could apply for. Since mine haven't done subjects which required field trips it's not been an issue.

clutterfrazzled

Is it me?

The OPs school trip itinerary reads as though it is a four day trip with just one half day of any educational merit. - And in this case I'd suggest some of original newsreel footage would have far more educational impact.

Penny-Pincher!!

DD went to Switzerland last year on a Geography trip Year 7 and I think it was about £700 inc some spending money. Luckily grandparents helped out:D ...we have just had the list in for next year and she has a choice of 3 trips from £450-£1200.

She has her heart set on a Safari trip in 2 years but the cost is estimated at around £2500, but this is for 3 weeks and includes all food, travel,insurance etc. It is very expensive but she has offered to contribute half her pocket money for 18 months....so I know she really wants to go. Will ask the grandparents to chip in again...hopefully she can go.

PP
xx