How do you stop feeling bad?

Horasio

I never went on the trips either. I don't feel I missed out and my parents could afford them. They never appealed to me either.

My parents took us to Barbados for Christmas instead, far nicer:)

angieth

i to did not go away on school trips and the school paid for me to go on day trips, did not bother me at the time,were usually alot of others that did not go either.
I now have 2 daughters at senior school , 1 year 9 and other year 7, the 1 in year 9 had no school trips at all(day trips or longer trips) throughout year 7 and 8 but now in year 9 she has 4 longer trips(1 five day trip to swanage (£200),1 three day trip to france,1 three or five day(can't remember which) trip to belgium and 1 end of year camp.
4 in 1 year , I have told her she can choose one (as long as it does not cost too much).(I have no idea how much the other 3 are) ,
the belgium one is in November but we have had no letter home informing us of anything yet.
I will be having words with the school head.

Anniek1969

I went to Paris with the school when I was 12, mum and dad had to scrimp and save to send me and my sister had just got married so looking back I wish I hadn't put them under that pressure. None of my friends went so I was pretty lonely but the experience itself is something I will never forget.

My oldest daughter went on a school trip to Blairvadach Outdoor Centre which isn't that far from where we live in Glasgow, aobut a 40 min drive and it cost us £130 for 4 days. She really enjoyed it and had the chance to go again this year but turned it down. I think she really didn't want us to have to pay another £130 for it when she'd already been there.

My middle daughter is going to Winmarleigh Hall at the end of October for 4 days but the school managed to get a grant from a kids charity (can't remember which one) and it took the price down from £130 to £61 so I didn't mind paying that.

Don't think my eldest will be going on any more trips as she's just back from Castle Toward in Dunoon with the Scottish Youth Theatre, they were doing a show called Mixing It, it was all about racism and prejudice and they took them away from tuesday to saturday to rehearse and she hated it. They rehearsed from after breakfast till bedtime only stopping for short breaks and food. She's told me that she missed us so much that she never wanted to go away without us again so I'm going to get that in writing before the next school trip comes round and she changes her mind.

loopy_lass

Aww bless him.... tell him ya love him & thats worth more than £6.... Just wanted to say, if the school ask for a voluntary contribution then dont pay... its voluntary, or pay as much as you can afford i.e. £2

Also if your claiming free school meals or any benefits, contact pupil & parent support, your school, or the LEA as they often fund such trips from their budget.

My daughter went on an adventure course in junior school, i couldnt afford the amount, so pupil & parent support payed half, school paid 3rd and i paid rest... on tick of course....

ask, its worth a try..

loops

[Deleted User]

It is lovely to know that there are so many well brought up and thoughtful children about. Pat on the back to all you parents who are doing a difficult job in such a money-centred society. It has given me a real lift reading this thread

Savvy_Sue

I think the school should make it clear what is an extra-curricular trip and what is an educational trip. The ski trips at my boys' school is during February holiday (what was half-term, but we're on a 6 term year now!), so it's clearly extra-curricular. They also ran a trip to Israel one year, which my eldest was very excited about, until he realised that was also during school holidays so he wouldn't get out of school if he went!

When my eldest first brought home a letter about the ski trip, I was really surprised that he WANTED to go. I thought it was a lot of money, so said he'd have to pay half, which I thought would put him off, but it didn't. And he went, and had a great time. We'd never take him skiing - it had never crossed my mind he might like to! - so he got a great experience, and went a couple more times. DS2 has also been, but only once. The youngest, who I'd have expected would want to go (and to kick off about being expected to pay half!) has never wanted to go.

But I'd stop feeling guilty if you can't afford to pay. Ski trips are often run every year, so if our offspring WANT to go they can start saving now!