Voluntary contribution towards school trips

tiggerroo1301

Jellyhead, genuine hardship is genuine hardship. It is the Can's but Won'ts that I have the issue with.

Janepig

jellyhead wrote: »

Me too, but that's because I was always the pauper in charity shop uniform who was excluded from things because my mum couldn't pay. A video in the hall, for example. I realise that school probably divided the cost by the number of students, but my mum couldn't pay for all of us. Nowadays I am sure that school would allow a mum to pay for 1 child while the others get a sub.

Do you think that's something you remember, but that others wouldn't remember about you? Do you know what I mean? I couldn't tell you who the kids in hand me down/charity shop uniforms were when I was in school (and yes, it was a long time ago ).

There was nowhere near as much going on when I was in school as there is now, so I don't recall my parents having to stump up on a regular basis. There was nothing at all in infant school, we used to get a summer day trip in Junior school which I went on twice (to Bristol Zoo bu train) and I didn't go on the other two (because my mother reckoned I'd be sick on the bus). I certainly think my old primary would have been classed as "deprived" back then, in a truer sense of the word imo than it is now (it's classed as deprived now).

In comp there was a skiing trip in the winter and a summer trip to France/Switzerland. Trips related to the curriculum didn't happen. I'm not sure if there used to be a bit more going on in the sixth form - I didn't stick around for that!!

I think that's part of the reason I don't complain about the trips my two do go on, because we never really had the opportunity back then. I did go on the skiing trip once, but that was a one off. And if I thought that teachers still behaved on trips like our teachers did when we were away (ie, out getting !!!!!! in town leaving us to our own devices, and boy we got up to some mischief!) then my kids would be going nowhere!! I love that my two get to go to some really interesting places with the school. Even when they just sometimes go for a walk around the local area to look at houses!

Jx

jellyhead

Janepig wrote: »

Do you think that's something you remember, but that others wouldn't remember about you? Do you know what I mean? I couldn't tell you who the kids in hand me down/charity shop uniforms were when I was in school (and yes, it was a long time ago ).

There was nowhere near as much going on when I was in school as there is now, so I don't recall my parents having to stump up on a regular basis. There was nothing at all in infant school, we used to get a summer day trip in Junior school which I went on twice (to Bristol Zoo bu train) and I didn't go on the other two (because my mother reckoned I'd be sick on the bus). I certainly think my old primary would have been classed as "deprived" back then, in a truer sense of the word imo than it is now (it's classed as deprived now).

In comp there was a skiing trip in the winter and a summer trip to France/Switzerland. Trips related to the curriculum didn't happen. I'm not sure if there used to be a bit more going on in the sixth form - I didn't stick around for that!!

I think that's part of the reason I don't complain about the trips my two do go on, because we never really had the opportunity back then. I did go on the skiing trip once, but that was a one off. And if I thought that teachers still behaved on trips like our teachers did when we were away (ie, out getting !!!!!! in town leaving us to our own devices, and boy we got up to some mischief!) then my kids would be going nowhere!! I love that my two get to go to some really interesting places with the school. Even when they just sometimes go for a walk around the local area to look at houses!

Jx

Everyone would remember it about me because I was bullied for being poor. The school had a large rural intake, and just a few from the outskirts of the council estate. I was the only girl in PE who didn't have the correct skirt.

So judging by that, letting me in to watch the video in the hall wouldn't have made any difference - I still would have been the pauper. Hmmm .... I still think all kids should be included in the cheap things.

OP mentions 3 trips - are they all in the same year? My 6 year old has only been on 3 trips in the whole of his 3 years at school. A trip per year is probably affordable for most parents. 3 trips a year may not be.

Bluemeanie_2

Maybe off topic but as a working taxpayer, I would not pay a "voluntary contribution" to an educational trip that was part of the curriculum. (Recretional, yes) I already contribute via tax and all the rest of the stoppages? Just food for thought?

balletshoes

can I just ask, are the letter for educational/curricular visits supposed to mention voluntary contributions? Its just I have one in front of me for my DD's education centre trip in a couple of weeks time (supporting the class novel thats been a topic this term). Nowhere on the letter does it mention voluntary contribution. It asks if my child will be or won't be attending, if I want to pay the whole amount (£10) at once, or in 2 installments, and asks for my signature.

emweaver

jellyhead wrote: »

Everyone would remember it about me because I was bullied for being poor. The school had a large rural intake, and just a few from the outskirts of the council estate. I was the only girl in PE who didn't have the correct skirt.

So judging by that, letting me in to watch the video in the hall wouldn't have made any difference - I still would have been the pauper. Hmmm .... I still think all kids should be included in the cheap things.

OP mentions 3 trips - are they all in the same year? My 6 year old has only been on 3 trips in the whole of his 3 years at school. A trip per year is probably affordable for most parents. 3 trips a year may not be.

No I said 2 trips both this month. I paid for the first

Mojisola

balletshoes wrote: »

can I just ask, are the letter for educational/curricular visits supposed to mention voluntary contributions? Its just I have one in front of me for my DD's education centre trip in a couple of weeks time (supporting the class novel thats been a topic this term). Nowhere on the letter does it mention voluntary contribution. It asks if my child will be or won't be attending, if I want to pay the whole amount (£10) at once, or in 2 installments, and asks for my signature.

See here - https://www.education.gov.uk/popularquestions/childrenandfamilies/parenting/a005626/can-my-childs-school-charge-for-school-trips-and-educational-visits

pollypenny

Even 'educational trips' could be deemed as extras if they cost the school, whether entrance fees or transport.

Someone has to pay.

It would be sad if education was confined to text books.

In my case, I would have hated it if i couldn't take classes to see the plays we studied. To hear Y8 kids cracking laughing at The Tempest made the job worthwhile and ensured they never say Shakespeare was boring.

balletshoes

Mojisola wrote: »

See here - https://www.education.gov.uk/popularquestions/childrenandfamilies/parenting/a005626/can-my-childs-school-charge-for-school-trips-and-educational-visits

thanks - I guess my DD's school never uses the term "voluntary contribution" because then there would be less parents paying anything.

mishkanorman

Bluemeanie wrote: »

Maybe off topic but as a working taxpayer, I would not pay a "voluntary contribution" to an educational trip that was part of the curriculum. (Recretional, yes) I already contribute via tax and all the rest of the stoppages? Just food for thought?

If i remember rightly, the school can use 'budget' funds for educational trips but cannot use the same funds for the coaches, that must always be found in other ways or from other sources.

For a trip to the Panto this year 3 coaches travelling the 20 miles to the theatre and then back again were just shy of £800 - I would imagine most trips are in the same sort of ballpark.