How do you feel about expensive foreign school trips?

flower24

The ski trip at my school was always quite small, with only about 15-20 places. I went on one school holiday in year 8, to Normandy, so it probably wasn't too much money. I was also meant to go on an exchange but changed my mind. I think possibly when it is my children's turn to do these things they will be told they can do one trip abroad during their time at school. Unless our financial situation changes that is.

flower24

Funny as well how these trips are so expensive, yet at my Uni, they are putting on a trip to South Africa, all meals included for £250!

peachyprice

immynjoesmum wrote: »

Funny as well how these trips are so expensive, yet at my Uni, they are putting on a trip to South Africa, all meals included for £250!

Yes, Guides and Brownies always seen to be able to do trips much cheaper than schools too. Never have understood that.

Poppy9

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

They are a fantastic opportunity and really appreciated by most kids.

Unfortunately schools can afford to sub all these trips and it does come down to those who can afford to can go. I don't see this as a completely bad thing tbh. I grew up in a very poor household and we could never afford these trips but did other things instead. I never felt hard done by, I just accepted that it was one of those things I couldn't afford.

In response to Poppy, school trips are categorised. Those which are compulsory e.g. field work for a subject will be fully paid for by the school if someone cannot pay - no disadvantage. Those which are non-compulsory but are academically beneficial e.g. French Trips are usually partly or fully subed. Those that are non-compulsory and not academically beneficial e.g. Ski Trips are generally not subed. So in most cases it doesn't lead to an academic disadvantage.

No one is saying they are not a great experience for the child, but not all families can afford these trips so they miss out.

In DD school -

Compulsory trips are only ever 1/2 day geography type trips. We are asked for payment with a letter saying "Payment for this trip is voluntary, but unless sufficient contributions are forthcoming, the visit will not take place".

Trips linked to foreign languages, GCSE courses etc. which are not compulsory but beneficial are not subsidised either partially or fully.

Leisure trips like Skiing are again not subsidised at all.

End of Autumn and Summer term day trips (a huge option of day or overnight trips i.e Alton towers, London, Eurodisney) are again not subsidised and include a few pounds compulsory surcharge for school fund!!! There is the option though of staying on site for last two days of school and paying a £1 to watch a film.

thegirlintheattic

Poppy9 wrote: »

No one is saying they are not a great experience for the child, but not all families can afford these trips so they miss out.

In DD school -

Compulsory trips are only ever 1/2 day geography type trips. We are asked for payment with a letter saying "Payment for this trip is voluntary, but unless sufficient contributions are forthcoming, the visit will not take place".

Trips linked to foreign languages, GCSE courses etc. which are not compulsory but beneficial are not subsidised either partially or fully.

Leisure trips like Skiing are again not subsidised at all.

End of Autumn and Summer term day trips (a huge option of day or overnight trips i.e Alton towers, London, Eurodisney) are again not subsidised and include a few pounds compulsory surcharge for school fund!!! There is the option though of staying on site for last two days of school and paying a £1 to watch a film.

Have you asked about subsidy for trips like foreign language? It's often not publicised that help is available but if you are in need and speak to the office things can often be sorted if the trip is beneficial. Most schools will be able to sort something out this way for things like history/geography trips.

I was in one of those families who couldn't afford it but take the position that if they miss out on non-essential trips (such as Skiing) they miss out. They would still miss out if, say, in the summer their friends went to Alton Towers and they didn't. Leisure trips such as Alton Towers or Skiing should not be subsided, although in the case of Ski Trips it is usually quite a small group going (at least at our school there is never more than 50), so it is never really an issue if someone doesn't go, as most people don't.

MarilynMonroe_2

Theres no way I could afford that, hopefully my daughter will grow up to accept that.
I never went on any expensive school trips and dont feel like I missed out, not even sure if there were any I could have gone on, I certainly don't remember the chance to.

fluffnutter

Sensemaya wrote: »

I'm pretty sure the teachers accompanying the pupils get a freebie hol. That's why the costs are so high.

I wouldn't consider going away with 30 kids a 'holiday'. I'd consider it hard work. The main requisite of a teacher's holiday is that they're as far away from children as possible.

But it's true that school trips are expensive. That's because it's a fairly niche market, compared to the travel industry as a whole, and the firms that organise them charge extortionate prices. Plus I suspect insurance costs are pretty high too.

FBaby

Holidays of this kind simply divide and exclude, they do in fact encourage a "class" system to exist, and that in my opinion is wrong.

I don't think that is the case. Most of my DD's friends' parents could afford these trips (ourselves included), but don't agree with the principle so the kids don't go. Some parents struggle financially, but feel under the huge pressure of their kids and so pay even if it might mean getting into debts.

We had that problem with one of our children, i.e. we couldn't afford for her to go. And she still minds, to this day. So now, if they want to go, I just close my eyes while I write out the cheque. If you close your eyes it doesn't feel as bad.

That's the other thing that I don't like about these expensive trips. What is it teaching a child if their family can't normally afford such luxury, but they go and get a feel of how wonderful if it to go on expensive holidays. When they get their first job, they want to do it again, put it on the credit card and those are the under 25 who come on the debts board, saying they are already £10K in debts.

zagfles

fluffnutter wrote: »

I wouldn't consider going away with 30 kids a 'holiday'. I'd consider it hard work. The main requisite of a teacher's holiday is that they're as far away from children as possible.

I know teachers/TA's who say looking after a class of 30 is easier than looking after their own 2 children

But it's true that school trips are expensive. That's because it's a fairly niche market, compared to the travel industry as a whole, and the firms that organise them charge extortionate prices. Plus I suspect insurance costs are pretty high too.

Group travel is hardly "niche", and as mentioned Scouts/Guides seem to be able to do them for reasonable prices.

I think organising a group trip would make an excellent class project - let the kids research where to go, what to do there, trips, hotels, restuarants, etc, using online resources such as tripadvisor etc. Get them into the habit of researching holidays themselves rather than lazily paying a rip-off amount to a tour operator for a holiday! They'll get so much more out of a holiday they've put effort into researching, plus it will be much cheaper. Organising it (or helping to) is probably as educational if not more than the holiday itself

valk_scot

peachyprice wrote: »

Yes, Guides and Brownies always seen to be able to do trips much cheaper than schools too. Never have understood that.

They quite often have their own mini bus and can hire another from the district pool or another troupe. Plus they camp more often than not, on official Scout or Guide campsites, and they own their own tents and equipment. So often the cost of these trips only has to cover food, transport and a relatively cheap amount to the campsite. The only other thing that crops up is if they're doing a specific outwards bound activity and have to pay towards equipment hire and the specialised coach (+ extra trained adults) from the centre. So the baseline costs are cheaper, it's more akin to you taking your own car and tent or caravan.

Plus of course Scouts and Guides do a fair bit of fundraising for these trips and other activities in general. Finally it's surprising how many district groups receive and hold bequests, some of them quite substantial, and these can yield dividends that are used to subsidise activities, equipment and trips. Part of the yearly subs you pay go towards the general upkeep of group facilities. It's like a giant cooperative. And finally, almost all the adults involved are volunteers.

It's a fact though that Scouts and Guides trips tend to be a bit simpler when it comes to accommodation, there's not so many school pupils of secondary school age who would agree to sleep six to a canvas tent in the middle of a field, with a five minute trek to the toilet block and no-where to plug in the hair straighteners. Not to mention cooking their own meals over an open fire and doing the washing up in a bucket. You need to have the camping gene to be able to save your parents money in that way!