Cancelled school trip

callum9999

Poppy9 wrote: »

Did you miss the bit that they couldn't legally use money given to them to educate children to refund for a voluntary contribution trip? The only other money the school have is PTA monies so basically all parents who contribute to PTA funds are paying the refund. Or do you suggest that the Head and staff personally make good the money.

As I said in my post school cancelled, school should refund in full. I would just like to know where the school get the money from because you can't take it from money that is for staff, equipment, building maintenance etc as it's not legal and a school as a public body is regulated on what it can spend it's money on. Only option is PTA or staff pay. If staff have to pay then that will be the end forever of school trips.

No, I just ignored it as it's utterly irrelevant to my point. Whoever decided to cancel should be responsible for payment. Period. I don't care where the money comes from and there is no onus on me to identify a suitable place given I completely disagree with their decision to cancel. Though the ignorant staff who caused families to lose hundreds of pounds for no good reason would be a good place to start...

As I said, the trip almost certainly isn't even to Paris city anyway so there's even less justification (though teachers refusing to go is just speculation from what I can see anyway).

callum9999

pollypenny wrote: »

To you and all those who are criticising the school: while you may well visit Paris yourselves, would you take 60 young people, for whom you are responsible?

From my experience, it would be a Y7 or 8 trip?

I wouldn't take 60 young people anywhere. But then I'm not a teacher and haven't promised to take 60 young people anywhere, unlike this school...

pollypenny

To repeat, Hollande has said no school trips.

Now the State of Emergency has been extended for three months.

sheramber

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-11-19/british-school-groups-told-not-to-travel-to-france/



British schools planning to take children to France in the coming days have been advised by the Foreign Office to cancel the trips as a state of emergency remains in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.

The Foreign Office confirmed its guidance was in line with the French education ministry, which has halted all internal school trips within France until after Sunday.

What to do in a Paris-style terror attack

The FCO said UK school grounds already in France for cultural visits to places like theatres and museums or history sites "may continue as originally planned".

The French Ministry of Education has advised foreign school groups to avoid travelling to France until after 22 November.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommends that British schools planning to take groups to France between now and 22 November follow the French Ministry of Education's advice not to travel.

The French Ministry of Education has advised that school trips already under way in France may continue as originally planned.

– Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The advice came as a headteacher from a UK school who cancelled two trips to France said he felt the decision was "giving in to terrorism".

David Hampson, from the Tollbar Academy in Grimsby, told BBC Radio 5 live he made the decision "with great regret" but said it was "in the interests of the safety of the pupils".

He said the school hopes to be fully reimbursed by its insurance company, but was prepared to foot the bill for all parents to be repaid the £285 cost of the trip.

Moto2

Did you miss posts 27,29 and 36?

whitesatin

I wonder if the parents would like to organize and take the trip themselves. I am sure it could be arranged. Mind you, it might mean having to give up some of their own time. But at least they wouldn't lose their deposits and that's obviously very important to them.

Moto2

Those that haven't got an irrational fear of their own shadow could certainly do that.

zagfles

pollypenny wrote: »

To repeat, Hollande has said no school trips.

Err...yes, for the next few days, not the next few months!

Now the State of Emergency has been extended for three months.

Yes, so? That just gives the police extra powers to detain suspects etc, it should make the city safer.

Neither the French nor British govt have advised against school trips in Feb. If they do, then the school can cancel and should be able to claim on their insurance.

whitesatin

Moto2 wrote: »

Those that haven't got an irrational fear of their own shadow could certainly do that.

Of course they "could" but would they, actually?

I am wondering what the pupils would want to do. Without going back and reading through this thread, has the question been asked, by parents? Would they, given that these days it is on the news all the time, actually want to be away from home without their parents?

It is a long time since I have been a child, granted, but I doubt I would have wanted to be under the circumstances.

In considering cancelling my own trip, I don't think I have an irrational fear of my own shadow but I doubt that I would be able to relax much which was the point of my trip. I have not yet decided but I do know that I would not want to have responsibility for other people's children when I am nervous myself. Of course the chances of something happening are remote but it is going prey on the mind for some time yet, I would imagine, with many people.

zagfles

whitesatin wrote: »

I wonder if the parents would like to organize and take the trip themselves. I am sure it could be arranged. Mind you, it might mean having to give up some of their own time. But at least they wouldn't lose their deposits and that's obviously very important to them.

Good idea. I'd certainly be game for a free trip if my kids were going. Perhaps the school should send out a note asking for volunteers to replace any cowardly teachers (if that was the reason for the cancellation).

Of course the volunteers would need training and CRB checks etc. But it might be a worthwhile investment getting some volunteers trained who could perhaps go on future trips if the school doesn't have enough reliable teachers.