Cost / Number of school trips

onlyroz

pendragon_arther wrote: »

The thing is it makes the parent feel guilty for not being able to let the child go on these trips as they could be disappointed and feel let down.

That's not a good enough reason to stop the other children from going. The school can't say "Sorry, there'll be no trips this year incase the ones who can't afford it feel bad".

When I was at secondary school there was no expectation at all that you'd go on any of the trips. They were entirely optional. I doubt this has changed.

Helen224488

If you are on benefits and not working please ask your school if your child is a pupil premium student. At the school where I work pupil premium students get 50% off of all school trips. If you have claimed free school meals for your kids in the last 6 years, a child in care or left care to be adopted or some service children should also qualify.

mum2one

Helen224488 wrote: »

If you are on benefits and not working please ask your school if your child is a pupil premium student. At the school where I work pupil premium students get 50% off of all school trips. If you have claimed free school meals for your kids in the last 6 years, a child in care or left care to be adopted or some service children should also qualify.

Thank you, - I have asked - unfortunatly its a no, not run through the local authority its a school trip, if it was a day trip be different x

mum2one

I'm paying full price - so I could say I'm being shafted by having a partner contributing to the household....

kingfisherblue

I'm on benefits - my other son is disabled. However, I pay full costs for all trips and have never asked, nor been offered, a discount because of my situation. The pupil premium in my younger son's school (the son who went on the battlefields trip referred to in my previous post) has been spent, if I remember correctly, on additional teaching assistants and other things that benefit all pupils.

Loz01

FBaby wrote: »

I would seriously dispute this! DD did go on a school trip to France, the only one abroad I agreed on, but that was knowing that this was more about having fun than gaining any education. They hardly spoke French and it was all about doing the stereotypical touristy visits that are just full of foreigners.

This is so true, when I was in secondary school in Year 9 there was a school trip to Paris (aka Disneyland Paris) which I didn't go to, but it was nothing at all to do with the curriculum - they did all the tourist stuff, went to Disney and didnt speak any French :rotfl:

YORKSHIRELASS

I dont want to get into arguments about benefits but actually you are quite lucky. At my sons secondary school there has never been a school trip offered costing under £500, in fact £800+ is more typical.

I do wondered why trips have to be abroad, and why they have to be so expensive. Are there not worthwhile, educational things that can be done in this country?

We have just signed my son up for a 4 day (including travel) GCSE history trip to Germany for £550. We had a week from the letter going out to pay the £150 deposit. This will be a great experience for my son but lets face it for many families £550 is a lot to find and of course if you have 2 children that figure is doubled. £550 would pay for a weeks camping holiday for us.

As you can guess I feel quite strongly about this. These trips set children from less well off families apart.

mum2one

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

I dont want to get into arguments about benefits but actually you are quite lucky. At my sons secondary school there has never been a school trip offered costing under £500, in fact £800+ is more typical.

I do wondered why trips have to be abroad, and why they have to be so expensive. Are there not worthwhile, educational things that can be done in this country?

We have just signed my son up for a 4 day (including travel) GCSE history trip to Germany for £550. We had a week from the letter going out to pay the £150 deposit. This will be a great experience for my son but lets face it for many families £550 is a lot to find and of course if you have 2 children that figure is doubled. £550 would pay for a weeks camping holiday for us.

As you can guess I feel quite strongly about this. These trips set children from less well off families apart.

I can't blame you, if its educational yes but in yr 11 thy go skiing - £1500 .. yr 9 is Spain £900
It does put a divide between parents x

carlislelass

mum2one wrote: »

Re passport - with dd they had a collective passport done throu the school the cost was tied in with the trip, x

No collective passport at our school

mumps

mum2one wrote: »

She's not doing German that was what made me laugh, she did outsold bounds with primary and hated the place, I'd love to take her to London - but I have restricted mobility.

Think she's going for London trip, they have - show, London eye and dundgeons x

I bet she will love it. I as am alway amazed that our local school does trips all over the world but I know lots of the kids have never been to London, well in my kids years they hadn't. It is a 4 hr train trip from here to London so not good for a day trip really. I do think it is good for them to see their capital city, the historic buildings etc.

I think you made a good choice.