Educational school trip that wasn't! FIRST POST UPDATED

bestpud

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who replied.

I have had an apology and assurance it won't happen again, from the teacher who arranged the trip, but could not go as she was ill.

As dd said, they were always going to have free time and they did miss the gallery because the driver got lost in London.

The teacher is complaining to the bus company about this and says the staff decided the pupils needed chance to get refreshments after so long on the coach.

However, she says they would have gone into the gallery had she been there, and she is disappointed this did not happen (not sure if she means disappointed with the staff, or with the bus driver for causing the problem!)

I'm told the shopping area (Covent Garden) is quite small and pupils were shown meeting points and the galleries where the teachers were located. They were told to stay in groups as well, but don't seem to have been instructed to stay in this small area!

However, it does at least seem more planned and prepared for than I first thought but I'm still not 100% happy with them not informing parents of the free time.

I'm going to leave it at that but thought I would update you all.

Bestpud

END OF UPDATE


DD, age 15, went on a school trip to the National Gallery in London yesterday. It cost £20 and the letter specifically states it is important for their coursework. We were also asked to send them with a sketch pad, drawing materials and camera.

Anyway, when she got home, she said they had just wandered around London all day! They pulled up, and the teacher apparently asked who was going to the gallery and who was going shopping instead.

Needless to say, only 4 pupils went to the gallery. :rolleyes:

I'm a bit peeved about it because:

I signed a consent form for a 'educational' trip and would have liked to be informed my daughter was wandering around London unsupervised! They had the teachers mobile phone number though. My assumption was they would be inside a gallery and a teacher would also be within the building! They were fine and are old enough to be out alone, but London is a big place and I'd have liked DD to be a bit more prepared for it.

I would have thought twice about paying £20 for her to walk around London on a school day.

If I had made a decision to pay for her to go on a shopping trip, I'd have made sure she actually had some money and some idea of what was around and were to find what she wanted! As it was, she only had a few pounds on her and no idea what was around that area.

I do know she had the choice to go into the gallery and I'm cross she didn't. That said, only four did and I'd have thought that was to be expected if they were given free choice in the matter! They are 15/16 years old - I know what I'd have done at that age!

So what do you guys think? Would you be a bit cheesed off by it as well, or is it just me being daft? It just feels like a waste of £20, and a days education to me.

Mrs_Pepperpot_2

I'd be flipping furious!

LittleTinker

She is home safe and sound and had a nice day seeing London?

conradmum

You're perfectly right to be peeved. Two things would bother me - firstly that the trip was 'sold' as educational, and secondly, that the teacher wasn't doing his/her job. They're responsible for your children while they're with them, and it would be impossible for the teacher to look after separate parties of children wandering around London. Also, they're supposed to be educating them!

No, it looks to me very much as though the teacher behaved in a lazy and irresponsible manner and didn't think the kids would go home and spill the beans to their parents. Hardly fostering a love and appreciation of art either - would you rather go shopping? :rolleyes: Did the teacher stay at the gallery or did they go shopping too?

I would write a polite letter to the headteacher asking for an explanation of what happened, reassurance both that your child would not be allowed to wander around unsupervised on further field trips, and that the correct information regarding trips would be given, and I would ask for a refund of the £20.

MrsE_2

bestpud

I think you are right to be annoyed. I would be too. You were sold an educational trip. Why don't you write a stiff letter to the headteacher or school governors?

Love your sig

bestpud

LittleTinker wrote: »

She is home safe and sound and had a nice day seeing London?

Yes, she's home safe and sound. But then I wasn't concerned about safety as such - although I do think it would be good for her and us to have known that was going to happen.

They spent most of the day just wandering really as they didn't know the area and had no money - but yes, she was very pleased with what happened!

MrsE_2

conradmum wrote: »

You're perfectly right to be peeved. Two things would bother me - firstly that the trip was 'sold' as educational, and secondly, that the teacher wasn't doing his/her job. They're responsible for your children while they're with them, and it would be impossible for the teacher to look after separate parties of children wandering around London. Also, they're supposed to be educating them!

No, it looks to me very much as though the teacher behaved in a lazy and irresponsible manner and didn't think the kids would go home and spill the beans to their parents. Hardly fostering a love and appreciation of art either - would you rather go shopping? :rolleyes: Did the teacher stay at the gallery or did they go shopping too?

I would write a polite letter to the headteacher asking for an explanation of what happened, reassurance both that your child would not be allowed to wander around unsupervised on further field trips, and that the correct information regarding trips would be given, and I would ask for a refund of the £20.

LOL

Snap.

But you said it much better:D

MrsE_2

LittleTinker wrote: »

She is home safe and sound and had a nice day seeing London?

Helpful as usual:rolleyes:

twistedhippy

I'm suprised & shocked that a teacher would let a 15 year old wander around London on their own. I work in museum dealing with school bookings all day & teachers want our risk assessment before they even book the trip. Since a couple of tragic accidents on school trips a few years back, teachers in general are extra careful about safety on school outings. I'd ask around the other parents first, and have a quiet word with the school because if she was allowed to wander around on her own, the teacher should be reprimanded. You need to be sure though because mud sticks, and the truth is never very simple where teenagers are concerned (oh I feel old saying that).

bestpud

twistedhippy wrote: »

I'm suprised & shocked that a teacher would let a 15 year old wander around London on their own. I work in museum dealing with school bookings all day & teachers want our risk assessment before they even book the trip. Since a couple of tragic accidents on school trips a few years back, teachers in general are extra careful about safety on school outings. I'd ask around the other parents first, and have a quiet word with the school because if she was allowed to wander around on her own, the teacher should be reprimanded. You need to be sure though because mud sticks, and the truth is never very simple where teenagers are concerned (oh I feel old saying that).

That's the bit that concerns me too. I don't want to cause a big problem for the teacher, but I would like to know it won't happen again. And, I agree, I can't be sure there isn't more to it, as I wasn't there.

Having said that though, DD doesn't lie as a rule, and isn't one to bunk off.

She has left school early on two occasions, when there has been non-academic things going on (she wasn't found out as they didn't take a register which is alarming in itself - what if there was a fire and they had no idea who was there?) But anyway, each time she came straight home and said she's done it.

She also left the school, to go with a friend to get her PE kit one lunchtime, but again, was straight up about it.

I know she's my daughter and I'm biased but I honestly think she would just say if they'd made a sneaky getaway!

Keeping_Positive

I would not be impressed in fact I would be darn right mad. I would speak to some other parents first to confirm but if that did happen a complaint should go in and (being a MSE!) I would want my £20 back as well.