[fiestyredhead331]

My youngest (1st year) came home from school the other night all excited waving this bit of paper at me shouting "there's a school trip".....where to I ask?

CHINA he says 

Trying hard not to kill his dream in one fell swoop I asked to read through the school newsletter so I could see what the deal was. The price per child for this is £2000! Now, to be fair the school are going to try and do some fundraising to ease some of the financial burden but even so there is no way we can stretch to that and when I explained to him that I honestly didn't think we could afford it (we could all go on holiday for a week for that and less!!) he was very pragmatic, saying well I don't like chinese food much anyway 

but seriously, what happened to camping trips in France or exchange trips to Germany etc?  I appreciate that they are planning going to the Terracotta warriors etc and its 17 days long but personally I think it's pretty poor of the school to suggest this to parents in this current economic climate. Will be interesting to see what the uptake on this trip is.

[Rosemary]

I honestly despair of schools that do this. My nephew's lad's school had a trip to Iceland (not the frozen food store) which cost a fortune.

It must put so much pressure on parents, especially if they have several children at school. It must just emphasise the gap between the "haves" and the "have nots".

My view is - if it's part of the curriculum, then all go and it's funded by the school; if it's not part of the curriculum, it's a holiday and isn't the school's responsibility.

[bloomer]

Oli my eldest wad offered a school trip to New York cost 1500 for a 5 day trip including travel time... Not happening...

[shygirl]

my son was heartbroken for 2 yrs in a row as we couldn't afford £800 for a 5 day trip to france. no other option was offered so you either went or you didn't. with Scotland outside the door, they could have a fantastic time for much less. im sure the teachers get all expenses paid.

[doganjo]

I think that is an absolute sin!!!!!  It is elitist and creates class barriers

My sister got to go on a school trip in 5th year - a cruise to teh fjords - I have no idea how my parents managed to fund it as Dad was a postie and Mum worked in the office of the family business - not a shareholder.  I never got ANY school trips and I haven't suffered.  (except for my sister dropping the movie camera I lent her on the deck!  )

My grandchildren get to go on the PLG trips now they're in senior school and the oldest did get to America last year - but it was certainly worthwhile and her father could afford it.

[Rosemary]

im sure the teachers get all expenses paid.

I'm sure they did - but even having all my expenses paid wouldn't tempt me to supervise a group of other people's kids on a school trip 

[fiestyredhead331]

last year they did a trip to New York and my middle son wanted to go so his dad paid the deposit only for them to announce a seperate trip to Holland to spend a week football training, which he much preferred but what a battle I had getting the school to switch his deposit from NY to Holland!!!
I have emailed the school asking if there are going to be any other more reasonably priced trips in the offing that us mere mortals can afford 

[Fleecewife]

It's nothing new.  Way back in the dark ages when I was in the 6th form, a trip was announced to Russia.  This was when nobody went there, it was all mysterious, and everyone was advised to take several pairs of Levis because they could sell them for loads.  Only one girl from our class could afford to go.  Oddly the rest of us just accepted the situation and went on our French and German exchanges which just cost the ferry fare.  I much preferred that to something like a week on the train, then another week home again.  We really liked the tales Sheila brought back with her, but I don't remember any feeling of 'them' and 'us'.

[sabrina]

Far too much pressure on parents and very unfair on any child who knows they will not be going due to cost.

[Daisys Mum]

Blooming heck I remember being thrilled by a day trip to St Andrews!

[Marches Farmer]

That far, eh!  We went to the British Museum - it was a bus ride away.  Considering schools are always bandying the word "partnership" around in connection with parents you'd think they could actually ask the parents what they think before opening their big mouths and getting the children revved up.  In addition to the trip itself there will be the extras like spending money, a passport and new clothes and luggage for some folks. 

[Quirkygirl]

The cost of school trips are getting out of hand.   Our sons trip is £598 and oh the school are nice by saying we can pay in two payments. Like we have that money just sat around...

[fiestyredhead331]

the school are doing a monthly payment scheme but a deposit of £250 and then over a £100 a month, that's almost my weeks wages!
I don't see why the school can't do a survey amongst parents, its not a huge school so we can sit down with our children and say IF you were to go on a school trip WHERE would you like to go or find out what is a reasonable amount for a family to pay?
But then there's the whole issue of well its ok for you to take my children out of school for 17 days but I have to beg if I want to take them on a family holiday during term time when the prices are reasonable 

[Lesley Silvester]

When I was at school it was a day trip to London zoo and we paid in weekly instalments, around 2/- a week (ok I am going back a bit). Whe my children were at Primary school they had day trips as well but we would get a letter about it a week or two beforehand and be asked for all the money by return. It wasn't a huge amount but finding it times three was very hard as we were on a very low income at the time.

[Clarebelle]

When I was at school i went on a ski trip to italy, it cost around £700 plus having to buy all the ski equipment etc. My dad paid for it but i know that I would never be able to afford such a trip for my children.

My eldest daughter went on a day trip to mainland a few weeks ago to the leisure center where they had lots of activities and a roller disco. The ferry fee was funded by the community council so it cost me £3.