School Trips

Some schools do the outward bound trips for older students whereby they have to raise the money to fund themselves eg making and selling products such as marmalade, washing cars etc.

It still seems unfair on students from poorer families. I remember a primary school trip to France ds couldn’t go on because he was disabled, so he was left in the classroom with a few other kids whose parents couldn’t afford it. Ok they had a good time in school but not the same as going.

We did pay for dds to go on secondary school skiing trip as it was not something we felt was easy with our ds and we could afford it at the time.

DG1 is off to Germany for a 3 day History trip next week at great expense. He is very keen to go and being autistic it may help him socialise and so we thought it would be a good experience. His twin sister at another school was due to go on a week long Geography trip to Iceland. The cost is horrendous and she is not at all keen so we will forgo it. None of her friends are going and many can’t afford it so in effect they both had the choice and there is no bad feeling.

Not all families can afford to travel abroad together, we paid for each child to do one extravagant trip each.
It was a worthwhile experience for each of them.
As grandparents we will pay for each of our GC to have a school trip abroad.

I'm not sure of the value of school trips these days - so many families travel abroad for annual holidays, visit family & friends, second homes, weekends away, etc. Those who can't afford such things are also unlikely to be able to afford school trips.

Thanks Grandmabatty. Trips are now been planned and announced 2yrs in advance and payment can be made by small deposit and monthly instalments.

I would imagine that schools may not offer as many trips as previous years. There have always been school trips beyond some families means. I went on a skiing trip at school but my parents had to save money to allow it. My best friend couldn't afford to go. I was staff on a school trip to Russia in the early 90s and we had fund raising events to help with the not inconsiderable costs. All school trips to European and other destinations show children the world in real life, not online. I think it would be such a shame to deny them such rich experiences. Our immediate world has become very insular and any attempt by schools to broaden it has to be lauded. If there are not enough pupils signing up, a trip won't run.