Thoughts on 9 year old going abroad on school trip ?

School is ok with it, parents are ok with it, you are a worrier.... that's the answer

It is ok to have your opinion, not wise to express it inless you are invited to

You are a bystander, not a decision maker here

As it’s a properly organised school trip I m sure she ll be fine and it would be a shame for her to miss it
Unless they live a long way from school 9 seems fine to walk to school without parents even better if she has friends or siblings to walk with
It really isn’t up to you though it’s for your daughter and son in law to make these decisions surely

No, I wouldn’t be happy with a 9yr old going on a school trip abroad.
No offence meant to teachers but I wouldn’t trust them to watch my grandchildren like I would and my children would.

I wouldn't question my DS and DiL.

Its saying, "I don't trust your judgement".

Unless you had a relationship where you regularly discuss matters like this.

My son went abroad with the school when he was 9 and I was absolutely completely over protective. It was one of the best things he did during his primary school years.

Hmm it seems very strange to me to be taking 9 year olds on a school trip to Greece. Is it to Athens, as otherwise there would be no educational benefit? The school travel companies I know of don't offer such trips until Key Stage 4, so is the school organising their own?
Would need to know more information.

Yes a worrier but also trying to keep her safe. I’ve been a big part of bringing her up to her 9 years. I just can’t see what she would get out of such a trip that she couldn’t get say in the local area (steeped in Roman history she doesn’t even know about) or somewhere in UK. If it’s Ancient history our University Museums etc do a good job for that age. She doesn’t even know why she would be going ! In UK if anything went wrong it could be put right more easily. 9 is very young still to embark abroad - talking Primary School here. If she needed help she couldn’t explain herself.

I don’t think a school trip to Greece is appropriate for primary school kids. I even wonder about the value of a foreign trip for high school kids.

My kids did them when they were in High School but can’t say they found it much of an experience TBH. My nephew went on one to New York and he said it was so tiring and involved so much travelling that he was glad to get home!

When I was at grammar school there were several foreign trips but I never went on one because I knew we had no money for such things so I didn’t even take the notes home. My friend went on a school cruise in the Med and she was desperately homesick and when she finally got home after 2 weeks she just clung to her Dad and cried her eyes out.

As I say my primary school aged children gained an enormous amount from travel abroad. They still talk about it now.

Every year hundreds, if not thousands of children go on school trips. It’s part of their education. Very rarely do we hear of accidents or anything untoward, happening. My three went on lots of school trips and tbh, I don’t think I ever really worried. They were with responsible adults and were having a great time.
The only time I panicked was when my daughter was late coming home from school. I had completely forgotten that they had some after -school activity .

I wouldn't be concerned that they might not be seeing historical places etc. Surely it's all about experiencing another culture, hearing another language, understanding difference, and gaining confidence about what she can do..

I appreciate what has been written about some feeling homesick etc and it not being the right thing for all children,

but do you think her parents judgment on the matter is not sound?

Thanks for all your comments to help get my head in a better place on this. There’s little info at the moment re Greece - but they are also offering Spain ? Further into the school year. Crikey, I just feel she’s so little ( and can get a bit emotional over stuff) - why do they have to push 9 year olds to be independent. They have their whole lives to conform and grow. Just seems early to be doing this. On walking to school - this was announced to a whole school assembly for the next new term. DD seemed to take this as fact… there is no way she could safely walk to school being on a main trunk road or via a park. One as bad as the other. No one to walk with either. Of course DGD came away the message it’s ok I can and will walk on my own to school. Personally (in my opinion) not enough thought goes into the consequences of what seems to be promoted in the name of education. Perhaps though am just too old in my opinions ..

crazyH Every year hundreds, if not thousands of children go on school trips. It’s part of their education.

Very rarely do we hear of accidents or anything untoward, happening.

Agreed.

MerylStreep

No, I wouldn’t be happy with a 9yr old going on a school trip abroad.
No offence meant to teachers but I wouldn’t trust them to watch my grandchildren like I would and my children would.

Me neither.
Trips in the UK at junior school age are probably fine but Greece? Why Greece?
The cost would be prohibitive to many.
It is up to the parents, of course.

As for walking to and from school on their own at 9, I know we used to do that from about age 6 but DGD's school only lets a child in Y6 go home on their own if they have written permission from the parents, otherwise they have to be collected by a parent or named person.

crazyH

Every year hundreds, if not thousands of children go on school trips. It’s part of their education. Very rarely do we hear of accidents or anything untoward, happening. My three went on lots of school trips and tbh, I don’t think I ever really worried. They were with responsible adults and were having a great time.
The only time I panicked was when my daughter was late coming home from school. I had completely forgotten that they had some after -school activity .

Maybe your kids were older. I think 9 is very young.
I don’t want to alarm the OP but accidents and fatalities on school trips are definitely not that rare.

Even today there’s a story in the national press of a child left alone all night on a coach whilst on a school trip.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/parents-fury-year-6-pupil-30439950

I think 9 is very young to go on a school trip abroad. A few days in this country maybe, but not over seas.
There will be plenty of time for those when she is at high school

Actually this has helped cool me a bit, seeing both sides, as was feeling anxious that I may have been a bit overprotective. Am all for adventure but at the right age. Can def get my head around local stays but not abroad. I would need to know the teacher pupil ratio etc - which isn’t forthcoming. What if it was 1:4 - one walks off, does the teacher abandon 3 to go look for 1 ? Or vice versa … am overthinking I know. Our local riverside park has on 2 days running noticed a man taking videos of playing children. A mum challenged him without much response but appeared to be Eastern European. Troubling times I think.

Nine seems to me to be old enough to walk to school as long as she does not go alone. Many children are not allowed to have much independence and then when they get to secondary school they are overwhelmed by having to cope alone. Mine used to catch a bus and the children in the village still do but some Mums ferry them in the car causing major congestion outside the school. School trips increase confidence, I can remember my son going to Belgium and having a fantastic time whilst at junior school. They need to stretch their wings.

There will be plenty of time for those when she is at high school

Thinking about that and realising that DGC has not been on a school trip since she started senior school because, of course, of Covid.

Remembering what could have been a potentially disastrous trip abroad with school when DD was 13, I think 9 is far too young.

Our local riverside park has on 2 days running noticed a man taking videos of playing children
That needs to be reported to the police.
Years ago a man was outside the local school taking photos of the children, the police were quick to act.

It is up to the parents.
Are any parents going on the trip too?

It is left to the grandparents to worry ☹

..re the park - it’s been reported.
Perhaps my solution …. Get a ticket on the same flight and book into the same hotel 😎

Neat.