Thoughts on 9 year old going abroad on school trip ?

I wouldn't be happy for my GC to go and would air my concerns with their parents.
They can judge if their children are mature enough much better than the school.
I am an ex-teacher and would not let my own go on school visits until they were in secondary school. Even bringing the wrath of the Head down on me when I would not let them go to the Isle of Man.
I knew the ferry was a booze trip for lots of people and could not see what could be gained when other parts of GB would offer the same experience. I was accused of wrapping them in cotton wool and scaremongering other parents. Some did go others stayed at school.
The main problem the school seemed to have was not how to cope with 90 10-year-olds flying around a ferry at sea but what would they do with those left behind.
MY GC is meant to do a residential in the autumn aged 10 his mum is already questioning if he is mature enough to do it.

Good post Wyllow

I think it sounds a great idea, children,especially nowdays, should be encouraged to be adventurous and sociable. there is too much of life being lived indoors and onscreen. nine is a very good age to start exploring outside her family..

It must be a school where parents can be excepted to afford it? but whatever our POV, it is up tot he parents.

Drina01 do you get on with parents well enough to do a "worried not critical" gran?

Find out a bit more to allay concerns? here on gransnet we are making so many suppositions about adult/pupil ratios and booked through proper company without information.

I'm not sure I could carry that off without seeming critical in my situation, but families are so very different and it may cause no reaction.

Knowing nothing about the school and it's intake of children I think it's difficult to comment on the cost, location etc of the trip. Many kids have been used to foreign travel from a very early age, others not. Having seen the risk analysis that schools prepare prior to any trip outside school, I'd feel safer with a child going anywhere in a school party than with some parents and grandparents. If the child wants to go and the parents are happy to pay them surely it's nothing to do with a grandparent. One thing I learned when I had children is that worrying about them is part of the package, letting them know you are worrying about them is not.

I remember it was at 9 that DD’s did their cycling proficiency as under 9’s don’t have spatial awareness. So walking to school is fine provided there aren’t too many hazards - mine used to walk with a group of others and no main roads so I was happy with that.

At 9/10 there was a school trip to France for those who wanted to go and could afford it. They spent a couple of terms learning French so it was quite educational. Those who didn’t go had fun events in school. Not sure I’d be happy about Greece though but I’m sure it has been explained thoroughly to the parents. The school will not be going without having done a full risk assessment. Gd won’t want to be left out on what her classmates are doing. If the parents are happy with it you will have to go along with it. Yes you will worry whilst she’s away but it may do her the world of good in confidence building.

I don’t have children, but I have taught a lot of primary children and I know that many, if not most, wouldn’t be that keen on the idea

I agree with Joseann and others that it sounds a rather odd thing to do.
Especially with the cost of living crisis.
And going to Spain next year too?

Drina, I am with you. A school trip to Greece for a 9 year old is in my IMO not a sound idea. Your GD will have no idea of what it entails or how she may feel away from parents. High school is soon enough , our children went with school aged about 14. You are not being over protective! Why are very young children exposed to situations that they may not be ready for !? Society seems to push children and forget they are emotionally immature. I have had experience of children becoming distressed at Brownie Camp! Of course your GC s parents will make the decision and you will have to accept that, I know how much you will worry, I would too ! A school holiday in this country, now that is a different ball game all together - and preferable. Having said that your GD may well have an amazing experience! Please try not to worry too much and keep posting about this!

This school trip to Greece sounds strange; have you actually seen any documentation about it? It sounds as though a commercial company is trying to promote it via links with the school, and as a former teacher with experience of trips organised by commercial companies I would be wary. But that is for the parents to investigate.

As for walking to school, this is an attempt to promote independence and cut down on the dangerous parking outside school, thoroughly sensible. In a year's time the nine year old will be preparing to go to secondary school, independently. Because she is younger than her classmates it doesn't mean she is immature.
Schools overstepping the mark with opinions? Really?

My 9 year old granddaughter went to Noordwijk and had a fantastic time. These trips are a great experience and our teachers, T'As etc are brilliant in caring for their class.

As for walking to school, my children were doing that from the age of 9. However we were a hop, skip and a jump away so no issue. I'd not have wanted them to embark on a long walk with busy roads etc etc

Our children and our GCs went on school trips when they were teenagers, I think 9 yrs old is too young for trips abroad.

Franbern
I think a helicopter grandparenting thread is due!

A young friend's first day at uni, he saw his mum in the cafeteria. She had enrolled too. Not on his course but still.

No this thread is about school trips abroad for primary aged children.

Franbern

Drina01

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

How to embarrass your grandchild in one easy lesson!!!
OMG - helicopting parenting is bad enough let alone helicopting grandparenting.!!!!!

I've just picked up on the word staying in a "hotel". This trip sounds weird, and expensive, and if you can go as a random guest at the hotel, so can anyone else. I don't believe it.
No, not at 9 at 10 years old. School trips use centres with dormitory type accommodation.

Drina01

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

How to embarrass your grandchild in one easy lesson!!!
OMG - helicopting parenting is bad enough let alone helicopting grandparenting.!!!!!

The first step is you you or your GDs parents is to ensure that the trip is being organised through one of the well- known and experienced national school trip providing companies.

This ensures the government guidelines are in place and most local authorities or metropolitan boroughs insist on extra compliance too. Schools need their approval to run trips and cannot just set off regardless.

The school will have multiple hoops to jump through- ratios will be tight and normally, depending on numbers, at least one or two senior staff will be accompanying.

I agree that Greece is an unusual choice at Primary and wonder if perhaps a member of staff has special connections and would like to share their experiences - if this were the case, I would be wary without an organised company back- up.

I do agree, "why not in UK" for age 9.

Neither of my children went r on school trips until they were about 12. Both experienced potentially dangerous incidents so yes I would be concerned. Don’t understand why a primary school are going so far away. Ot must be very expensive,
My 13 year old gd is currently on her first school trip, 3 days in the next county. Sounds tame by comparison,

I can't remember exact ratios without checking, but before covid our Year 6 trip to France took 5 adults with around 36 children. Made up of both Year 6 class teachers, me as French teacher, DH, and Music teacher. No parents, no family members. Two of us are trained first aiders. The ratio was fine, even when I had to spend half a day in Urgences St. Malo when a child injured themselves and the groups had to be reallocated.

She’s 9 now, so presumably she’ll be 10 and in Yr6 (albeit one of the younger ones) when this trip takes place. The last year of primary school is most definitely the time to be fostering independence. As you say, she thinks she’s older, but she will still need to learn coping strategies for the big leap to Secondary school where she’ll surely need those skills for managing the change. Try not to be overly concerned or you’ll never cope with the highs and lows of the next few years! And please don’t express your worries in front of her. She sounds as though she’s happily embracing life and all it offers.

I have a 9 yr old Grandaughter and she is bright, confident and mature but this is far too young for a school trip abroad or to be walking unaccompanied to school.
Times have changed since we were young. Far more traffic and far more mental health problems within society.
She has been on a trip in this country for 3 days and thoroughly enjoyed it. Near to home enough and long enough.

Actually I disagree BlueBelle I think the proposal should be questioned and the fact that OP knows about it in advance it suggests her opinion is called for and valued.
Not all ideas are good ones, even by schools.

Something doesn't sound right. I've quickly flicked through my folder of school trip providers and visits to Greece, the actual country, don't seem to exist at KS2. France, due to its proximity and travel costs, is the obvious choice for a first trip abroad to appreciate a different culture.
Not being funny, but perhaps your DGD means one of the made-up visits to Ancient Greece often offered by museums and such like?
As you seem to know a lot, do you have the name of the organisation please?

Bikergran there won’t be one or even two teachers, the ratio on school trips is quite high But it isn’t yours or Diane’s call it’s the parents decision and them only

I would not trust the teachers to keep a watchful eye on my gson,end of.