School Trips.

[Mikey09]

Watching the news this morning there was a story on a school in England where the pupils were being taken to Barbados at the cost of £1600. It brings up the question again to me whether some parents are being forced into paying for there kids to go on these trips that seem to be getting bigger and more expensive. We have had experience in this having had 2 boys go through High School and our daughter now going into 6th year. The most expensive of these trips being a Ski trip to Italy which 2 of them went on at £800 a pop. The School also tried, a few years back, to organise a trip for the 5th and 6th year rugby teams to do a tour of Australia at the cost of £2000 per pupil. This ridiculous idea was eventually abandoned after the outcry from quite a few pissed off parents. Just wondered what other posters thought of these "trips" and the impact they have on family finances.

[lyonhibs]

Presumably if it doesn't fit into the family finances, the kids don't get to go?

I was a teenager not so long ago and I'd have thought twice, nay thrice, about even telling my parents about a school trip costing any more than £3-400, not because they couldn't have afforded it but because I'd have felt awkward as **** having my parents spend vast sums of money on my education beyond the fees they already were (yes, I went to a "posh" school :greengrin)

They surely aren't "obligatory" school trips?

[Moulin Yarns]

You have to question the educational value of a trip to Barbados.

I went on a school trip, to the Cairngorms, where most of the time was spent doing Geography and Biology field studies. We had other time that could be considered non educational but it was doing physical activities such as canoeing, rock climbing, hiking and wild swimming.

What exactly will be the benefit of a trip to barbados? history of the slave trade and tobacco, cotton and sugar maybe, but really is it good value for money.

EDIT: it is for sports teams to go for 7 days and play 3 games, and the rest is a Jolly

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/horsforth-school-in-yorkshire-criticised-by-parents-for-1650-barbados-school-trip-10308078.html

[Mikey09]

Presumably if it doesn't fit into the family finances, the kids don't get to go?

I was a teenager not so long ago and I'd have thought twice, nay thrice, about even telling my parents about a school trip costing any more than £3-400, not because they couldn't have afforded it but because I'd have felt awkward as **** having my parents spend vast sums of money on my education beyond the fees they already were (yes, I went to a "posh" school :greengrin)

They surely aren't "obligatory" school trips?


No I don't think at that price they will be obligatory. I will speak from our own experience re the ski trip to Italy 2 of our kids went on. I seriously don't think the school realised the strain it put on certain families to find the money. We live in an area where over the years a lot of families who are pretty well off have moved into new builds costing from £500k upwards. Now it seems to me the school has lost sight over the years that some families ain't in a position to pay the kind of money they are asking for to go on these trips. Unfortunately not all teenagers have your sensible outlook on this and if they are stopped from going it can and will cause problems at home and with there friends who are going. As Golden Fleece says, I think schools are losing sight of the educational value of these trips and they are in my opinion turning into a jolly to more exotic locations for the experience of just going there. As I said all very good for folk who can afford it but not so good for those who can't.

[RyeSloan]

No I don't think at that price they will be obligatory. I will speak from our own experience re the ski trip to Italy 2 of our kids went on. I seriously don't think the school realised the strain it put on certain families to find the money. We live in an area where over the years a lot of families who are pretty well off have moved into new builds costing from £500k upwards. Now it seems to me the school has lost sight over the years that some families ain't in a position to pay the kind of money they are asking for to go on these trips. Unfortunately not all teenagers have your sensible outlook on this and if they are stopped from going it can and will cause problems at home and with there friends who are going. As Golden Fleece says, I think schools are losing sight of the educational value of these trips and they are in my opinion turning into a jolly to more exotic locations for the experience of just going there. As I said all very good for folk who can afford it but not so good for those who can't.

Exactly...I'm sure the same educational value can be extracted from a sports trip to say the south of England compared to a week in Barbados playing 3 games. If it's different cultures that is sought as the education then value for money bus trips to the continent can be used.

Sending pupils to Barbados is just daft...sure the kids would love it but really the school should be taking an inclusive view of its polices and such a high cost can only be considered divisive.

[DH1875]

When I was at school they had trips to Germany, France, Italy etc...Didn't go on any of them, we couldn't afford it. Lots of my mates went and looking back, it hasn't done me any harm. If you can afford it you can go and if you can't afford it then you can't go. Its always been the case.

Now fast forward 20 years and my daughter is off to Trinidad next year with her school for 12 days at a cost of £1600 to me. I have no problem with her going as its a once in a life time opp for her. Here's how it works; the trip is open for the whole school to apply but is restricted to only 27 pupils. Every student had a set date to notify the school if they wished to travel. Once this date had passed the teachers checked through their lists of students who had applied and and cut down numbers to a shortlist of around 80 pupils. At this stage all parents had to attend a meeting at the school to go over all the trips details including the price/payment plan and stuff. If any pupils parent didn't attend they were off the shortlist. After the first meeting for whatever reasons the list was down to around 50 students. We have since had a a further 2 meetings with the school and a payment plan with those families who had kids going was put in place. The 27 pupils traveling have been choosen and are all looking forward to it. We still have to go to these meetings and the kids have had to give up a lot of their spare time but it'll be worth it. Is it expensive? Yes, but its not a one of hit. We have had over a year to pay it off and I'm guessing these other schools will have something similar in place.

[Colr]

You have to question the educational value of a trip to Barbados.

I went on a school trip, to the Cairngorms, where most of the time was spent doing Geography and Biology field studies. We had other time that could be considered non educational but it was doing physical activities such as canoeing, rock climbing, hiking and wild swimming.

What exactly will be the benefit of a trip to barbados? history of the slave trade and tobacco, cotton and sugar maybe, but really is it good value for money.

EDIT: it is for sports teams to go for 7 days and play 3 games, and the rest is a Jolly

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/horsforth-school-in-yorkshire-criticised-by-parents-for-1650-barbados-school-trip-10308078.html

Do the teachers that go along have to pay for themselves?

[#FromTheCapital]

The only trips I went on with school were p7 camp and 1st year camp. Trips abroad weren't even an option iirc. Having said that I did go to Forrester High :-D

[Mikey09]

Do the teachers that go along have to pay for themselves?


Nope. It's included in the pupils expense...

[Stranraer]

bloody hell and I thought I was lucky getting to go to Belfast Zoo!

[easty]

The only trips I went on with school were p7 camp and 1st year camp. Trips abroad weren't even an option iirc. Having said that I did go to Forrester High :-D

I went to Forries to, we went to America. Boston and New York. It must have been around '95 or '96 and I'm sure it was £550.

My parents certainly couldn't afford that but they got the money together somehow. I think other family members helped.

Looking back at it, it was brilliant, but I can't think of any educational advantage it had, apart from that I now know the Statue of Liberty is a waste of a few hours. It was just a holiday.

[Colr]

Nope. It's included in the pupils expense...

No wonder they're so keen to suggest such extravagant locations, then.

[Jay]

I have two kids at high school, we just got letters about a trip next years costing £650 each. There is a trip to NY at £1500 but both of the boys said they weren't interested, they know they could get so much more for that sort of money. I wouldn't have paid three grand for them to have five days in NY that's for sure. £1300 for a week in Spain is enough.

[Colr]

I have two kids at high school, we just got letters about a trip next years costing £650 each. There is a trip to NY at £1500 but both of the boys said they weren't interested, they know they could get so much more for that sort of money. I wouldn't have paid three grand for them to have five days in NY that's for sure. £1300 for a week in Spain is enough.

This at a state school?

[Jay]

local catchment high school.

I'm not complaining, I think school trips are a huge part of them growing up. My older two went to France snowboarding in 2nd year which cost £800 each (different school) and it was the making of them. There's no pressure on the kids to go and spaces are very limited as its open to all year groups. we get until February next year to pay it up.

[Colr]

local catchment high school.

I'm not complaining, I think school trips are a huge part of them growing up. My older two went to France snowboarding in 2nd year which cost £800 each (different school) and it was the making of them. There's no pressure on the kids to go and spaces are very limited as its open to all year groups. we get until February next year to pay it up.

Its great but it must exclude an awful lot of poorer kids who (as usual) get the ****ty end of the education stick as a result.

[Jay]

Its great but it must exclude an awful lot of poorer kids who (as usual) get the ****ty end of the education stick as a result.

Yeah I agree to an extent but I think the school is pretty inclusive on the most part.
There are a few other day trips and short camps (band camp) throughout the year as well, some of them funded by previous fundraising so there's no charge. One of my boys just had a great day out at Lowport. They were also recently at M&Ds and the Timecapsule which cost £15. Another trip was into Edinburgh to watch a French film.

Would you suggest school camps are no longer because some kids can't afford them? I'm not sure that's the answer. Maybe more financial assistance for low income families? Should the education authority pay for the poorer kids? That would cause an uproar too.

The uptake of stay at home camps wasn't great and they weren't all that much cheaper. Three years ago my boy did an activity camp in Preston tues - fri so only 2 full days there and it cost £280. It poured with rain the whole time and they were miserable,

I don't know what the answer is to be honest. I just decide whether it's a trip I think my kids would gain from then decide if I can afford it.

[TRC]

These things in my experience are also a good way for kids to get to know teachers out with a school enviroment and realise that they are human as well.

[Colr]

Yeah I agree to an extent but I think the school is pretty inclusive on the most part.
There are a few other day trips and short camps (band camp) throughout the year as well, some of them funded by previous fundraising so there's no charge. One of my boys just had a great day out at Lowport. They were also recently at M&Ds and the Timecapsule which cost £15. Another trip was into Edinburgh to watch a French film.

Would you suggest school camps are no longer because some kids can't afford them? I'm not sure that's the answer. Maybe more financial assistance for low income families? Should the education authority pay for the poorer kids? That would cause an uproar too.

The uptake of stay at home camps wasn't great and they weren't all that much cheaper. Three years ago my boy did an activity camp in Preston tues - fri so only 2 full days there and it cost £280. It poured with rain the whole time and they were miserable,

I don't know what the answer is to be honest. I just decide whether it's a trip I think my kids would gain from then decide if I can afford it.

I would like to see it funded from a central budget so that all pupils can attend. It might also stop teachers using it as a parent funded jolly.

[Jay]

I would like to see it funded from a central budget so that all pupils can attend. It might also stop teachers using it as a parent funded jolly.

Sounds like a plan but where would the money come from? As for the teachers I know a lot of them at a previous school my kids were at refused to go unless it was of a certain standard. I assume they don't get over time for going? It's a lot of responsibility.

[Colr]

Sounds like a plan but where would the money come from? As for the teachers I know a lot of them at a previous school my kids were at refused to go unless it was of a certain standard. I assume they don't get over time for going? It's a lot of responsibility.

Tax is paid to provide a universal free education to anyone that wants it.

[Killiehibbie]

bloody hell and I thought I was lucky getting to go to Belfast Zoo!I got to the safari park at primary school and a few trips to the headmasters office at secondary.

[Jay]

Tax is paid to provide a universal free education to anyone that wants it.

I think if that was the case then school trips wouldn't happen. It would be budget campsites up north covered in midgies with no staff or miserable staff. There would be an outcry if kids got free trips abroad from the taxpayers.

[Colr]

Rather than an outcry because middle class kids buy better education from the state. How about buying better health care from the NHS next. I seem to recall an outcry about that.

[marinello59]

I would like to see it funded from a central budget so that all pupils can attend. It might also stop teachers using it as a parent funded jolly.

I reckon taking a group of kids away on a trip is anything but a jolly. Any teacher taking one of these trips on is to be commended.

[gringojoe]

I got to the safari park at primary school and a few trips to the headmasters office at secondary.

Primary we got to go to the Highland Show and secondary the Odeon for a Jack Lemon film.

[Danderhall Hibs]

I think if that was the case then school trips wouldn't happen. It would be budget campsites up north covered in midgies with no staff or miserable staff. There would be an outcry if kids got free trips abroad from the taxpayers.

Trips don't need to be abroad.

[Danderhall Hibs]

I reckon taking a group of kids away on a trip is anything but a jolly. Any teacher taking one of these trips on is to be commended.

If you know one that doesn't want to go to the Bahamas all expenses paid tell them to drop me a pm and they can go and do my job for the week while I take on the onerous task.

Maybe we can extend the job swap until mid August?

[Zondervan]

I was fortunate enough to go to Stavanger in Norway when I was in 2nd year at Liberton High.

While we done a few "field trips", the majority of the time was just like a bonding session where we could pretty much do what we wanted.

Other than an amazing trip to Pulpit Rock, the highlight was going to see Police Academy 2 dubbed in Norwegian. We also used some memorial stone as a goal post and got a bollocking from the local police. Oh and Gogs McDonald from Ferniehill pulled a wee tidy blonde lassie with a perm that was called Beebee.

Teacher on the trip was a good Hibby - Mr Ryalls - who I haven't seen at the games in a wee while. Hope he is still doing ok.

[Lucius Apuleius]

Primary 6 was doon the watter to Rothesay. Saw the QE2 (or Q4 as she was called before being launched). Primary 7 was the zoo. End of my 3rd year was 5 weeks in Russia. Think it was about £26 at the time. That was a lot of paper round money and the only way my parents could have come near to affording it. Was it good? Hell yeah.😍

[Haymaker]

Went on loads of school trips myself, only 2 were abroad. Only one I remember was to Berlin for history, absolutely brilliant.

[BroxburnHibee]

I did a trip to Paris when I was 12/13 many years ago.

Thinking back it was pretty expensive even then (over 30 years ago).

Not sure how my parents afforded it.

Still can't speak French :greengrin

[Jay]

Trips don't need to be abroad.

Yeah I know, what I was saying is that the uptake is much smaller.

[Jonnyboy]

Went on loads of school trips myself, only 2 were abroad. Only one I remember was to Berlin for history, absolutely brilliant.

Weren't you bored on your own? :greengrin

[Danderhall Hibs]

Yeah I know, what I was saying is that the uptake is much smaller.

I think it would be higher as more folk could afford it.

As it is the schools are encouraging divisiveness and bullying will follow.

[Haymaker]

Weren't you bored on your own? :greengrin

Nope. :greengrin

[Jay]

I think it would be higher as more folk could afford it.

As it is the schools are encouraging divisiveness and bullying will follow.

In my experience it doesn't seem to work that way. The uptake on UK camps had been very low regardless of income. The uptake on trips abroad is so high not everybody gets to go so nobody knows who applied and didn't get on.
I've not heard of bullying through them not going on trips, not saying it doesn't happen but it's not something I've came across. Most of the bullying I've heard of or had dealings with is kids looking for any excuse to be nasty, hair colour, weight, height, teeth, glasses, braces, he said, she said etc. I rarely hear of it being material things these days. Oh and social media, it needs obliterated from teenagers lives :)

I can obviously only speak from my own experience and where we live, I've no idea how things work within schools elsewhere.

[Allant1981]

In primary 7 we went to belgium, balbardie primary in bathgate still go there now, not sure how much it cost back then though

[Mr White]

Went to Munich in third year and paris in 5th year. Got pished and melted for the entirety of both trips and presumably the only reason we didn't get busted was that the teachers couldn't be ****ed with the paperwork, as with hindsight it must have been blatant. The campsite we stayed at in Munich had beer vending machines. I still buy the odd bottle of lowenbrau for nostalgic reasons :drunk:

[Hibrandenburg]

Got as far as Galashiels youth hostel.

Seen the permission slip my sister got for her son's school trip. Both had to sign confirming they understood that no drugs, weapons or alcohol were allowed and if caught in possession of any contraband my sister would have to pick up my nephew at her own expense. The joys of youth are no more.

[Purple & Green]

Went to Salzburg with lasswade primary via coach and France and Belgium and Germany. Argentina invaded the Falklands while we were away. It wasn't cheap but virtually everyone went, God knows how looking back.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Colr]

I reckon taking a group of kids away on a trip is anything but a jolly. Any teacher taking one of these trips on is to be commended.

Its more jolly than a week on Arran

[snooky]

Its more jolly than a week on Arran

Assuming the CalMac ferry is sailing :wink:

[Future17]

Still can't speak French :greengrin

Just let the funky music do the talking. :-)

[HTD1875]

My school and the genius' running it thought it was a great idea to take 40 16/17 year olds on a trip to krakow. A week of bevvy, strip clubs, defacing monuments, fights, sex and about a grand worse off I still know sod all about history.

[Colr]

My school and the genius' running it thought it was a great idea to take 40 16/17 year olds on a trip to krakow. A week of bevvy, strip clubs, defacing monuments, fights, sex and about a grand worse off I still know sod all about history.

...and what did the pupils get up to?

[Wembley67]

Was meant to be going to Moscow in the early 90s buy I stupidly skived one of the classes prior to the trip as was swiftly booted off. One of the things I really regret doing!

[HappyHanlon]

M&D's and Blair Drummond were about the extent of a school trip for me.

Genuinely think my folks would have a coronary if I went home with a letter for a trip costing 3-4K

[Smartie]

I was really lucky - between 1989 and 1994 (P7 - S5) I managed to go on a trip to Holland, one to Moscow/St Petersburg, an exchange trip to Noramndy and ski-ing to Switzerland.

All from a state school too. My Mum and Dad had to shell out a few hundred for each trip but it was well worth it. I remember in particular the Holland trip just about everyone in my year managed to make it. The most memorable thing that happened on that trip was that I got booted in the face going up the stairs by an English kid from another school with behavioural difficulties. His teachers were bricking afterwards because they'd taken their eye off him for a second.

The 3 trips in S4/S5 were, er, memorable. All sorts went on on those trips. The ski trip to Switzerland was the last ever due to boozing, weapons-purchasing (and subsequent amnesty) and the hotel getting pretty much trashed. The Russia trip was mental. Cheap, fake vodka isn't good for teenagers. I'm not even going to mention on a public forum what Normandy will forever be remembered for.

And to think that we were the good kids too.

[Colr]

M&D's and Blair Drummond were about the extent of a school trip for me.

Genuinely think my folks would have a coronary if I went home with a letter for a trip costing 3-4K

I recall at my primary when I was in P7, we got to go nowhere whilst the deputy head corralled the entire budget to take her class to London.

[snooky]

We got as far as Inchcolm.....
...and we were lucky, some had to go down t'pit. :coffee:

[HTD1875]

...and what did the pupils get up to?

Watched mostly, I remember one teacher going round all the dorms making everyone delete photos of his Jack Grealish impression.

[Hibee_Craig7062]

The only trips I went on with school were p7 camp and 1st year camp. Trips abroad weren't even an option iirc. Having said that I did go to Forrester High :-D

There was an American (Boston then a couple of nights in New York) exchange trip ran by Mrs Tuckerman and the late Mr Morrison that I was lucky enough to be part of in 1999.

Sure it cost around £500 and I know it was a strain for my parents to find that extra cash!

[Hibee_Craig7062]

I went to Forries to, we went to America. Boston and New York. It must have been around '95 or '96 and I'm sure it was £550.

My parents certainly couldn't afford that but they got the money together somehow. I think other family members helped.

Looking back at it, it was brilliant, but I can't think of any educational advantage it had, apart from that I now know the Statue of Liberty is a waste of a few hours. It was just a holiday.

I went on this in 1999. Social Education I reckon, staying with an American family in Attleboro for 10 days or so.

[sleeping giant]

Went to Glengonnar in P6 and it was superb. WHEC, Tynie and Forries . Loved every minute .

Dalguise in P7. Loved it again . Got into trouble for setting off and removing the mole traps :greengrin

In 4 year we went back to Glengonnar and it was the best . Fancied a wee ginger haired bird form Tynie.

I also had the option to go to France in 3rd year but I didn't even want to ask my parents as it was pretty dear.

Loved my time at school camp .

[steakbake]

went to glengonnar when I was in p5/p6 or something - it was great. high school: Arran for a week which was amazing: a really formative week as a teenager when you realise your teachers and everyone else are just getting by in life the best they can. also did a French exchange which was a great laugh. didn't get on that well with the lad but his younger brother was a kindred spirit and we spent our time sitting on the beach drinking cider and having a wee smoke.

[Bristolhibby]

I went on three skiing trips while at secondary. Went to Canada in 5th year, Vermont in America Lower 6th and Austria in Upper 6th. Had brilliant times. IIRC they were a good price. Something like £600 for the trans-Atlantic trips and £350 for Austria.

Went to Slovenia on a Uni field trip, debauched.

Later in life I was a "responsible adult" for my wife's school trip (she's a PE Teacher) to the South of France, so saw things from the other side. I got a free holiday, where I had very little responsiblity, yet got to do all the fun stuff like windsurfing, rock climbing, sailing, banana boating, etc.

Kids were generally good, had to confiscate a number of weapons that I witnessed them purchase from French shops, but nothing terrible.

J