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Primary education

School residential trip

24 replies

Newbiehere · 06/10/2013 21:55

Dd, year 5, has the opportunity to go on a residential trip for 3 days (2 nights). It's very close by and includes lots of activities. It's one of those residential holiday camps. The cost is £225. Just wondering if this is the same kind of ball park figure as other mums are paying. It seems quite pricey to me for 3 days and the holiday camp itself seems to offer the same kind of holiday for under 100£.

Also dh doesn't like the fact that the letter says it's a voluntary contribution. Day trips - fair enough. But school holidays away? Is this usual. Neither of us are working at the moment but will save up. But the thought that others might not pay is a little frustrating. Is this usual procedure?

I am very keen for dd to go as she would have a great time, I'm sure. Just curious about the price.

Any experiences appreciated.

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MirandaWest · 06/10/2013 21:59

DS is in year 5 and will be going on a residential trip later on in the year. His is also two nights and three days and we've been told it will cost about £145. I can't remember if we were told it was voluntary or not but I think the assumption is that everyone will pay.

We were told that people in receipt of certain benefits might be eligible for a reduction in cost and to speak to the headteacher if that were the case.

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Hulababy · 06/10/2013 22:03

DD did 3 night (2 day) residentials in Y3-6, three in UK, one in France. Every one was more than that, last two were £300+ - one at an activity centre in Frnce, the other PGL in UK.

DD going on a France trip next September(!) in secondary, will be Y8 then, and that is 3 day/2 nights. Cost is about £220 which seems pretty cheap in comparison.

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steppemum · 06/10/2013 22:07

ds is Y6 they are going away Mon-fri, and the full cost is about £260. Those on free school meals get a vastly reduced rate.

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Hulababy · 06/10/2013 22:09

Regardless of those who do not pay the full amount YOU cannot be charged anything towards other children's costs, so ont hat score I wouldn't worry.

Children on FSM or Pupil Premium children may well get a reduced cost for their trip. Sometimes schools use their PP funding towards things like this.

Regardless though, if enough people don't pay the full amount of the cost I guess it just won't go ahead.

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HappyMummyOfOne · 06/10/2013 22:27

The school cant charge you for other children and residentials differ from day trips in that children can be excluded if they dont pay.

Insurance, travel etc all add to the costs. The school cannot make a profit so it will be a true cost of the trip.

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steppemum · 06/10/2013 22:29

yes, hulababy, I am pretty sure that the reduced rate is paid for out of the pupil premium

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Newbiehere · 06/10/2013 22:34

Thanks so much for the sanity check. Greatly appreciated.

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coppertop · 06/10/2013 22:34

I think the most I've paid for a residential trip (3 so far) has been around £150.

It depends a lot though on when the trip is. I think schools can get a better price if they opt for a weekend trip or one that's during the colder months.

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Jinsei · 06/10/2013 23:31

DD will be going on a similar trip later this year - 2 nights, lots of activities etc. We have been told that the cost will be around £160, payable in instalments throughout the year. If the parents don't pay, then their kids can't go, although I believe the school is very good at helping out families who genuinely can't afford it.

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Adikia · 07/10/2013 10:23

does seem a little pricey, DS is off mon-fri with his school later in the year and that's £220 (although there is a discounted rate for children who get free school meals) quite a lot of the cost of his is travel as they are going off the residential site a lot so need coaches there all the time.

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jimijack · 07/10/2013 10:31

We just paid £190 for year 5 ds for 2 nights 3 days.
This is about right having queried the expense myself with other parents.

Think it covers insurance, coach costs to get there, extra activities etc.

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HomicidalPsychoJungleCat · 07/10/2013 10:36

Are they taking a coach from school? That will bump the price up lot more than you'd think, we were recently quoted £300 for a coach to take a class to a day out. You also have to factor in the teachers being paid. I don't know if they get overtime for residentials, but I'd ike to think so as they are essentially providing wrap around care for the duration of the trip. This could explain some of the price differential you are seeing.

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OldBeanbagz · 07/10/2013 10:38

£180 here for 3 days/2 nights at an adventure centre approx. 90 mins drive from school.

DS had a great time last year though not all the children in his class went.

Just dreading the cost of high school trips which will start for my DD this year Sad

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MirandaWest · 07/10/2013 10:41

Unless things have changed since I was a teacher (and went on a residential trip) there is no overtime for teachers on school trips.

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shebird · 07/10/2013 10:47

DD in year 5 also has a school trip next spring. The cost is £150 but I believe the PTA have contributed to keep costs down. It does seem a lot but we get to pay in instalments which makes it easier. Next years trip is twice the cost!

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BackforGood · 07/10/2013 10:55

You also have to factor in the teachers being paid. I don't know if they get overtime for residentials, but I'd ike to think so as they are essentially providing wrap around care for the duration of the trip.


Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

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Ireallymustbemad · 07/10/2013 10:59

As chair of finance at a primary I can confirm there is no overtime for teachers on residential trips.

Overall cost sounds about right OP.

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Hulababy · 07/10/2013 12:48

Never known any over time paid for teachers or TAs going on residential trips. It's all done for love you know ;)

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Bluebell99 · 07/10/2013 12:53

Our year 6 residential was £365 Shock for four nights pgl in June.

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clam · 07/10/2013 13:07

That's about standard for PGL. Particularly in June. Our school goes now-ish - it's cheaper. But you need to consider transport there (others have mentioned expensive coaches) and the wealth of experience that is offered at such a site. Think how much you'd pay for just one activity independently, say a climbing wall. At PGL, they'll have 3-4 days' worth of 4 such activities a day. Plus food and accommodation and evening/lunchtime activities laid on. Health and safety/risk assessments taken very seriously. Energetic and enthusiastic activity leaders.

I think it's good value, actually.

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spanieleyes · 07/10/2013 18:25

It actually cost my TA money when she came on a recent residential as she had to put her dogs into kennels.

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PiqueABoo · 07/10/2013 19:31

@clam: "Think how much you'd pay for just one activity independently, say a climbing wall."
--

That costs us ~£7 for DD to spend an entire day at a couple of the nearest good ones Grin

She has kit, but I think hire is < £5 so it must be instructors that cost the serious money.

We've got one of those ~£350 Y6 trips. Another nearby primary manages to find money from somewhere(!) to subsidise the cost, so there's are rarely above £200.

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PiqueABoo · 07/10/2013 19:31

Oops: "there's" => "theirs"

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Hulababy · 08/10/2013 12:52

Climbing wall is £13 for a session where dd goes. That's a special children's session. It can be much dearer at some places though.

Places like go ape for the high wires, etc and centre Parcs ones CBS work out expensive.

Mind you, in y3 and 4 dd actually went for a 3 day residential to Centre Parcs as it worked it cheaper for them to go there and do activities than the educational activity base the school used to use. It was a lot cheaper than PGL too actually.

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