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Pates French trip

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:55 pm
by ciren mum
Do any Pates parents have a comment to make about the year 7 French trip which was oversubscribed and so names were pulled out of the hat. My son is not chosen, all his friends are, and he is very, very upset. I have emailed the head to say that I intend to take him out of school at the same time as this trip to make the same trip with him myself. Shouldn't such opportunities be available to all, perhaps by running two trips at different times (as they do for their R.E trip etc)? What do you think?

Re: Pates French trip

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:07 pm
by Pushkin
I was quite surprised that the number of places available was so low. My ds only wanted to go if his mates were going and as there was no guarantee of this, we opted out completely. I wonder how many places will be available on the German trip next year....

Re: Pates French trip

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:59 pm
by ciren mum
We are going to see the head to discuss this further at parents evening. From his response, so far, I think it seems unlikely that he will let us take our son on the same trip at the same time.

There is no information yet on the German trip but that is a long way yet. I know it is going to take my son a long time to get over the very sad feeling he has today seeing all his friends names on the board but not his. Apparently a girl was crying for similar reasons.

Re: Pates French trip

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:09 pm
by hermanmunster
I think chosing kids my names out of a hat is very unfair. From experience at local GS the numbers are usually about right for the trips - obviously looking at previous demand......

I think that they should reconsider the trip and increase the numbers or have a second trip later... also think it is crazy if you aren't allowed to take him out on a trip yourself - after all they can hardly say that he is missinig something crucial at school!

Re: Pates French trip

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:25 pm
by ciren mum
For most of their educational trips they do run the trip twice, once for two tutor groups and once for the other two. In this case I guess it is more complicated because the trip is abroad.

I suspect the Head will get a fair few emails regarding this.

Re: Pates French trip

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 12:01 pm
by cairo
Tommies have done something similar with a German trip offered to all KS3 but for which there were only 40 or so places available. My son's name was not pulled out of the hat, which is a shame. I think it's something to do with the pupil:teacher ratio required for overseas travel and only being able to organise to have a certain number of teachers out of school at any given time.

It would be nice if those who were not successful in the draw, were prioritised next year when the trip runs again - but I don't think this is how it works.

Re: Pates French trip

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:21 pm
by Tolstoy
Gosh this brings back memories, some children get their school places decided this way. :wink: Priority next time won't cut it in that case unfortunately :lol:

That said it does do away with the same old children scenario .... please tell me I am not the only one who frequently gets that feeling in regards to school's selection procedures. 'What them again for star of the month......'.


Sorry so cynical :roll:

Re: Pates French trip

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 1:11 am
by gloucsdad
I am not sure I see the problem. All schools run trips, some GS run more than most schools I suppose.
Some trips have unlimted places and some have limited ones.

I think some locations just can't fit a whole school or even a whole year group in! I guess it is a case of a buss full! Maybe they can't spare the staff - why not volnteer to help staff the trip!

The same goes for the netball team, there are usually more girls that want to play than there are places!

That is just life...... there were hundreds who wanted a GS place but didn't get one! I would not want GS shut down just becos of that !

As long as a DC gets to take part in some / enough things and soem / enough trips then it seems pretty inevitable that there will not be places on every trip for every child.

I wonder how many parents whose children got a place have turned it donw on principle - cos others haven't - I meant on the French trip but I giesss I could also say every trip or even GS as a whole! I think it tends to be those that don't pass, get selected etc who complain - do they really mean - 'I wish my child was picked'? Of course not , they would say!

For a Fench (or other) trips what else can they do? Best at French? Worst at French! Most pushy parents? first come first served, whoever cries the most, higher score in the entrance test? - how is anything 'better' (or worse) than out of a hat or , cos it is over subscribed and, i guess, they can't just take more children then they should cancel it for everyone?

Maybe they can take more but are just refusing to to annoy parents? Careful what impression you make at parents evening - it is tommies or pates I lost the thread a bit but in either case there are quite a few years to go and maybe even some bigger issues than not getting on a school trip!

Haing re-read all of that above it now sounds a bit harsh - it was meant to be funny and playful - please take in that way! No offence meant! You do what you think is rigt, of course! C'est la vie. (oops)

Re: Pates French trip

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:48 pm
by ciren mum
Yes, you are right. I was upset because my son cried all night about it. I do prefer first come first served, though.