CCHS Y7 Trip to France - Expensive or reasonable?

[cinders]

Hi Parents,
Hope all your girls have settled in nicely and enjoying their time in CCHS.

I just got the letter for the Yr7 trip next year to France for 2nights/3days for £270. Initially, I thought it was for a week so price is pretty reasonable. But not so.
I really appreciate that these "lessons" outside of the classroom are incredibly invaluable to their education.

However, is the price justified?

Having done a bit of research, the cost of accommodation should be in region of 65euros per person for 2 nights sharing a twin room. The other cost is to see Bayeaux tapestry which is 3.80 euros. So in all it's approx £70 (rounded very much up!!)

Travelling by coach, meals & insurance are the other accountable expenses but would it cost the remaining £200
I'm perplexed as how cost of trip is calculated to £270
I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this and if someone can enlighten/explain why these school trips in general cost more than if one goes "independently".

Many thanks for your time.

[XCRGSMUM]

I was always under the impression that school trips cost more because the staff often get 'free' places. This is obviously covered by the costs paid out by students.

[rubyhettybetty]

We're paying £150 for 2 nights in a local (a mile from the school) activity centre, we drop them and collect them ourselves

[cinders]

I was always under the impression that school trips cost more because the staff often get 'free' places. This is obviously covered by the costs paid out by students.

Yes, my husband was saying perhaps all the children are subsiding the staff.
Does anyone know if it's normal to be subsidising the staff. Would/should it not come out of the school budget?

I'm really happy they organise trips like this as it is a great experience. But it appears that we are paying a very inflated price for these trips.

Another example is their enrichment day next week. Parents were asked to pay £41. However, the actual cost per student is £27 and for every 12 pupils the teaching staff goes free.
Would the cost of transport equate to the extra £14, per child??

I'd be interested to see what people's views are on this.....

[First-timer]

You could ask the school for a breakdown of costs. There's the ferry/eurostar cost to factor in as well as the costs you mentioned. The coaches and drivers will probably need to be retained (and fed and accommodated) for the duration of the trip. Staff places will be included in the cost passed to pupils. Parents want their children to be supervised and cannot expect the staff themselves or the school to bear this expense. There would be no school trips at all if staff places weren't paid for by the pupils. We are lucky to have teachers willing to give up their own time and take the risk of going on a school trip.

If they are there for three days they will have daily costs relating to whatever activity they are doing. There may also be an allowance for those children whose families cannot afford the trip and who would otherwise miss out. Perhaps they will be staying in somewhere a bit more plush than the hotels you have been costing? Best thing to do is ask the school.

[cinders]

We're paying £150 for 2 nights in a local (a mile from the school) activity centre, we drop them and collect them ourselves

For that price, I know I can take my child on a weekend activity for less!!

I'm more than happy to pay for the actual cost of the expense; for accommodation/services/entrance fees/insurance etc - no matter how much it is.

But I'm questioning why the school is charging parents way over and above what the event costs.
As per my previous post, the activity centre (my child's going to) quotes a max cost of £27 per student with the teaching staff going free. Yet the school has asked parents to pay £41 - £14 more than actual cost! Surely the transport would be cost that much! (Can it?)

[First-timer]

Forgot to add - the school may also send a recce party to the destination well ahead of the trip. This is often beneficial and ensures pupils go to the most interesting attractions on the best days and by the best routes. It might also be necessary in order to carry out a risk assessment.

[pheasantchick]

Transport and insurance are the expensive parts of the trip.

We paid approx £160 last year for an activity week (year 6) where we took and collected.

I don't mind paying for the teachers, although often teachers go free. However, I wouuld fell a bit annoyed if we were subsidising other children as most schools have a hardship fund to accomodate this. Also, as no-one as ever asked me for my yearly income, how do they know whether I can comfortable pay for these trips. just about manage it, or its a struggle.

I've heard of one school locally who have a school trip to The Globe theatre in London costing £25. I thought this was alot for a day trip (from Kent).

[hermanmunster]

I suspect that most schools use one of the companies that specialise in organising these trips. Tricky for a school to book and coordinate coaches / ferry crossings / hotels / day trips / local guides etc etc so they tend to go to agents for this. Possibly if someone sat down and worked out the cost of everything it would add up to less and then booked it all - dealt with french hotels etc etc that would be but you have to factor in the time of that person and also the experience of the people planning these things to sort out the problems.

for example ... a local school went on an enrichment trip (a.k.a a jolly) to paris (disney / eiffel tower etc ) trouble was when they arrived at said tower with the booked tickets it turned out someone (ahem school I think) had booked them for the day before....)


edit: here is one company.. http://www.halsbury.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[scary mum]

It sounds about par for the course to me.