Parents have been responding to complaints about the cost of school trips as the cost of living crisis hits pockets. School trips, which have been on hold during the last two years of the pandemic, have returned, but not everyone is happy.
Some parents have complained outings and residential visits organised by schools cost too much. They said it divides those who can afford to go from those who can’t - but others said trips should still go ahead for those who can pay.
They were responding to complaints from one father that £80 for a residential week-long trip was unaffordable. Father-of-two Gavin Owen said the price of end-of-term trips for his two boys who attend Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen in Caernarfon is “ridiculous”.
Read more: Parents claim they can't afford to send their children to school
Parents were informed by letters from the school that an adventure week had been organised for pupils at the end of term, costing up to £80 per pupil. For Gavin, this means spending more than £100 for his children, aged 12 and 15, to attend the outdoor activities, which he said is “unfair”.
Owen Evans, the new Chief Inspector for schools in Wale s said schools should run trips but also find ways to make them affordable for all, especially during the current economic crisis.
Asked about affordability of school trips, before Mr Owen complained about the cost, head of Estyn Mr Evans told WalesOnline: “I have nothing against expensive school trips, but they have to find a way to subsidise those that don’t have the means to go. I would say do these things, but enable all to go.”
Parents had differing views on whether £80 was too much for a school residential trip and whether it was fair to run trips at all if some children couldn’t afford to go. And they shared the cost of trips at their childrens’ schools.
Posting on WalesOnline’s Facebook page Shereen Smith said: “£80 quid for a school trip is cheap. My daughter has just come home with a letter for a trip for 33 quid just for one day. No food included in that either.”
Jenny Tea said she has paid £400 for her two children in primary year six to go on a camping trip “up the road” while Michelle Gaynor Thomas said she has paid £150 this year for a “stay over” school trip and also had to buy water proof clothing for that. She had also spent £50 each for two other school trips: “It’s been tight and both me and my partner work. We live in a poor area where lots of people struggle I definitely think it’s a bit much,” she commented.
Louise Thomas was among those who felt £80 was a “really good” price for a week-long residential and said her son’s school trip to “the physics centre in Switzerland” had cost £1,800.
Elizabeth Jones said she was having to sell belongings to pay for her son’s school trip in two weeks' time: “It’s a two-night away trip to caves and I have had to pay almost 200 pound. Everyone is going and he desperately wants to go too. That’s why we have had to sell loads of stuff to afford it.”
Another mother wrote that her son’s year six trip had cost £450 while a father said his daughter’s school trip had been discounted to £250.
Neale Harding wrote that £80 was a “bargain” for a week’s residential trip and the issue was not the price, but the fact some could not afford it.
Jude Campbell said her “heart broke” seeing her son’s disappointment when she told him she couldn’t afford the £1,000 school ski trip, not including kit: “You can get a family holiday for that. I can’t afford it and to see my son’s face as I had to tell him that he couldn’t go broke my heart. There should be something done for the prices of school trips. Just not fair on some families.”
Hayley Lewis felt schools asked for too much cash general: “I have twins, last week I paid for the school day trip £45 each no food and bring your own wet suits for kayaking. Mid week I was hit with a £10 each for a day trip to a castle as part of the school curriculum on the Tudors. But to top the week off they came home with raffle ticket books for the school fete. All in all I’m a £120 lighter. I just feel for the families who will struggle under the circumstances.”
Retired teacher Alvine Esther Wallace wrote that the cost of trips was putting pressure on parents: “Our granddaughter’s year 5 outdoor pursuits trip a few weeks ago - two nights away in dormitories, etc was £230 plus a very long list of costly clothing requirements etc - luckily we can afford to pay. As an ex-teacher, I appreciate it’s non-stop 24-hour responsibility and thank staff who went. However, the cost is extortionate, even when paying in instalments, putting so much pressure on parents.”
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