Would it be wrong to only pay half of DS school trip cost?

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DS is going on a school trip. Its costing 45.00. Would it be wrong if I only paid 20.00 /25.00? I am on a low income and I'm juggling things a bit at the moment. I have another child at the school as well so I have been paying out for 2 children.

The school rang me saying i need to pay by tomorrow.

It does say contribution but I feel wrong for even thinking about it.

Not wrong, but I'd talk to them alongside only sending half the amount so they realise it isn't a mistake and/or that they shouldn't be expecting the rest later.

Well you need to speak to the school. Many will have a fund to help with trips if people genuinely can't afford it, but I think it's pretty cheeky to just pay £25 less and not even discuss it. Who do you expect to pay?

You need to speak to the school and say you’re struggling.

Speak to them, if your child receives fsm there may be a fund for this.

Assuming it’s a state school in England, either the school will pay the balance from school funds, or the PTA will pay it from PTA funds, or other parents will be asked if they can contribute more, or the trip will be cancelled and everybody refunded.

I personally don’t think trips should be run if they are putting families under financial pressure, and £45 is a lot to find from your budget these days.

Just pay what you can comfortably manage, and email the school to say you’re sorry but that’s all you can afford. They’ll sort it out one way or another.

When my kids were in state schools we overpaid for trips a couple of times so that they could go ahead, we never resented that or complained about it, don’t worry.

I would either phone the school or speak to someone in the office and explain the situation. I wouldn’t just send half the money in

Thankyou. I have never done it before. It does say contribution of 45.00. If I do it I will definitely send an email.

It says although no child will be excluded because no contribution has been offered, the visit may be cancelled if there insufficient funds. I have never known a trip not to go head. Obviously it can happen though.

How long have you had to plan for this expense?
Schools are under such tight budgets, that I think we really should be paying towards things like this. Otherwise, trips won’t happen and the kids miss out.

My kid was taken to Blackpool - it was £86 and we had 5 months to pay. I get UC top up so I’m a low income, but I budget and paid the trip cost. Because the school would have had to find the money in their budget if I didn’t, or cancel it for everyone. Neither of those options is very fair.

Possibly the school funding that you mentioned. I didn’t say I wasn't going to discuss it.

Well you need to speak to the school. Many will have a fund to help with trips if people genuinely can't afford it, but I think it's pretty cheeky to just pay £25 less and not even discuss it. Who do you expect to pay?

So if I fancy a Ferrari, but due to my income can only pay half of it, that's ok then? Exactly the same principle.

School trips shouldn't be that price.

Personally I'd ring, say I couldn't afford it and I'll keep him home that day. There will be none of this send him in anyway and he can join another class. Lovely day weather and there are a load of things to do that don't cost ruddy 45 quid.

That is what taxation is for. What planet are you on?

If everyone chose to only pay half then the trip wouldn’t go ahead.

Skippythemeh
How long have you had to plan for this expense?
Schools are under such tight budgets, that I think we really should be paying towards things like this. Otherwise, trips won’t happen and the kids miss out.
My kid was taken to Blackpool - it was £86 and we had 5 months to pay. I get UC top up so I’m a low income, but I budget and paid the trip cost. Because the school would have had to find the money in their budget if I didn’t, or cancel it for everyone. Neither of those options is very fair.

We were told three weeks in advance for our school tours and they were twice the cost of before. A lot of kids didn’t go and I was gutted and also pissed off that they chose such an extravagant day out. I could only pay as it landed on payday. I don’t think kids should miss school tours and I think schools should do what they can to get everyone there.

A trip to £45 shouldn't go ahead at all. It's ridiculous.

I overpaid anonymously for school trips op in case someone needed it. I don’t imagine I was the only one. Just speak to them, it might be ok

Except in this case, the OP is not choosing to only pay half, it is literally all she can afford to pay; and she obviously feels really glum and worried about it.

The trip does go ahead. That is a common tactic used by schools to bully people.

They wouldn't exclude him. It says if theres not enough contributions it could be cancelled. I have never known that to happen though.

Our school has a fund specifically to help when times are tough (the PTA fundraise for it). Talk to the school and offer what you can. I had to ask to pay in installllments once. They were really kind and discreet, and gave me the option not to pay or to pay part. Mine was a temporary issue, but they didn't know that.

I doubt everyone would be half though.

The same planet as everyone else where parents pay for school trips and always have done?

I did wounder this. When they call if feels like if demanding. But I do over think things. So it could just be a me thing. I have never known a trip not to happen. But I guess its possible.

How do you know that? Also school trips have doubled in price roughly.

Could you pay it later? So like the other half next month? So the school still get the money.

If everyone takes you approach it will be cancelled. Whether you pay or not I think it’s extremely rude to not tell the school. They will waste time/resource chasing it up.

if you are expecting othet people (via tax or pta donations) to fund your kids place the least you can do is ask the school and say thanks. The assumption you can just get away with it is quite appalling.