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

[Shirtbuttons26]

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.

Ask if you can pay in 3 installments. That would only be £15 per month. Most schools will agree to this.

Ignore these nasty comments OP.

I don't think you're wrong for considering it. These costs really do add up, especially with more than one child at school. If it says contribution then I would speak to the school honestly rather than stretching yourself too far. Schools are usually very aware that families have different circumstances, and there may be support available or they may be able to accept what you can afford. I wouldn't feel embarrassed about asking, lots of parents find these extra costs difficult.

But practically the funds aren't there, and if parents don't pay then the trips don't go ahead.

It’s £45, not £450. Primary trips are always pretty reasonably priced, even the residential at the end of year 6 is about £200 max. It’s when they get to secondary and run a £1500 trip to New York for GCSE history for THREE DAYS not including food it gets ridiculous.

I don’t know if you answered this already but how long have you known about this trip? If it was very last minute and you knew you could only afford half you should have been direct with the school about it. If you’ve had months to sort the other £22 then you’re a pisstaker.

When I was at school those who didn’t pay didn’t go. One boy in my class never went on any, even the cheap ones to a local art gallery where you only paid for the coach.

Depending on area, £45 is a lot of money.
As I posted, I work in a school and the trip they planned to do was decided against as it would have cost around £20 and it was viewed that parents would not be able to afford this. Instead we will be staying local and walking.

I think your residential price might also be outdated. Ours is £350 but could be paid through a payment plan. Pupil premium could pay half.

My DC went on one in 2022 and it was £200 for 4 days which I didn’t balk at remotely, paid in instalments as well across 6 months.

Obviously Ferrari does deals, you think rich Arabs just buy a car without doing a deal?
But £45 isn't a top end school trip.
A better example would be buying a T-shirt from Primark and asking for a discount.
They would say no.

That’s heartbreaking.

Year 6 was 380 for the residential this year, they stay away 2 nights it used to be 4 nights away. Our average trips used to be 15.00 to 20.00/25.00 at most.

Also your talking about your own situation. Maybe 45.00 isn't to much for you. But it is for me.

You’ve just said the second child has special needs, but that doesn’t change that the first was unaffordable, meaning why was there a 2nd child at all. Some people aren’t able to apply basic mathematics to work out if they can or can’t afford children. Is it ok for me to pay half my mortgage? Half my tax bill to HMRC? Half my British Gas invoice? What else can I pay half of? People are putting themselves in unnecessary financial hardship through poor decision making. Then other tax payers are forced foot the cost.

You honestly think that i can see into the future. That i knew there would be a COL crises. That I would have a child with special needs ?

It’s not in either of my Son’s secondary schools, it isn’t allocated against trips at all but used elsewhere.
I guess the main difference in secondary is that they don’t tend to day trips, they do an activities week with a range of things to do that week, from things the school put on for free like a forensics workshop etc to trips in this country/abroad for those that wish to do those and can afford to pay.
In our primary school usually the trip letters will say if your child in in receipt of pupil premium please contact the office directly to discuss, it also gives parents a chance to overpay by overpaying on the app if they want to, so trips usually go ahead because different ‘pots’ of money are used to fund it.

Schools blatantly break the law on this all the time because money is short. Google Charging for School Activities. From what you’ve said, you do not have to pay at all.

I think you’re getting a hard time here OP, what a difficult situation for you.

As you plan, email and explain it’s too significant a cost at the moment. I don’t think they should expect everyone to have £45 spare and they will have a fund for this. I do think schools use these tactics as I imagine they struggle with some people opting not to pay, which isn’t your situation.

Mumsnet isn’t always the best place for things like this, as people have a warped perception of what is a ‘lot’ of money.

I know it’s hard going with a SEN child too, sending strength!

Go and ask!

If £45 is the issue, I think you knew how tight it would be and had another child because it suited you. Families need to be responsible for the situations they create. If they can’t be, the UK will go bankrupt as so few are culpable for the costs. This isn’t about being spiteful, its practicality.

@PyongyangKipperbang My son had all of these, as many children do. He still didn't need any "extras."
If you wanted to pay for them yourself our of your wages then of course that's up to you; but they are luxuries and not necessities.

🤦‍♀️ I'm not even going to reply.

This simply isn’t true. My son’s school trip was cancelled because there weren’t enough ‘contributions’.
I imagine it depends on the school and whether they had the means to sub the shortfall.

Why are you continuing to kick the OP when she is down? Her second child has additional needs and she has been forced to give up work to care for them. How hard is that for you to understand? £45 on top on month bills can be a lot of money for a working household also, you must lead a very privileged life to not see how people can struggle in life.

You clearly have no idea about the massive shortfall in school budgets. If parents don’t contribute then trips can’t happen - there’s barely enough money to pay teachers!

Bully people? Huh?

So very sad. I wonder if the schools understand that every trip they plan - as another exciting and educationally enriching opportunity for the kids whose parents can afford it - is also yet another kick in the teeth to the poor kids and something else for them to be upset about having to miss out on, and maybe even bullied for?