Single mum slams school trip cost as 'utterly ridiculous'

2023-07-07

A single mum drew the line at a £799 school trip, calling it ‘ridiculous’.

She wrote to her son’s teachers to say he would not be going, and claimed she could take her family of six on holiday for the same price.

Emma Mellor, 40, was shocked when she spotted the three-night trip to Krakow, Poland, offered by her 11-year-old son’s school would cost an eye-watering £799.

The price included return flights, a coach transfer to Manchester airport, a three-night stay in a Krakow hotel and excursions, including a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

But this didn’t include all meals – only two dinners – which would mean parents would need to fork out even more on top.

The humanities trip is for years seven to 10, and those wanting to attend would need to supply a non-refundable £300 deposit by July 10 – just 11 days after receiving the initial email.

The mum-of-five said the price seemed ‘out of reach’ for many families to afford.

Emma, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, said: ‘I was shocked when I saw that it was £800 for three nights.

‘For this sort of money [£799], we could go on a nice family holiday in a caravan for five days or we could splash out and go on a weekend away, all six of us, to Centre Parcs.

‘I would rather spend my money on doing something for the whole family.

‘I’ve got an older child who is currently in year 10 and I remember he went on a trip to Berlin last year or the year before and it only cost him £275.

‘The trip only says two evening meals and it doesn’t say anything about other food so I imagine they [the children] will need more money for other meals.’

Emma’s email reply to the school reads: ‘If I had £800+ to spend on going away, I’d be putting it towards a trip for the whole family, not for one of my five children while the rest of us go without a holiday.

‘These prices are utterly ridiculous for many families. I suppose the 1% with plenty of throwaway income will gladly be on board.’

Her son hasn’t yet mentioned going on the trip, but she will tell him he can’t go as she has four other children to consider.

Emma believes she can’t be the only parent in this position and said some parents would have to sacrifice their own holidays to afford for their children to go on the trip.

Emma said: ‘This is not so much of a complaint against the school, it is more of being shocked by the price of the trip.

‘It’s really sparked some interesting discussion of more and more people not being able to afford the school trips as they are becoming more expensive and out of reach.

‘People are having to go without a holiday or work even more hours if that is even possible to be able to fund them and it’s unrealistic expectations.

‘With the cost of living rising at an incredible rate, people’s wages aren’t even matching this.

‘I would imagine it would cost anywhere between £400 or £500 of extra money on top of the £799 for food, clothes for the trip, travel money, insurance and you want them to have a good time on the trip too.

‘It isn’t just our school, people seem to be experiencing this at schools across the country.’

Emma said two other excursions were also advertised in the email – but they were even more expensive, being priced at over £1,000 per trip.

Emma said: ‘In the email they also made us aware that in 2024 there would be a trip that would cost around £1,200 and another one in 2025 for £1,200.

‘The other trips on offer which were £1,200 were four- or five-night trips.

‘I don’t think they have booked these yet and by the time they do they could be even more money.’

Emma voiced her concerns on Facebook and soon 300 comments appeared from parents in similar positions.

One Facebook user said: ‘School trips can end up being a nightmare financially for many families. Schools need to be more realistic.’

Another commented: ‘My husband and I went to Krakow recently. I don’t think we spent that on the whole trip for the both of us.’

One user said: ‘Totally agree with you! I won’t be sending either of mine on extortionate trips with school when we can holiday as a family. No guilt felt!’

£799 school trip to Krakow, Poland includes:

Coach transfer to Manchester airport
Return flights from Manchester to Krakow
Meet and greet at both Manchester and Krakow airport
Hotel Maksymillian for three nights
2 x half day guided walking tours of Krakow covering Kazimierz and Podgórze
Guided tour of the Schindler Factor
Coach hire from the Schindler Factory back to the Old Town Square
Visit to Galicia Museum
Coach hire for transfers to and from Auschwitz-Birkenau, entrance fee and 3 ½ hour guided tour and headsets.
Half day coach transfer to the Wieliczka Salt Mines, entrance fee
Guided tour of Wawel Castle
Visit to the Royal Cathedral on Wawel Hill
Two evening meals at local restaurants

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