In view of the cost of living crisis, father puts up a “ridiculous” price for a school trip at the end of the year

Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen sent parents a letter explaining that an adventure week had been organized for pupils at the end of the school year and Gavin Owen said the prize means he has to spend more than £100 to get his sons to go could

A father has blown up his son’s school over the cost of school trips, branding it ‘unfair’ amid the current cost of living crisis.

Gavin Owen said the price of the end-of-year trips for his two sons was “ridiculous”.

Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen sent a letter to the parents explaining that an adventure week had been organized for the students at the end of the school year.

The secondary school says it would cost up to £80 per pupil, meaning Gavin will spend more than £100 on his children, who are aged 12 and 15.

Speak with North Wales LiveGavin said: “It’s usually free or a minimal fee but we got a letter saying it was £80 this year. It’s ridiculous — some people have two or three kids there and I know some kids whose parents can’t afford it and it’s just not fair to them.”

The adventure week includes kayaking and rock climbing, which requires safety equipment, a school spokesman said.

They added that they are “fully aware” of the pressure families are under and have tried to strike a balance between cutting costs and making up for lost experience during the pandemic.

The cost per student varies depending on the year.

It is £80 for a 7th grade pupil, £50 for an 8th grade pupil and £40 for a 9th grade pupil.

Gavin said: “I don’t mind paying small fees for things like canoeing, but £80 in this current climate, with energy bills and everything going up, is ridiculous.

“I know it’s nice for the kids but there’s so much they could do without spending £80. It should all be about making the most of those around you and I think it could be a way of teaching them that you don’t have to spend money in places to have a good time.

“It’s not that we live in the middle of the city, there are many things we can do locally without having to rent a bus or spend that much.”

A spokesman for the school said: “Our aim as a school is to give our students access to the best possible experience during their time at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, including experiences in their local communities which in turn support the local economy. As part of this goal, the school has organized a week of varied adventure activities.

“We are fully aware that the current cost of living crisis is affecting our students’ families and we would never wish for this to prevent any of our students from participating in the activities on offer. Due to the pandemic, the school was unable to plan activities months in advance and offer a longer payment period for activities on this occasion.

“However, we were keen to meet the hopes of parents who took part in a recent opinion poll on the subject and were keen for extracurricular activities to be offered. Finding a balance between low travel costs and giving students the opportunity to catch up on the lost experiences of the last two years was a major challenge.

“Although the cost of the week of activities will vary for Years 7, 8 and 9, it is important to remember that all fees include transportation costs. As part of our effort to ensure that as many students as possible make the most of the activities on offer, there is a discount for students who are entitled to free school meals and we offer a payment plan for those who find it difficult to pay. Those students who choose not to participate in this year’s activities this year can enjoy free activities throughout the week at school.”

Der Spiegel contacted the school for comment.