**Rising Cost of School Trips Forces Parents to Take Drastic Measures**
A growing number of families across the UK are finding themselves in financial difficulty as the price of school trips continues to spiral, with some excursions now costing as much as £400 per child. This increasing burden is forcing parents to take extraordinary steps to ensure their children don’t miss out on valuable educational opportunities.
Recent research conducted by Zurich Municipal, a public sector insurer, sheds light on the extent of the issue. The survey, which canvassed 1,000 parents of school-aged children across Britain, revealed that roughly one in eight parents (13%) have resorted to working overtime in order to meet the rising costs of school trips, particularly the ever-popular residential stays. Meanwhile, 9% of parents admitted to selling personal possessions on online marketplaces such as eBay and Vinted to raise the necessary funds.
In many cases, the challenge of affording these excursions extends beyond the adults in the household. Some families have asked their children to contribute their own pocket money or get involved in fundraising activities to bridge the financial gap. Furthermore, the poll highlighted that about 15% of parents have had to make real sacrifices—foregoing personal essentials or luxuries—in order to prioritise their child’s opportunity to participate in these enriching experiences.
For many households, the cost-of-living crisis is the critical factor making such expenses increasingly difficult to manage. More than a third of parents surveyed (35%) pointed to high living costs as the primary strain on their budgets, while nearly a quarter cited spiralling energy and utility bills as a significant obstacle.
In terms of the costs themselves, the research found that day trips now set parents back an average of £30, but residential trips come with a far heftier price tag—averaging a remarkable £412 per child. Despite these figures, parents overwhelmingly agree that such trips are vital. Almost 40% said they consider school trips an essential aspect of their child’s education, with half noting how much children learn on these occasions.
The perceived benefits of school expeditions go beyond academics. A majority of respondents stated that these experiences help children develop valuable life skills: 61% believed trips encourage children to be adventurous and try new things, 59% pointed to increased independence, and 57% noticed a confidence boost in their children following these activities.
Support systems do exist, however, for those struggling to meet the costs. Many schools, local authorities, and parent teacher associations (PTAs) offer financial aid, subsidies, or organise fundraising events to ensure that no child is excluded based on their family’s income. Notably, more than a fifth of those polled said their children’s schools had either fully covered trip expenses, provided subsidies, or led fundraising initiatives so that all pupils could participate.
Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind—a national PTA organisation—emphasised both the value and the affordability challenge of school trips. “These excursions are formative experiences we remember for a lifetime, but they’re becoming prohibitively expensive for many families,” he commented. Elsom highlighted the vital role PTAs now play in bridging the gap, saying, “We’re seeing more PTAs than ever before stepping in to subsidise the costs, ensuring no child is left behind.”
Natalie Bate, head of education at Zurich Municipal, echoed those sentiments, noting that while school trips should generate fond memories, the stress around funding can overshadow the excitement. According to Bate, rising cancellations and lost deposits, reflected in the company’s claims data, underline the uncertainty facing families and schools alike in the current climate.
As the debate over funding and accessibility for educational activities continues, the data makes one point overwhelmingly clear: while the value of school trips remains uncontested among parents, the challenge of affording them is placing growing pressures on families. If current trends persist, it will require a concerted effort from schools, support organisations, and government to ensure all pupils have equal access to these formative educational experiences.