Educational experiences should not be determined by parents' ability to pay
Commenting on reports that a secondary school in Leeds has organised a sports trip to Barbados which costs 1,650 per child, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers union in the UK, said:
“Educational visits can have important and social and educational benefits for pupils and can be a valuable part of the offer which schools make to their students’ learning and development.
“However, the NASUWT has in recent years become increasingly concerned about the growing costs for families associated with supporting their children’s education and the degree to which children’s access to educational opportunities is becoming dependent on parents’ ability to pay.
“The NASUWT has conducted an annual survey each year since 2012, which elicits thousands of responses from parents, on the cost of education.
“The survey for the 2014/15 academic year shows that the cost of trips and excursions has increased, with well over a quarter of parents now spending over £200 per year and increasing numbers unable to afford to pay for their children to participate.
“Educational experiences that promote opportunity and achievement should be accessible to all and should not be determined by parents’ ability to pay.”
