Pocket money or bank of gran & grandad now funding school trips as a third of parents claim they are just too expensive

• According to one in five parents, schools have cut the number of trips as families struggle with rising living costs and teachers grapple with limited budgets
• One in 10 parents now have to turn to grandparents to fund trips while 12% of children raise the money themselves and one in 10 use their pocket money
• Residential trips now cost £430 per child on average while days out cost an average of £28. For some trips away, parents have been asked to find more than £1,500
• Four in 10 parents have seen trips cancelled with one in six (16%) not receiving a full refund

Children may be missing out on educational school trips as parents struggle to cover the costs and schools lack funds to subsidise them, according to public sector insurer Zurich Municipal¹.

A poll of 1,000 parents by the insurer found that one in three (31%) believe school trips are now too expensive, while a quarter (23%) say they have had to go without and perhaps cut back on essentials to fund the trips.

Schools cut educational trips due to costs

Squeezed school budgets may also be contributing to the declining number of trips. Data from English Heritage, a charity which provides free school visits, shows trips to its sites have dropped by 28% compared to pre-covid numbers². While visits to these sites may be free, schools and parents/guardians still need to cover the cost of transport – something that is proving unaffordable for some in the current climate.

Kids use their own pocket money

School leaders’ union, NAHT, recently conducted a survey about funding which found more than two-thirds of school leaders (69%) have had to raise extra money from grants and fundraising to cover the cost of extra-curricular activities, such as school trips³. Zurich’s research shows that one in eight children (12%) have taken part in fundraising activities themselves to help cover the costs trips and a further one in 10 children (10%) have used their pocket money to cover the costs.

Other family members are also keen to chip in so kids don’t miss out on fun days away from the classroom. For instance, one in ten (10%) grandparents paid for grandchildren to go on a school trip, while 8% of aunts and uncles have forked out for their niece or nephew to attend.

On average, the cost of a day school trip is £28, while residential trips – which have grown in popularity over recent years – cost a whopping £430 on average.

Parents racked with guilt due to cost pressures

More than a quarter of parents (28%) feel guilty that they can’t afford to send their child on educational trips with their school, according to Zurich Municipal’s poll.

An additional one in five financially pinched parents (20%) are embarrassed they are struggling to pay for these trips for their children. Meanwhile, one in four parents (23%) worry that their children will be bullied if they can’t afford to send them on a school excursion.

Despite the cost of school trips leaving some parents bewildered about the costs, four out of ten agree (41%) they are an important milestone in a child’s school years, and a further 40% believe that a break from the classroom actually teaches children a great deal.

In fact, more than one in three parents (35%) believe school trips are critical to their child’s education.

Tilden Watson, Head of Education at Zurich Municipal, commented:

“School trips bring a plethora of benefits to young lives, it’s heartbreaking to see so many could miss out due to cost. These trips can also expose some children to new places and experiences that they wouldn’t necessarily get to enjoy with their families so they really do offer a window to the world they otherwise wouldn’t see.

“With family finances often so strapped, it’s crucial that schools have the right cover in place in the event trips don’t go ahead. Not only does this help protect the school, but it also gives parents peace of mind that they will receive their money back. The last thing you want is for parents to lose money for something the children don’t even get to enjoy.”

70% of Zurich claims for school trips are for cancellations

Four in 10 parents polled have seen school trips cancelled and unfortunately, one in six (16%) say there have been times when they were only partially refunded and one in 20 (5%) didn’t receive any money back at all.

Analysis of the public sector insurer’s claims data4 suggests cancellation or lost deposits accounts for 70% of claims, making it the most common claims schools make on their school trip insurance policies.

Zurich Municipal offers comprehensive school trip insurance meaning schools can confidently plan all types of trips whilst ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff. The insurer also provides winter sports trip insurance.

Notes to editors

¹ Based on an online survey of 1,000 parents with children aged between 5 years old and 16 years old. The survey was conducted by OnePoll between 16th May and 28th May 2024

² https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-66993155

³ School leaders’ union NAHT surveyed more than 1,000 school leaders about funding

⁴ Analysis of Zurich Municipal 2023 claims data