 Poster: A snowHead
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@Jimbly,
 WTF were they thinking? How did Head let that proposal get across his/her desk. It is just mental.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We have just taken a booking for a school group of 65, inc. flights, 4 hours a day ski school (6 days), full board, lift pass, equipment, etc for £680.
Most school trips are VERY over priced which is a shame for the kids.
Mine are still too young but when they are older I will not be sending the on any school trips which are over priced.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Lisa_BrentaSki wrote: |
We have just taken a booking for a school group of 65, inc. flights, 4 hours a day ski school (6 days), full board, lift pass, equipment, etc for £680.
Most school trips are VERY over priced which is a shame for the kids.
Mine are still too young but when they are older I will not be sending the on any school trips which are over priced. |
 This is really good to hear.
Maybe we should start a campaign to make skiing accessible to all.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@cameronphillips2000, my son in law, a PE teacher, did a number of school trips. Their school always gave priority to kids who had never skied before. They are also, obviously, easier to manage than the Hot Shots who want to be let loose to racket round the mountain on their own. On his last trip he was with a group of good skiers, in lessons, but he said he was the only one who paid the slightest attention though the instructor was good and doing his best to hold the little barstewards' attention. After that last trip he said he'd much prefer to take a group of "never evers" who would be thrilled by the whole experience instead of moaning.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
We have just taken a booking for a school group of 65, inc. flights, 4 hours a day ski school (6 days), full board, lift pass, equipment, etc for £680.
Most school trips are VERY over priced which is a shame for the kids.
Mine are still too young but when they are older I will not be sending the on any school trips which are over priced.
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£680 is much lower than any quote we've had from a tour operator by coach at half term for many years.
Is this a school travelling during term time? Sadly, not really an option for state schools these days.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| cameronphillips2000 wrote: |
| Lisa_BrentaSki wrote: |
We have just taken a booking for a school group of 65, inc. flights, 4 hours a day ski school (6 days), full board, lift pass, equipment, etc for £680.
Most school trips are VERY over priced which is a shame for the kids.
Mine are still too young but when they are older I will not be sending the on any school trips which are over priced. |
This is really good to hear.
Maybe we should start a campaign to make skiing accessible to all. |
Something that you'd think Snowsport England might be involved in!
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Mine is going on his first ever school ski trip as a 6th former in April. He wanted to go so much, he part funded. I think it will be an interesting learning curve for him, in terms of restrictions on mountain freedom
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I have two youngsters (3 and 5) and they absolutely love just being in the snow. The oldest can now ski. I say that with some pride as she was a slow learner and during the first week or so she just wanted to “go fast”, which actually meant putting her skis in parallel and setting off down the slope. But now she can turn in a snowplough and will happily follow me down the nursery slope and even some easy blues. The younger still wants to just roll around in the snow. But it’s OK as he has plenty of time to learn.
I was chatting to a child on the chair lift two weeks ago and she told me that her parents had paid over £1100 for the half term week and they arrived by coach. It’s a shame that the teachers don’t simply look on the internet (we charge, fully inc. £930 for the half term with flight, or £800 by coach) or go down to their local travel agent and they could get “much” better deals on price and accommodation standard. I’m not sure why they don’t.
The £680 we charged was for a group going at the and of Jan next year.
I am back in the UK now after 6 weeks away and it does feel nice to be back home.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| homers double wrote: |
We got the school ski trip letter this week, £744 for 6 days in Serre Chevalier.
I just need to find out from the school what plans they have for the kids who can ski pretty well. |
My 13 year old texted after her first day saying they'd done 3 blacks that day...I tried not to ask too much after that 
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@Jimbly, thats a disgrace
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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My feelings too - it's strange, because other school trips have been very affordable; it's just this ski holiday that was priced so high
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Shimmy Alcott wrote: |
| homers double wrote: |
We got the school ski trip letter this week, £744 for 6 days in Serre Chevalier.
I just need to find out from the school what plans they have for the kids who can ski pretty well. |
My 13 year old texted after her first day saying they'd done 3 blacks that day...I tried not to ask too much after that |
As the letters were sent out in waves he didn't get a place but is now on the reserve list. But failing that...
Dear Mr Headteachersir,
As you are aware there are around 50 brats going to frenchland to cause havoc, eat snails and throw snowballs at ze Germans at the end of Jan2016, one week BEFORE the half term break.
My poor little Tyler missed out on this because he no doubt left the letter in the bottom of his bag, dumped it in the pantry and went to play football meaning I didn't see it in time for him to get a place.
Please can he be excused from school for one week BEFORE the half term break to go skiing in Italyland, eat pizza and throw snowballs at me and his mum at a much reduced rate.
Yours empowered by an internet forum,
Tylers Dad.
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@homers double, Vive la révolution!
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You know it makes sense.
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And do you know how they justified going away the week befor half term???
BECAUSE IT WAS AT A MUCH REDUCED RATE...
TALK ABOUT ****ING HYPOCRICY!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@homers double, not hypocrisy on the part of the school; they don't make the rules. however, in your place I would be thankful he didn't get on the trip and most definitely go away that week. It is improbable that you would get fined, in the circumstances as the school has to set the ball rolling on that process.
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Poster: A snowHead
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A ski trip during term time sounds like it could cause the school a lot of problems - according to the rules on charging https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/365929/charging_for_school_activities_-_October_2014.pdf the trip would be considered to be "in school hours" (number of school sessions -10- is greater than 50% of half days spent on the visit -16-). This means that the school can charge for the actual cost of board and lodgings, but cannot charge for "education" provided on the trip - you could probably argue that ski lessons are educational. They also cannot charge for the cost of supply teachers to cover for the teachers who are on the trip. If I've understood correctly, the other parts of the holiday for which there is a charge (eg travel) are deemed to be voluntary contributions - children cannot be excluded from the trip if their parents refuse to pay that portion.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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the whole school trip thing is becoming ridiculous for a number of reasons. My son in law's school had to cancel a canoeing trip because the parents of one disabled child insisted he should be included. It was completely impossible safely to accommodate this wheelchair bound child with no motor control in a canoe, but the school was apparently not allowed to exclude him. Another trip was almost aborted because parents of a serial runaway child with severe epilepsy wanted her included. She can usually be captured easily when she escapes from a school in East Sussex but absconding whilst on a school trip in foreign land would be a whole different kettle of fish.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Despite the fact that the school did not make the rules regarding term time absence, schools do control whether or not they inform the LEA. Our school has been pretty laid back about it. So if Homers doubles childs school did inform the LEA of the absence then they would be being hypocritical IMO.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@pam w, nice way to kill some light hearted banter.
@Shimmy Alcott, my point exactly.
Anyway, onwards to planning a cheap deal in 2016 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
if Homers doubles childs school did inform the LEA of the absence then they would be being hypocritical IMO.
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absolutely - but they'd be unlikely to do so in the circumstances, wouldn't they? Even if he had taken more time off than allowed. And even if they did he'd have a very good case - the school would look absolutely ridiculous if a case came to court.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
the school would look absolutely ridiculous if a case came to court.
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you would hope so, wouldnt you.
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And I would blatantly use the "well I tried to get him on the trip as I thought it would further his education of Eupope and as I couldn't get him on thought I'd take him myself"
*goes on chaletdeals.com.net.uk.co.etc..*
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| Quote: |
nice way to kill some light hearted banter.
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pisse-toi off
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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wee wee you off? (my best attempt at translate...)
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The 2nd big booking for next season.
50 kids + 10 teachers.
They explained that they were going to be booking with a specialist schools operator but the total cost for the Half Term (by coach) was over £950.
I charged them £790 which is not the cheapest but I feel it's reasonable.
inc. Flight, transfers, equipment, lift pass, 4 hours school, 3* hotel near the slopes, etc.
I think that parent power and maybe web forum power is starting to catch up with some people.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I hope you haven't put them in the vechia america, the food there was shocking.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Lisa_BrentaSki, good work.
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| Shimmy Alcott wrote: |
| homers double wrote: |
We got the school ski trip letter this week, £744 for 6 days in Serre Chevalier.
I just need to find out from the school what plans they have for the kids who can ski pretty well. |
My 13 year old texted after her first day saying they'd done 3 blacks that day...I tried not to ask too much after that |
Before leading kids was off limits, I had two ski with me in Folgarida/Madonna for a week whilst the other kids were in lessons. One of them, a 16 year old girl had skied all over the world and was brilliant (She's an instructor now) The lad was good too and we covered a lot of ground down all sorts. We had an amazing week. Folgarida was great for school trips as they'd tried to attract boarders by getting rid of drags but instead got loads of teachers who were fed up of losing kids off draglifts. Madonna on the other hand is not your typical school kids resort....
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You know it makes sense.
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@cameronphillips2000,
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Before leading kids was off limits
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does that mean kids cant ski without an instructor? Or are they allowed to ski with mates once the reach a certain age/competence?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
Or are they allowed to ski with mates once the reach a certain age/competence?
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surely not! Can you imagine the recriminations if something went wrong. And kids that think they're good at skiing are the last to be allowed out on their own.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| jedster wrote: |
@cameronphillips2000,
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Before leading kids was off limits
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does that mean kids cant ski without an instructor? Or are they allowed to ski with mates once the reach a certain age/competence? |
Instructor only. I used to be able to lead them as a teacher but not any more.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I went skiing in Italy with my school back in 1984 and I think we had two hours of lessons in the morning and then were basically left to ski up and down the same slope all day long, I remember thinking it was a blast, though in hindsight a little risky. I had an sony cassette player with the Ski Sunday music playing when ever possible 
Fast forward to the 90/91 season and things had definitely changed. I worked as a ski tech and rep for Quest Travel (a schools operator) in Val Cenis and then Morzine and most our parties only skied with instructors, with two hours lessons in the morning and two more in the afternoon. There with some schools doing teacher lead groups outside of that, but I don't remember it being the norm. At the time I thought 4 hours was such a short time to go skiing each day, but the kids seems to really enjoy it, and sure enough there was plenty of fun to be had off the slopes.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| pam w wrote: |
| And kids that think they're good at skiing are the last to be allowed out on their own. |
Some kids are bl**dy good:
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Have to say I'd find it tough to pay all that money if the kids are only going to ski 4 hours. My first ski trip we had longer lessons (I was 12). Second one I was in the lower 6th but even younger kids were trusted to ski in groups without supervision after the morning lessons. This sort of responsibility is GOOD for kids. I just get depressed that we are damagingly risk averse these days. It's such cr@p 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@jedster, +1
my mate put up a post on facebook showing an old page from 'Fireball' comic, it had a pocket survival kit with items such as: knife, magnetised needle, matches with sand paper for striking, bare copper wire, beef stock cubes, nuts, plastic adhesive tape etc. "carry it with you every time you venture into the wilds"
Imagine the uproar if a boys comic printed that today. The box alone would need a 'may contain nuts' sticker!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@jedster, @dode, +1 to both of you .
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My kids are 10 and 12 and ski pretty well (better technique than your average Brit holidaymaker, will follow me anywhere I am prepared to take them off piste, led the way down a cut up and refrozen black bump run at half term looking very controlled and comfortable). And they are pretty sensible too. I think at Easter I may let them lap a chair while their mum and I have an extended coffee just to start to "remove the stabilisers". When we are in Les C we send them down the road to buy bread in the morning. I was roaming fields around our house at a much younger age and this was before mobile phones...
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I am not particularly risk averse about letting kids do things - my kids went off skiing with mates, went on trains and planes alone, did all sorts of things. I did trust them to be sensible but accidents can still happen. And they were my kids. Some kids might be "bloody good" but reckless - and other kids might be poor skiers but sensible and trustworthy. And some might be easily led, if in a group where a dare-devil leader emerges.
It wouldn't be easy for a teacher to judge which kids could be allowed to ski off on their own, with whom - even if she knew what the weather was going to bring all day.
I suspect that a lot of teachers would be content to take more "risks" if they could be sure that parents - or the school - wouldn't blame them if it went wrong. As skiers we all know that you can have nasty accidents just skiing sensibly on easy terrain. And that when collisions cause injuries it can be hard, sometimes, to apportion blame. What if two nice sensible kids on a blue run with no teacher or instructor have a crash and one of them is injured?
Most teachers have had angry parents, shouting in their faces, abusing them for having dared give their dear little Kieran a detention. They care not a jot for the fact that witnesses had heard him calling the teacher "a fat w@nking slag" . What would happen if the little sod had a spiral fracture of tib and fib, skiing without a teacher or instructor? Especially when he can be absolutely guaranteed to lie about the circumstances if he thought it would get him out of trouble (or somebody else into trouble).
It would be interesting to know what SH parents do about young kids on ski holidays. At what age do you allow them to go off on their own? Not just lapping one run whilst you have a coffee - but off with mates or a sibling for a few hours?
I feel very strongly that kids are far too restricted these days - but I can quite see why schools can't allow groups of young kids to go skiing without supervision.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@pam w, good question. Right now I am very glad I don't have to make that call.... with my girls being 8 and 5. I have only just allowed Ellie (8yr old) to go out on her bike in our street in front of the house (we live in a quiet road) without me out there and Ellie was with a neighbours kid whose Dad was milling around as well, that was nerve wracking enough.
I am probably over protective and constantly battle with myself over not wanting to prevent her gaining independence but also worried about keeping her safe.
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We let our 8 year old out on the slopes with a mate for a couple of hours one morning with a watch and instructions to be at the base cafe at a certain time and to his credit he was. He had been to this ski area before and was familiar with it, its not big, and all runs came back to the base. Hes can be cautious and is a relatively sensible skier and his friend skis at lower level so didnt think they would try anything too extreme. But have to say I was impressed with him that day. Felt very comfortable with him being out of sight after that.
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FAQ
