In June 2015 the Daily Mirror reported that five Year 6 boys from Whale Hill Primary School in Eston, Middlesbrough had missed out on a school trip to Disneyland Paris because the trip was oversubscribed. Five names were drawn out of a hat as there were only 48 places available and 53 applications to go on the trip. As could be expected children were disappointed, parents annoyed and the Mirror had a field day, reporting that the school had been branded ‘heartless’ - but not by whom. The Mirror also claimed the children had been 'deprived of the trip of a lifetime' by the school's 'decision'.
It does appear, however, that the Head had informed parents of the likely problem as far back as November 2014, and made clear the process by which the selection would be made. Such situations are not uncommon and always generate sadness and annoyance. This school did the right thing in letting parents know well in advance how such an eventuality will be sorted out.
So how could this situation be avoided?
It might be possible, for example, to enlist the aid of parents or others to act as extra supervisors, and to inform all parents of any likely extra cost in this event to enable all those who apply for the trip to participate.
Or it might be possible to give the disappointed youngsters priority in joining any future trip. I have also known schools to split the party in two and take two separate trips.#
Or the school could have operated a first come, first served policy.
Or it may come down to a lottery as here.
Not only should parents have an opportunity to hear and discuss the possibilities, but it would also be prudent to write the agreed process into the letter to parents giving details of the trip. Because such letters are important they should always be accompanied by a return slip so that the school knows that parents have received and acknowledged the information. It does not stop children and parents being disappointed but it does show that the school is trying its best to act fairly and consistently.
Account should also be made of some of the repercussions of such a selection process as the Mirror reported that those students who had missed out had faced teasing about the situation and had had to sit through the discussions between staff and students who were going on the trip which only made them feel worse. This also annoyed parents and perhaps in this particular case is a key learning point for any other school thinking of adopting what is, after all, perfectly standard practice, although usually only when all other options have been exhausted.
Dr Chris Lowe CBE
