Freedom of Information help

I dont know about that but give us a clue as to what is involved and the CCDA will give their judgement.

The school want £120 for a one night stay in dorms ( upto 10 in a dorm ) approx 40 miles from the school.
It's an education centre called kindrogan where activities include hill walking, orienteering and animal trapping and releasing. Meals provided.

£120 would get you a night in fkn Gleneagles .
I want a breakdown of costs, if need be invoices, as I understand it schools fall under the Act so anything they have on record or file can be requested.

It would take up to a month to get the info via FOI. They stretch requests out as much as they can. Better to speak to them informally first saying the cost seems excessive, what's the breakdown etc, as you would get it quicker. If they don't give much away then put the FOI in.

john's suggestion seems good,


you can also try speaking to the centre to get an idea of their charges

coaches are expensive too

a one night stay can be very poor value

schools often end up covering some of the costs rather than adding on to them

A minor update, the school had an info evening last night where they said activities "may include " abseiling, canoeing and fencing. I contacted the centre this morning and they offer none of those activities. From that the school are trying to justify the price tag by including exciting activities but with the caveat "may include " , thats pi55ed me off.

Do you reckon then they will have to give up the details of the invoices for the centre and transport costs under a freedom of information request.

I'd have a word with the school and say the 'may include' means doesn't include from what you've discovered.

They might claim there's commercially sensitive info involved and refuse it but there's only one way to find out. Even putting the FOI in will show them you aren't fcking about and might make them a bit more forthcoming. You've got nothing to lose.

I've only been refused once on the basis of how much it would have cost to gather the information..... even though a major scandal was breaking and the info I asked for was EXACTLY what they should have been looking for themselves anyway.

from experience these trips always seem top heavy with teachers,if 5 or 6 go theyll all be on a freebie & that will push the price per child up to an unreasonable amount.simply ask the school for the breakdown , if youre not happy tell them your kid wont be going.

Is it this place?
http://www.real-family-holidays.org/locations/the-highlands.aspx

From £30 a night but with activities charged on top. One imagines the cost goes up and down with school holidays.

So if OP takes the child himself, that will be £60 plus food and activities which will probably come to over a ton.

Verdict: shut up and pay up.

Thanks for the site Ramruma, quick correction however it's £25.50 for a one night stay in April at the same place, meals are included .
The site says "all meals included "
£120 they can ram it.

Cracking conspiracy theory at work here.  Why not just ask the school for a breakdown of the cost, as has been suggested.  You seem determined to be "defrauded".

"approx 40 miles from the school" - not Glenalmond, shurley?

I did they tell they were quoted £116 per child by the centre and have added £4 per child transport costs.

She also acknowledged the activities were not available at this centre, the photos and activities had been part of a generic pack and the canoeing, fencing and abseiling could be done elsewhere.

No trilby the centre is near pitlochry and Im in Dunfermline, according to goodle its 54 miles away. Since the school have said they are charging £4 per pupil ( very generous on the face of it ) no issues with costs there.
It could be that the centre is ripping the school off in which case thats where my issue should be but not convinced.

Aah, I was thinking the school was Glenalmond - which is exactly 40 miles from the centre.

It does seem rather like the parents might be paying toward a "teachers jolly" right enough.

just do the bus trip for £4 and book the activities and room yourself

sorted!

Donaldo knows ;)

Seriously tho, just politely ask the school to breakdown the cost for you as it seems very high.  Simples :)