A mother-of-six has hit out at the ‘crazy’ cost of her son’s school trip to Kenya – and insisted she could take her family of seven on holiday for cheaper.
Carla Hoskins, 38, from the village of Radlett, Hertfordshire, was outraged to discover sending her son Blake Spencer, 14, to the east African country would cost £2,186.
The price for the nine-night jaunt in October next year includes return flights, a work placement at a primary school and several outings, such as a safari trip.
Parents would also need to top it up, however, with further cash for drinks, snacks, mosquito nets, travel vaccinations and ‘additional excursions’.
Ms Hoskins said the state school’s email advertised the holiday as an ‘unforgettable experience to enrich students’ lives’.
But the hairdresser said it is a ‘crazy’ amount of money to expect parents to spend – and she has previously taken four of her children on holiday for less.
The mother said they went to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Spain, for £1,800 last year.
She has now posted a video on TikTok to share her fury – and commenters seemed split about whether they would be similarly infuriated in her position.
Carla Hoskins (pictured), 38, from the village of Radlett, Hertfordshire, was outraged to discover sending her son Blake Spencer, 14, to the east African country would cost £2,186
Ms Hoskins (pictured) said the state school’s email advertised the holiday as an ‘unforgettable experience to enrich students’ lives’ – but the hairdresser said it is a ‘crazy’ amount of money
Ms Hoskins said: ‘I got an email as if I should be privileged that he’s been invited.
‘It was just crazy. I have never received a letter about a school trip that costs thousands. That amount of money is ridiculous.
‘I thought, “This must be a magical trip”, so I went through and read what was included.
‘The trip is for nine days so this is quite a long time but I think a lot of that is travelling.
‘What’s included is that they’re going to be helping in schools and see Kenyan culture and a couple of giraffes.
‘I have six children so if I honoured this for one, I’d have to do it for all of my children. It’s a lot of money and I know what I could get for this amount of money…
‘This price is easily the same amount of money to take a family abroad on holiday.’
She continued: ‘He goes to a school where to be honest a lot of parents wouldn’t be able to afford this, it’s just crazy.
‘I don’t understand how people can afford this in this current climate with the cost of living.’
Ms Hoskins said parents are expected to pay for the trip in three instalments of around £700 each – more than a month’s food shop for her family.
‘I don’t know where they think people are going to pull this money from. It’s just not viable at all,’ she explained.
The mother (pictured) said she has previously taken four of her children on holiday for less. They went to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Spain, for £1,800 last year
The parent (pictured) has now posted a video on TikTok to share her fury – and commenters seemed split about whether they would be similarly infuriated in her position
While the school has encouraged children to ‘fundraise’ the cost, she says not many 14-year-olds would be able to raise that kind of sum alone.
The mother added: ‘It’s a lot of pressure on the child.’
Blake has told her he does not want to go – but she fears he is simply saying that because of the cost, as some of his friends are going.
‘I might win the lottery in a few months’ time and then he can go,’ she said lightly.
Her video posted to TikTok sharing her shock received more than 3,000 likes and 500 comments.
Many users could not believe the cost, with one writing: ‘I paid less for a family of four all-inclusive [holiday] to Corfu at the beginning of September this year.’
Another added: ‘Not a chance. I didn’t pay that for my car.’
Someone else asked: ‘How do they expect people to afford that in this economy? Schools are honestly so sheltered and unrealistic it annoys me so much.’
But others felt it was more justifiable, with one commenter writing: ‘To Kenya that appears to be very reasonable indeed.
‘I do hope you change your mind over this fiscal matter.’
And another suggested the fundraising element could be a good teaching point: ‘So wrong, but get him to do a fundraiser, lovely.
‘My 21-year-old raised just over that to go to Uganda for a month. She said it was life changing.’
