A HEAD teacher has spoken out after her school had was forced to cancel its trips for the academic year.
The Federation of Earlswood Schools – comprising Earlswood Infant School and Earlswood Junior School – announced the cancellation last week, citing a shortage of funds.
Parents at the schools pay £50 a year for the trips, but some have not paid this year's installment yet and the school was unable to budget for the £7,000 shortfall which remained.
Geraldine Tidy, the Federation's executive head teacher, said the school decision was "hugely disappointed" but they had their "hands [were] tied".
Under current legislation, schools are required to make a charge to parents for out-of-school visits but they are not allowed to leave behind the children whose parents have not paid.
Mrs Tidy said parents who could not pay were always invited to discuss how they might be supported. Other parents said there was also an option to pay in installments.
But Mrs Tidy said told the Mirror: "The sums don't add up and we cannot plan an overspend like this."
"We are considering ways to avoid this unfortunate situation occurring again and are working to find a future solution."
