Top School Trips -Issue 6

Hello... I t’s an inescapable reality that things have got more expensive for everyone over the last few years, and parents and schools are no exception. When times are tight, the natural reaction is to rein in non-essential spending and focus on the basics, but it’s equally important to consider value, as the price tag never offers the full picture. School trips are a case in point. As highlighted in this issue’s news pages, recent research shows that days away from the classroom are becoming more expensive, in line with inflation, and that parents are finding it more challenging to fund the opportunities their children are given. In turn, schools are under pressure to source and subsidise visits while carefully managing their own budgets. But while this process requires time and effort as well as money, if you get it right, it is all well spent. This is where value comes in. Put simply, nothing comes close to enthusing pupils as much about their learning as a great school trip. Nothing gives them better opportunities to develop the skills they’ll need to succeed, either. Whether it’s a day out a museum or a week spent in the countryside, these are the school days that children remember for the rest of their lives, and for some they might even spark a passion that turns into a career. The important thing, particularly in the current economic climate, is to make sure you get the very most out of the trips you plan – and that’s where Top School Trips comes in. Over the following pages, you’ll find a host of fantastic places to take your classes, with options to support subjects across the curriculum as well children’s personal development. There’s also plenty of advice on leading a successful trip wherever you’re heading, plus lesson plans to enjoy outside of the classroom. We hope you find it useful! The Top School Trips team MARC BOWEN Deputy head and primary teacher in South Wales SABINA KHANAM Experienced primary school teacher and forest school leader MARTIN SMITH Senior adviser at Greenwood Academies Trust HANNAH BROWN Audiences manager at Black Country Living Museum DR NIKHIL MISTRY Head of curiosity at Winchester Science Centre THOMAS BOOTH Education visits advisor at Rochdale Borough Council The Experts PUBLISHERS: Joe Carter Sam Reubin Richard Stebbing CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Jacob Stow GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER: Samantha Law, samantha.law@artichokehq.com 01206 505499 ADVERTISING MANAGER: Ria Bentham, ria.bentham@artichokehq.com , 01206 505928 ACCOUNT MANAGER: Kim Richards, kim.richards@artichokehq.com 01206 505420 ART EDITORS: Richard Allen & Sarah Barajas ACCOUNTS: artichokemedialtd@integral2.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: subscriptions@artichokeHQ.com PUBLISHED BY: Artichoke Media Ltd. The views in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the veracity and integrity of the companies, persons, products and services mentioned in this publication, and the details given are believed to be accurate at the time of going to press. However, no responsibility or liability whatsoever can be accepted for any consequence or repercussion of responding to information or advice given or inferred. Copyright Artichoke Media Ltd. www.teachwire.net/school-trips | 3