Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is an ideal day out for groups and tours.
Key Stage 4 (15-16)
Key Stage 4 (15-16)
At KS4, there has been a gradually burgeoning number of types of educational visits – foreign language school exchanges, cultural visits all over Europe and further afield, sports competitions, youth conferences, winter sports and adventurous activities in more extreme environments. The Duke of Edinburgh Award becomes available at 14 years old and continues to be offered for those up to 24 years of age, and pupils of many ages start work on specialist awards in areas such as mountaineering, sailing and river sports. This increase in venue variety has led to a proliferation of specialist companies catering for these activities.
The aims of history trips tend to be more focused in KS4, with study trips to the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation and the 1944 Normandy Landings often proving popular along with the 1815 Waterloo battlefield. Venues of this type are often catered for by specialist travel companies to ensure participants get the best experience available.
A lot of schools have a tradition of school trips with their choirs, orchestras and musical/theatre students. There are specialist companies that can help any school wishing to explore this possibility, and many venues have tailored activities for groups that can help improve performers’ confidence and motivation.
British schools have been the forerunners in Europe for undertaking challenging outdoor activities both at home and abroad (you can visit here for good list of activities and gateway sites) but there is a notable increase of interest at KS4 in science-based trips – most notably the Science and National History museums in London, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the National Railway Museum in York, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre in Macclesfield, Techniquest in Cardiff, and the Bristol Science Centre, all of which have reported an increase in visitors in recent years.
Suitable Venues
Stephenson Railway Museum is open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays until 2 November 2014 and all week during school holidays (excluding Christmas holidays). With heritage train rides on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
200 years since George Stephenson built his first locomotive Blucher.
The Stream in the Sky!
It's our exhilarating stream in the sky. Our horseshoe of waterfalls in North East Wales. Our beautiful canal. Not one but two aqueducts. Our World Heritage Site. Breathtaking!
Amerton Railway is a mile long 2 foot gauge line with spectacular seasonal specials, regular open days great for family trips, a railway museum and tours available of the Locomotive Shed.
It is home to a 115 year old W.G. Bagnall Saddle tank called Isabel, so important to Stafford that she was placed on a plinth outside of Stafford Railway Station until she was restored.
A lovely miniature steam railway that runs on Sundays from the beginning of March to September. There is also a lovely 16mm gauge model railway to enjoy. Inexpensive, old fashioned fun.
It is definitely worth a visit if you are already in the area on a Sunday between from the beginning of March to September.
Five Amazing Attractions - One Amazing Trip!
Modelled on the Eiffel Tower, when Blackpool Tower opened in 1894 it was the tallest building in Britain. It took just 3 years to construct using 5 million bricks and over 2,500 tonnes of steel. It can be seen from as far afield as the Lake District and North Wales.
The National Waterfront Museum (Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau) tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales, now and over the last 300 years.
Explore the universe from the Big Bang to the darkest reaches of Space.
Expect the unexpected including a space toiler, a seven-toed cat and a pregnant man.
Delve into the archives of scientific geniuses such as James Lovelock or peer into the future of the latest psychological advances.
The Yorkshire Air Museum is the largest independent air museum in Britain and is also the location of The Allied Air Forces Memorial. It is a Registered Charity and nationally accredited museum (No.66).
Mainly early 14th century remains of a large courtyard castle.
Also known as Llanblethian Castle, St Quentin's Castle near Cowbridge includes a massive twin-towered gatehouse. It is believed that the majority of the castle was built by Gilbert de Clare (the Last, d. 1314).
Unstaffed open site, no booking required
Step back in time to discover a restored mill and working forge in this pretty village
Nestling in a valley that reaches down to the sea on east Devon’s dramatic Jurassic Coast, the village of Branscombe is surrounded by picturesque countryside with miles of tranquil walking through woodland, farmland and beach. Branscombe's charming thatched houses, working forge and restored watermill add to the timeless magic of the place.
A full-size railway service running regular steam-hauled passenger trains between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth, largely along the scenic River Severn. We operate along 16 miles of track from Kidderminster via Bewdley to Bridgnorth.
The York Environment Centre is managed by the Friends of St Nicholas Fields. We exist to promote sustainable living to people in York and the surrounding area. In 1994 we began work to transform this former landfill site into a Local Nature Reserve and the Environment Centre, which was completed in 2000.
Britain's Greatest Palace
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, residence of the dukes of Marlborough - the Churchill family. It is the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace and is a World Heritage Site.
The Palace
Situated on a large inner city allotment site the Birmingham EcoPark is an environmental education centre which is owned and managed by the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country.
The only surviving windmill on the Isle of Wight
This little gem is a Grade 1 listed building and one of the island's most iconic images. Built around 1700, it last operated in 1913 but still has most of its original machinery intact.
Climb to the top of the mill then find out how it once worked as you descend its four floors.
A unique collection of vehicles from around the world. Over 400 amazing cars and bikes from nostalgic classics of the 50s and 60s, glorious Bentleys and Rolls Royces to exciting super cars of today, like the Jaguar XJ220.
Our Halls include:
One of England's Finest Narrow-Guage Railways
The Leighton Buzzard Railway is one of the last survivors of the hundreds of 2 foot (610mm) gauge light railways built in Britain for industrial use. It is believed to be the only remaining line which owed its existence to the ready availability of surplus materials and equipment from the First World War battlefield supply lines.
Lings Wood Environmental Centre is situated in Lings Local Nature Reserve, a magnificent, urban woodland covering over 22 hectares in the Eastern District of Northampton.
CAT is an education and visitor centre demonstrating practical solutions for sustainability. We cover all aspects of green living: environmental building, eco-sanitation, woodland management, renewable energy, energy efficiency and organic growing.
In a beautiful valley of the river Frome, on the border between Wiltshire and Somerset and only nine miles from Bath, stands the remains of Farleigh Hungerford Castle.
Started in the 14th century, it still has much for visitors to enjoy and provides a great day out for families to enjoy the beautiful surrounding countryside.
The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal is a canal in the south Midlands of England. The canal, which was built between 1793 and 1816, runs for 25.5 miles in total, and consists of two sections.
The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal runs from Birmingham's suburbia to Shakespeare's Stratford in 25.5 picturesque miles.
The canal is usually considered as a northern and a southern section.
A working steam museum where you can step back in time to the steam age. On steaming open days visitors can ride in vintage carriages pulled by a full sized steam engine and on our extensive miniature railway.
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Schoolboy Falls From 60ft Cliff on School Trip
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