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

Junior kart racing and laser tag, in a safe and professional environment. Excellent standards of both equipment and safety.

Although their minimum height is 4'4' they may have to test drivers for leg length to ensure full control.

Standard swimming and teaching facility also with separate diving pool equipped with 1 and 3m springboards and a 5m platform. There are more sporting opportunities besides.

The Sun Valley Canoeing Company has been running since 1988 and specialises in Canadian-style canoe trips for families, office parties, businesses, sports clubs and all types of out door clubs alike whether novice or expert.

They provide a wide range of programs from day trips to weekend or mid week breaks, including overnight stops.

Feeling adventurous? Enjoy the aquatube flume, Pirate Ship Fun Pool and four springboards (1 to 3m) with a 5m diving platform, as well as many other facilities. Creche also available.

Thornton Reservoir is a peaceful and picturesque location that offers a network of trails and footpaths around the reservoir and through the neighbouring woodland areas. There are also links with longer trails including the Leicester Round and various other public footpaths. This scenic reservoir also has a popular fly fishery, attracting anglers from all over the midlands.

The first indoor course of its kind in the East Midlands, The Lost City will give intrepid pioneers of all ages the opportunity to test their skills at the state-of-the-art adventure golf complex. The Lost City features two 18-hole courses with dramatic interactive features such as talking Inca statues.

The Royal Air Force Museum in Cosford offers a fun, entertaining day out for all the entire family. Situated next to an active airfield, this is the only place in the Midlands where you can get close to so many breathtaking aircraft for free.

The UK's largest volunteer-managed aviation museum with 75 aircraft and cockpit sections from across the history of aviation. 2 large Display Hangars housing more than 50 airframes; engine / artefacts displays; cafe and large shop. Regular special events and education programmes available.

Education Provision - Building for the Future 

A length of Roman bath-house wall over 9 metres (30 feet) high, near a museum displaying the archaeology of Leicester and its region. 

The only visible remains of Roman Leicester are these public baths. The bathing ritual lay at the heart of Roman social life.

Well kept parkland with play centre, light railway, splash pool, pitch and putt golf, stunning horticultural displays, a fishing lake and football pitches.

This scenic park has over 207 acres of parkland and is one of Derby's largest parks attracting over one million visitors a year making it one of the most popular parks in the East Midlands.

Newly restored to its former glory, historic Leasowes Park was designed by the poet William Shenstone beginning in 1743 and continuing until his death in 1763.

A state of the art rope climbing wall for the West Midlands based inside Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury. We have lots of kids activities to offer from climbing courses to parties. 

The Aeropark is both an aviation museum and a viewing area where you can study the preserved planes of yesteryear or watch the modern airliners of today taking-off and landing at a growing international passenger and cargo airport.

Planes on display include Aérospatiale Gazelle, Morane-Saulnier Rallye MS880, Hawker Hunter T.7 and an Avro Vulcan B.2.

West Lindsey Leisure Centre can be found in Gainsborough in the picturesque county of Lincolnshire. A centre that operates at the heart of the Gainsborough community, West Lindsey Leisure Centre offers a gym, two swimming pools, a sports hall, a gymnastics training hall, an indoor bowls rink, two group exercise studios as well as sauna and steam rooms.

The Club offers a broad range of sailing opportunities most of the year round.  Sailing takes place on the Marine Lake on weekday evenings between April and October, weekends from April to December and selected Sundays in Februay and March.

Duston Sports Centre includes a Trilogy Health & Fitness state of the art gym, dance studio, 4 court sports hall, function room, bar and sports pitches

In the Gloucestershire town of Bourton-on-the-Water is Cotswold Leisure – Bourton. This Gloucestershire leisure centre offers visitors a gym, swimming pool, relaxation suite, group exercise studio and Easyline small studio.

A large Neolithic burial mound with spectacular vistas over the Severn Valley. Its internal burial chambers are uncovered for viewing.

Nympsfield long barrow stands high on the Cotswold scarp near Frocester with spectacular views over the Severn Valley.

Based in the Cotswold Water Park, South Cerney Outdoor creates outdoor experiences that inspire stories of challenge, growth and adventure for individuals, couples, families and groups.

If website is unavailable see: https://www.facebook.com/southcerneyoutdoor?sk=info

Known all over the world for the fascinating and astonishingly accurate model village in the Inn's garden. The inn also has children's play areas.

The Model Village is a one-ninth scale replica of the heart of the beautiful Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water, containing all the buildings from the Old Water Mill (now the Car Museum) down to the Old New Inn and the ford.

Private and public hire cruise boats offering different sizes and services for every occasion. Self drive hire facilities also available. Pre booking essential.

Cotswold River Cruises operate 'Adventuress ' from The Riverside Marina Halfpenny Bridge Lechlade-on-Thames GL7 3DL, gateway to the Cotswolds.

Set in the heart of Gloucestershire, Cirencester is a Roman heritage town where you can find Cotswold Leisure – Cirencester.

The leisure centre features two swimming pools, a relaxation suite, gym, sports hall, squash courts, a physiotherapy clinic and a beauty therapy centre. 

In the picturesque town of Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire you will find Cotswold Leisure – Chipping Campden.

This leisure centre offers local people a gym, swimming pool, four court sports hall and tennis courts.

A seven mile train journey on a steam engine: great for a family day out with the kids, especially train mad ones!!

The line currently runs over a 3 and a half mile stretch along the foot of the Chiltern Hills running parallel to the Icknield Way, passing through attractive countryside with some outstanding views across the Vale of Whiteleaf.

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