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.
Since opening in 1990, West Yorkshire Playhouse has established a national and international reputation.
We provide both a thriving focal point for the communities of West Yorkshire and theatre of the highest standard for audiences throughout the region and beyond.
Oadby Swimming Pool in Oadby, Leicestershire offers local people a full range of aquatic activities throughout the week. From Swim 4 Everyone sessions to our award winning swimming lesson programme we are proud to offer a full range of water based action.
Offering teaching, flume and middle pools plus diving and standard lane swim facilities. Also home to a great indoor play zone and a sensory room.
Tate Modern exhibits the best of modern art in an ever-rotating series of exhibitions on the south bank of the Thames.
Visit our website for full details of what's on right now at Tate Modern.
Westbere Sailing Opportunities (WSO) is a registered charity and RYA Sailability Centre of Excellence that was founded by the late David James MBE in 2001, with the sole purpose of giving an experience of sailing to people of all ages with disabilities.
Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Activity Centre is located in 65 acres of land in the heart of the New Forest, offering outdoor education through an extensive range of adventure and field study activities.
The National Football Museum houses the greatest collection of football memorabilia, artefacts and archives in the UK.
The Langdon Down Museum of Learning Disability at Normansfield Teddington, was the home and institution developed by the Victorian physician Dr John Langdon Down and his family where a revolutionary and enlightened approach was developed for the care of people with learning disabilities.
Exciting laser tag in Wye Valley. Mission Alpha is great for families and friends to play, and Mission Bravo can be booked for groups. Also offer cadet training. Suitable for kids aged 8 years and older.
On the same site as the Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo, MiniGolf and aMazing Hedge Puzzle.
Why do many schools return to Woodlands annually? Teachers tell us it is an easy to run, safe venue providing a wide variety of experiences including play, rides, zoo-farm interaction, falconry centre.
We're home to more than 100 crocodiles, alligators and caimans from 14 different species of crocodilian. Crocodiles of the World is now open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm all year round including Bank Holidays; we are closed on Christmas Day.
Now the UK’s largest collection of parrots with nearly 2,000 birds covering over 100 species, but there’s not just parrots here, you will also see Marmosets, Meerkats, Lemurs, Giant Tortoises, Snakes, Kookaburras and many more.
Centres around a Tropical House in a spectacular jungle-like setting which includes a large water feature containing Red-Eared and other Terrapins. The outside exhibits include capuchin monkeys, meerkats, ring tailed lemur and more plus plenty of bird exhibits.
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm is home to rhinos, giraffe, leopards, tigers, elephants and lions - all the biggest zoo animals!
We also have 12 huge indoor and outdoor play areas.
You can get hands on with the farm animals and learn more about the wildlife from our zookeepers at one of the Zookeeper Talks.
School Visits
Blackpool Zoo is the perfect destination for your school or group. Outdoor, healthy exercise combined with a unique learning experience and over 1000 animals. Education programmes are curriculum-led from Nursery to post-graduate and extra experiences are available for non-uniform groups. We also offer discounts on admission for school groups.
Visiting Strawberry Hill is a truly theatrical experience. Magically lit by a unique collection of renaissance glass, its gloomy castle-like hall and grey gothic staircase lead dramatically to the magnificence of the gallery.
The official visitors' centre of the Geopark way. Attractions include interactive iPads and wall maps encouraging kids to learn all about the geology, archaeology, history and water of the Malvern Hills. The Cafe stocks a wide range of local food and drink and has free WiFi and parking.
We provide sailing opportunities for disabled people.
When you first step in to a small dinghy or sail away single-handed, it is an emotional experience...
Every year BF Adventure, formerly known as Bishop’s Forum, helps hundreds of disadvantaged and disabled children and adults in Cornwall to believe in themselves and gain the skills and accreditations to succeed at school or to find employment.
Thomley is an indoor and outdoor activity centre for disabled children, their family and friends. Including play fort, zip wire, park, cycle track, bikes, soft play area, play rooms, art room, sensory room, computer room, imagination room and fully accessible toilets.
Public swimming
All ages welcome for public swimming. Children under 8 must be accompanied.
Pool fun sessions
Great fun for kids, floats, rafts, balls etc.
Parents and toddler
Develop your child's water confidence when the pool is quiet – toys and floats available.
Diving pool offers 3m and 1m springboards, and also 5m and 1m platforms as well as the standard pool. Great disabled access and facilities.
The East Anglian Sailing Trust (EAST), provides disabled East Anglians and their carers with regular opportunities to access and enjoy sailing activities whilst promoting enhanced independence, confidence and community involvement.
BHS approved facility offering disabled and able bodied lessons and a variety of hacks including some designed for children.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.