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.
On top of Penshaw Hill sits the Earl of Durham's Monument.
Better known as the Penshaw Monument, this 70 foot high folly is a replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens and can be seen for miles around. It is considered to be Wearside's most beloved landmark, even appearing on the badge of Sunderland Football Club.
Loe Pool, the largest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall, is cut off from the sea by a broad shingle bar heaped up by heavy Atlantic seas.
The surrounding Penrose Estate is a mixture of rich farmland and woodland around Loe Pool, through which there are many paths to explore.
This enormous 19th-century neo-Norman castle sits between Snowdonia and the Menai Strait.
It's crammed with fascinating items, such as a one-ton slate bed made for Queen Victoria, elaborate carvings, plasterwork and mock-Norman furniture. It also has an outstanding collection of paintings.
Spectacular cliffs, caves where mammoths once lived, rare birds, an underground river, bat roosts, silver lead mining, ancient woodland, smuggling and limestone quarrying are just a few of the wonders of this area.
Penmaen Burrows and Nicholaston Burrows are nestled between Three Cliffs Bay and Oxwich Bay. A walk through the burrows will take you through heathland, woodland, sand dunes and cliff tops.
Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre is home to over 240 rescued and endangered primates. We have 8 species of monkeys and prosimians at the park: capuchin monkeys, common marmosets, cotton-top tamarins, ring-tailed lemurs, ruffed lemur, squirrel monkeys (pictured), stump-tailed macaques and woolly monkeys.
Today the Keep Military Museum is a striking landmark on the Bridport Road in Dorchester. Completed in 1879, it was designed to resemble a Norman Castle, and is built of Portland stone which gives it a white appearance. In 'British Barracks 1600-1914', James Douet explains that:
Schools Into Europe is a family run business with over 55 years' experience of organising school trips and school tours in Europe, including the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Poland.
Laser Quest Coventry is the ultimate action packed sci fi adventure for all ages in this real life video game.
Stalk your doomed opponents through the swirling fogs of the Labyrinth, across mazes and catwalks discovering hiding places and more, boosted by music and light effects.
Situated on the border of Warwickshire and Worcestershire, Studley is home to Studley Leisure Centre, which is operated by Everyone Active in partnership with Stratford Upon Avon District Council.
Adventure Care is a licensed Adventure Activity Centre (AALA). Where a structured programme of education, outdoor education, activities and therapeutic support for each individual child is designed to identify a child's strengths and build on them by creating achievable challenges.
Muncaster Castle is still a privately owned family home to the Penningtons and three generations of the family still live in the Castle today.
They are actively involved in the running of the business which is set up as a not-for-profit company. The estate employees 50 local people full time at the Castle and Gardens and this grows up to more than 65 in the height of summer.
The World Owl Trust works on owl conservation on a global scale, and we have members in many countries around the world.
Our conservation programmes protect populations of endangered owls until their habitat has been restored. This has already been achieved for the European Eagle Owl and British Barn Owl.
The museum tells the story of the famous Staffordshire Regiment and its predecessors while also looking forward to its role in the Mercian Regiment. 300 years of heroic history are shown through exhibits and displays, live interpretation, special exhibitions and a unique full-scale World War I Trench System. The museum is open all year round and runs an extensive event programme.
Ranger’s House is an elegant Georgian villa in Greenwich Park built in 1723 to be the official residence of the 'Ranger of Greenwich Park'. From 1815 this post was held by Princess Sophia Matilda, niece of George III.
An ancient semi-natural woodland just north of Kenilworth, once part of the Forest of Arden. The wood is managed traditionally as high forest with a coppice understorey, providing tall trees of oak, birch and sweet chestnut with a lower shrub layer of hazel and holly.
Visit in May for fantastic displays of bluebells.
Species and habitats
Habitats
We offer an exciting and varied programme of exhibitions to cater for every taste. Artists past and present are featured, from big names such as the Impressionists through to young, up and coming regional artists. There's something for everyone in our fun-packed diary of family activities, and our series of talks and tours.
Under Canvas is a fun, curriculum linked, residential experience for schools, which is rooted in the heritage and tradition of a classic school camp. The difference? We bring the tents, the activities and the instructors to your school.
Within the bounds of the M25 you will find Watford Leisure Centre Woodside. Set to the north of Watford in Garston, this Hertfordshire based leisure centre offers a fantastic range of facilities to anyone wanting to keep active.
Come along and enjoy flying displays, pig racing, tropical butterflies, snakes, reptiles, trout fishing and much more. Indoor and outdoor play areas for the children and barn style tea rooms for grown ups to relax.
If you're looking to plan a full day out, look no further. Woburn Safari Park offers amazing value for money, with many great activities all included in your ticket price.
Head to the leisure area and Foot Safari and park for free; you'll be amazed how many exciting activities are included in your ticket price.
Nationally and internationally acclaimed, adventurous theatre across two distinct venues - the Everyman and the Playhouse.
Schools
Welcome to Wildwood, where you can come nose-to-nose with British Wildlife past and present. We have over 200 native animals set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland, see Wolves, Bison, Deer, Owls, Foxes, Red Squirrels, Wild Boar, Lynx, Wild Horses, Badgers, Beavers and more as you make your way around the park.
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.