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

The World of Mechanical Music is a living museum of the extraordinary variety of self-playing musical instruments and automata which were the pride and joy of our Great Grandparents, and the only kind of "canned" musical entertainment available in the home before regular broadcasting started up in 1924.

Visitors to Liverpool's famous Anfield stadium can combine a trip to the club's museum with a guided tour of the ground.

As well as showing off artefacts from the club's rich history it allows people to see behind the scenes.

A visit to our stunning and innovative visitor centre built on a former landfill site will be an exciting and educational trip for all ages. With superb views from our roof top over Mucking Flats and the Thames Estuary, our education programmes will inspire your students. 

EYFS: 

The lake can boast a wide range of geese, ducks, water fowl and the resisdential swans. The recent environmental project has improved fishing stocks. There are also herons, gulls and kingfishers that visit the lake along with a host of woodland and garden birds.

A fine and all too rare example of a really artistic cinema, and families are given the opportunity to enjoy an atmosphere of genuine luxury through their entertainment.

Here you will see Macaws, Chameleons, Marmoset Monkeys and many more exotic animals. Our tropical zone allows for an all weather attraction for the whole family. Daily Shows and Free Parking.

This remarkable funicular railway is the oldest and steepest inland electric cliff railway in the country.

For over a century Bridgnorth Cliff Railway has been transporting the people of Bridgnorth up and down the 111 ft sandstone cliffs that separate High Town from Low Town and the River Severn.

Step into royal domesticity where the royal family lived as the 'simplest country gentlefolks'.

Take advantage of free entry for under-16s and free preliminary tickets to prepare for your visit.

Kew Palace, the Royal Kitchens and Queen Charlotte's Cottage... some of the must see sites at Kew.

300 acre Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve with its Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre has something for everyone. A variety of different habitat types supporting many different species for wildlife enthusiast, a safe area for school parties to discover and enjoy nature.

This splendid 17th century baroque building housed a courtroom for assizes, raised on arches over a market space. It now houses the Abingdon Museum. On sunny days take in the lovely rooftop views overlooking the market square.

Boscobel House and its Royal Oak tree became famous as hiding places of King Charles II after defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Visitors can also see the dairy, farmyard, smithy and gardens.

An ancient story of vanished oceans and fossilised sea creatures is the reason why the Oswestry Hills are so rich in wild plants, including orchids. 

Activity examples:

Butterfly surveys, tree investigations, bug hunting, pond dipping, habitat investigations, natural art, sensory explorers. John Muir Award (environmental award for KS2 upwards).

The imposing ruins of Peveril Castle stand high above the pretty village of Castleton in the heart of Derbyshire’s Peak District.  Mentioned in the Domesday survey, Peveril Castle is one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses. The keep was built by Henry II in 1176.

The main footpath along the Stiperstones ridge goes straight down the side of The Hollies nature reserve. Few people step off the track to explore this ancient, scattered grove of hollies, but those that do soon fall under its spell. The trees are extraordinary characters, some of them three or four centuries old.

Activity examples:

Steep wooded slopes rise from the banks of the River Teme, leading to open grassland with glorious views across Ludlow to the Clee Hills. Networked with footpaths and flights of stone steps, the Common is easy to explore, with numerous seats for walkers to rest and enjoy the views.

Activity examples:

A moated enclosure, probably the site of a manor owned by the Bishops of Llandaff during the 13th and 14th centuries. The site is composed of a large level area, roughly 39 metres by 45 metres, wurrounded by a wide moat, making the total size of the site an impressive 72 metres by 76 metres.

With a station motto of ‘The Strongest Link’, Biggin Hill was an important sector or 'controlling airfield' during and after the Battle of Britain. First established during the First World War as a radio and instrument research station and a fighter airfield, the second conflict saw it upgraded to accommodate modern fighter aircraft.

Over the past 40 years, this famous Airport has steadily changed from being a busy RAF base into a commercial regional airport. The historic ties are remembered annually at the RAF Chapel which is open to the public.

RAF Chapel

World-famous Stone Circle

A world-famous stone circle and on-site museum at the heart of a prehistoric landscape. 

With its huge circular bank and ditch and inner circle of great standing stones, covering an area of over 28 acres, Avebury forms one of the most impressive prehistoric sites in Britain.

One of the most important prehistoric archaeological collections in Britain, housed in the Stables Gallery, and including many artefacts from the World Heritage Site (WHS) monuments. The admission fee includes access to both the Stables and Barn Galleries. The Barn Gallery (belonging to the National Trust) tells the story of the WHS, its monuments, and the people associated with it.

The museum collection on display reveals an island community changing over the years to both external and internal pressures. Alderney has a fascinating history starting with extensive Stone, Bronze and Iron Age activity, with object evidence of historically important Roman activity at Longy.

The story of Aldershot Military Town and the civil towns of Aldershot, Farnborough and Cove.

Housed in the only surviving brick-built barrack blocks left in Aldershot, the museum tells the story of daily life for both soldier and civilian since 1854.

Activities for Schools

Airborne Assault is the Regimental Museum of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces and tells the stories of the soldiers who go to war from the air.

Although the Museum touches on other aspects of the National Curriculum the main core subject covered is History. Details are set out below as to how a visit to the Museum may benefit students in the various key stages of History.

The Royal Forest of Rockingham, a medieval hunting forest, is a beautiful patchwork of ancient woodlands and open agricultural land with historic features and attractive stone-built forest villages. Today the Forest offers visitors plenty of routes for walking, cycling and riding.

Schools

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