School Trips in 2022

The pandemic moved school trips from a yearly guarantee to a voyeuristic pastime and in 2022 they are back. In a major way with popular museums and destinations such as castles across the country, school trips are back and we could not be happier.

For many families, holidays are a luxury and not a guarantee. They primarily take place close to home and with the cost of living crisis, many will need to forgo adventures away for the foreseeable future.

School trips are able to provide experiences for all children, regardless of their personal circumstances and whilst trips mean different things for different children, they offer a release valve for all.

• Teachers are able to get out of the classroom for a day to bring learning to life
• Parents are able to see the smile on their child’s faces as they retell their day
• Students are able to see something new.

Per family, the opportunity to see the world is limited by income and for some, the school trip is the only trip they have.

The Return of School Trips

School trips have largely been frozen or stunted with the arrival of the pandemic back in March 2020 (the date of the first lockdown in England) and whilst toes have been dipped, many have not been able to leave the school.

Performances in school or socially distanced fates in the summer have taken place but the typical science museum trip has been cancelled. What this means in practice is that many students have never been on a school trip. They were in year one at the start of the pandemic and now, find themselves in year three having never left the confines of the classroom/laptop.

School trips are back and whilst it may mean multiple trips for some, everyone will be looking to leave the confines of the school before the start of summer. Popular school trips such as the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, London Zoo and various castles will be booked up for weeks to come. Getting a slot may therefore be tricky for many.

A Year of Stability

2022 is the year of change. We have passed the flashpoint, reset expectations and now are rebuilding based on memories of what life was like and what we now want it to be like.

For many of us we miss the freedom of 2019 and are welcoming it back with open arms, yet this does not mean that we do not want to make some changes. Working from home and having more time for our families is the biggest example here.

Our families are important and many parents will now be choosing between dinner and heating, sacrificing meals for their children. They will be frustrated and whilst the world is moving forward, they are standing still. This is a consideration that can be lost on many.

Having a strictly limited budget is frustrating and seeing the choices you need to make each and every day, whilst your son or daughter asks why you cannot go on holiday must be heartbreaking.

It is where school trips are able to provide a little respite, to ensure that no child misses out and can explore something new with their friends. A shared experience that is able to bring learning to life and provide a moment for the child to see the wider world. It is something that we’ve missed and are happy to move forward with.

A Virtual Disappointment

Online experiences mean different things to different people and we are not here to discuss the merits of that. We are here to discuss the merits of online school trips and what we mean by this is virtual reality experiences, online video tours and shows, as well as live links to performances.

Virtual school trips can also fall prey to funding. Not every school can afford to purchase a set or even one virtual reality headset. Not every educational establishment can afford to continue learning virtually and not every school saw the benefit. They were in many ways nice to have but with other concerns, such as getting laptops to children who didn’t have them, you can understand why many schools said no.

Virtual trips are a consideration that will not be missed. With the exception of VR headsets and the experience of using them, most will be happy to get back to the days of 2019. To book a trip and see the excitement cascade across the class. In person trips are the best means by which to bring learning to life and that is a statement that is not about to change anytime soon.

The Primary Thought

Teachers have missed school trips. Parents have missed school trips and most importantly, children have missed school trips. Everyone has been thinking about leaving the classroom for a day to bring learning to life and now, in 2022, schools are able to book trips with confidence.

The return of school trips is great to see as they provide the unique opportunity for children to see learning brought to life. They offer an extra dimension and will be warmly welcomed. For many children, they offer the only chance to leave their surroundings and experience a new part of the country and with the cost of living increase, this will only increase.

The cost of living increase will force many parents to choose between food and heating. Holidays from this point will be a luxury and so the opportunity to attend a school trip cannot be underestimated. It is a window into a different world to expand the imagination and provide every child with the same experience, to ensure that no one misses out.