Merlin Entertainments

Learning outside the box

 


Elaine Skates, Chief Executive of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, explains why learning outside the classroom is great for your pupils, your school and for you.

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For many people school trips (or as we prefer to call them educational visits) are among their fondest and most vivid childhood memories. 

 

New and novel experiences and having fun away from school are a big part of the magic that makes learning outside the classroom (LOtC) experiences so powerful. 

 

It might be a trip to an island like no other, a hands on experience of the natural world or visiting a castle for the first time. But wherever it happens, LOtC enthuses learning with new experiences and adventure and can enhance curriculum learning back at school.

 

A classroom environment doesn’t always provide young people with the real world experiences they need. In addition many young people lack everyday experiences that others take for granted, and this can be a significant barrier to their learning. This is why we believe it is vital that every child has the opportunity to experience the world beyond the classroom walls as an essential part of their learning and development.

 

The Council for Learning is delighted to be working with attractions at Merlin Entertainments to help communicate the benefits of learning outside the classroom so that more children may have the opportunity to take part in more LOtC experiences. 

 

The benefits of school trips

 

Improved relationships

Elaine Skates: ”Evidence demonstrates that LOtC experiences can have a transformational impact on relationships, and that this can translate into long term impacts back at school. Relationships can be improved between pupils and their peers, but having fun with their teachers can also have an impact which leads to an improved pupil-teacher relationship back at school. Teachers are often pushed out of their comfort zone, so pupils can see that they are human after all, whilst pupils who may not excel at school work or sport have the chance to excel at a new activity and be seen in a different light by their peers and their teachers.

 

THORPE PARK Resort sees this from their school guests every day. Jamie Chegwin, Education Manger says “students may appear not to like their teachers; teachers may seem not too keen on the behaviour of their students, but inside the park this is all forgotten for one day! Our staff will witness both students and teachers have a fun time TOGETHER enjoying the rides and attractions that they both can respect! We hear students talking about the look on ‘miss’s’ face during the drop on Stealth, or how ‘sir’ was positioned in the worse seat on Tidal Wave! These memories will benefit the class back at school and allow them to see the REAL teacher (even if only for one day!).

 

Miss Lizzie Gill, Advanced Skills Teacher for Mathematics and it is Fullbrook School, and regular visitor of THORPE PARK Resort told us that “In maths we regularly ask students to step outside their comfort zone when learning new skills - a trip to Thorpe Park allows them to turn the tables on us! The result? Better relationships in the classroom and shared experiences to build on.”

 


Happiness & wellbeing.

Elaine Skates: ”School trips can be a welcome antidote to the pressures of school for pupils and teachers alike. Research also shows the beneficial effects of LOtC on health and well-being. Many direct experiences cannot happen in a classroom environment because young people need different spaces and activities to help them. LOtC can help young people to experience and understand their emotions, learn how to operate successfully with their peers and with adults and learn coping strategies – all of which will stand them in good stead back at school."

Danny Brown, Guest Experience Team Leader at SEA LIFE London shares his thoughts on how a school trip can aid in achieving this: “The school workshops offered by SEA LIFE are a fantastic opportunity for kids to be immersed in a completely different learning environment. The workshops allow the children to invest in caring for the planet and connect with the individual stories of various creatures within the aquarium. The group activities allow them to work alongside their peers and teachers solving problems and working together to discover a whole new underwater world. Plus the expertise of the SEA LIFE staff on hand encourages a great way of learning through a hands on approach.”

 

Independence and personal development.

Elaine Skates: ”New experiences push children out of their comfort zone, so they may well be nervous before a school trip. However, the experience of overcoming their nerves and trying something new can have a tremendous impact on their resilience and self-confidence – helping them overcome their fears and insecurities back at school. Parents can also feel anxious when their child heads off on a school trip so point out the benefits of the pupils  taking more responsibility for their own property and needs (with support from their teachers of course). This will do wonders for their independence and self-confidence, which they can build on during subsequent experiences."

Ellie, a teacher from Buckinghamshire said: “For some pupils this may have been their first trip away from their parents so experiencing this in the safety and security of Chessington World of Adventures is a great way to help develop their independence - even having to carry their own bag for the visit helps with this! Learning outside the classroom is hugely motivational for pupils and throughout the day some pupils in particular really grew in self-confidence. Seeing their engagement increase through the day as a result of this really demonstrated the value of Chessington in terms of personal development for the pupils. Returning back to school it is evident that our pupils have had some great learning memories from the trip and are able to relate to their amazing experiences on the day.”


 

Engagement in learning

Elanie Skates: “School trips can be a fantastic way of enhancing curriculum learning in literacy, science, geography, history, art and maths. Utilised as a ‘wow event’ to introduce a topic, or to consolidate or extend the learning at the end of a topic, there is evidence that LOtC can improve attainment and achievement. For example an Education Endowment Foundation funded research project in 2014 used self-regulation and memorable LOtC experiences to help struggling writers in years 6 & 7 – found a strong positive effect on the writing outcomes of low attaining pupils.”

 

Manchester SEA LIFE & LEGOLAND Discovery Centre agrees with this statement. Jennifer Blears, Education Executive says: “We recognise that school trips are important moments in learning; a shared experience that provides the opportunity for students to encounter and explore novel things in a stimulating environment which is fun AND educational. The curriculum comes to LIFE at our attractions and engages students in a way that can’t be mimicked in the classroom!”

 

Teacher from Manchester said: “Year 2 had a fun filled day exploring SEA LIFE Manchester. They saw a wide range of under the sea creatures, listened to informative talks and took part in a ‘Home Sweet Home’ workshop all about creature habitats. Seeing the creatures in ‘real life’ opened their eyes to the wonders of the sea!” 

 


To read more about the best opportunities for school trips at Merlin Entertainment attractions in 2018, click here.

 

 

The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is a national charity which supports schools in offering high quality learning experiences. Free guidance on planning, running and evaluating LOtC experiences can be found at www.lotc.org.uk 

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