Module 2: Understanding the range of arts and cultural school trips available

Aims and description

This module explores the wide range of opportunities available for school trips and visits, from museums and galleries to theatres, heritage sites, and creative workshops. It is designed to help you see the full range of what’s possible and expand your current options.

You will be encouraged to think creatively about the types of experiences you offer, including both well-known venues, new-to-you opportunities and local amenities. 

This module highlights how different types of trips can bring learning to life, helping students make real-world connections and develop a deeper understanding of subjects. It supports teachers to build a more varied and balanced trips programme, ensuring all students have access to rich and inspiring experiences over time.

We aim to:

• Explore a wider range of opportunities
  Help teachers discover and consider a broader range of school trip opportunities, including both familiar venues and new or local options.

• Encourage creative thinking in trip planning
  Support teachers in thinking more creatively about the types of experiences they offer, helping to move beyond traditional trips.

• Building a rich and balanced programme
  Enable teachers to design a varied programme of trips across different artforms, venues and cultural organisations, bringing learning to life and provide all students with meaningful, real-world experiences.

Open Activities

Top Tips

• 
  Broaden your range of trips

  
  Try something you wouldn’t normally do. New or different experiences often have the greatest impact on students’ confidence, curiosity, and engagement.

• 
  Explore what’s on your doorstep.

  Local museums, heritage sites, and community organisations can provide rich, meaningful experiences without high cost or complicated logistics.

   

• 
  Get the most out of the trip

  Consider how the trip can link to multiple curriculum areas, whole-school priorities, and wider outcomes such as oracy, wellbeing, or cultural capital. The strongest trips often go beyond a single subject.

Further reading

Council for Learning Outside the Classroom

Helping you take your teaching beyond the classroom
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) is a national charity that supports educators, schools and organisations who are dedicated to ensuring more children and young people have opportunities for life-changing learning experiences beyond the classroom, whether these happen indoors or outdoors, close to home or far away.

Read Report

Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisations

NPOs are arts organisations, museums, and libraries that receive regular, multi-year funding from Arts Council England (ACE) to help communities engage with creativity and culture.

Find out more