Beyond the classroom: making school trips count

As part of this initiative, Clore invited Curious Minds to deliver their Curiosity Outside the Classroom: School Trips and Visits training programme to grant recipients –  CPD designed to equip school staff with the skills to plan, advocate for and deliver brilliant trips and visits that extend and enrich creative learning.

These days school trips matter more than ever

School trips are more than a day out - they are a vital part of a child’s education. Yet, the reality is sobering. According to research by the Sutton Trust (April 2023), reports of cuts to trips and outings have more than doubled, now standing at 50%, up from 21% – a proportion that is even higher in schools with the most disadvantaged intakes, at 68%, compared to 44% in the least deprived schools. And yet, we know that school is often the only way that some children get the opportunity to experience visiting cultural venues or places of national significance.

The Clore Duffield Foundation’s School Trips Grant was created to address this challenge. We support schools in areas with the highest levels of need in the country at a crucial time for schools when they are being hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis. Through the grant the Foundation is continuing its commitment to enrichment opportunities for every child. 

Empowering teachers to make a long lasting impact through professional development 

We always knew when we launched the grant that the support would not just be financial but that we would provide ways of helping teachers to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence around leading school trips. Through this we want to make a lasting change and embed sustainability within schools. This is why we have made teacher training an essential part of the School Trips Grant. 

This year, we partnered with Curious Minds to deliver their Curiosity Outside the Classroom: School Trips & Visits training to all participating schools. The session was hugely beneficial. Teachers explored why trips matter- not as a “nice-to-have” or a reward, but as an issue of social justice. There was a real lightbulb moment for the entire group when we acknowledged that access to arts and culture is a right, not a privilege.

The training is grounded in fascinating research and evidence that shows the tangible effect engaging with arts and culture outside the classroom can have on attainment, employability prospects and health and wellbeing. Having this evidence as the foundation of the session combined with practical tools and ideas then allowed teachers to focus in on the individual aims of trips they are planning with their School Trips Grant. It was a great balance between theory and practice. Teachers left with sense of purpose, constructive ideas for planning and real enthusiasm to share with colleagues back at school. 

The ripple effect

We can already see the impact that the Clore Duffield funding and Curious Minds training is having on our schools in terms of confidence, skills and knowledge that will serve to boost the experience of their pupils over the next 12 months and beyond. 

Images: Sean Hurlock © Clore Duffield Foundation