We’ve done the maths – these are the most-read news stories from the School Travel Organiser website in 2016. Counting down from ten…
10. Thiepval Memorial Visitor Centre to expand with new museum in June
In March we broke the news that a new museum was being planned for Thiepval Memorial Visitor Centre in France. It outlined how the new facility could be linked to the History curriculum for 11 to 14 year olds.
9. Science Museum to open new Maths gallery
This story hit the STO headlines in January and explained how a brand new Maths museum was going to be built at London’s Science Museum. It detailed the way the new attraction would look into 400 years of mathematical history, from the Renaissance to the present day and be most relevant to Key Stage 3 pupils.
Pictured: Science Museum
8. EU Referendum exhibition planned for People’s History Museum
Published at the end of March, this story detailed a new exhibition that was being set up at the People’s History Musuem in Manchester. It explained how visiting schools would be able to learn about the arguments for both leaving and remaining in the EU at the exhibition.
7. Superhero-themed Science workshops at The Deep
The seventh most popular news story on the STO website in 2016 unveiled how The Deep in Hull had launched a range of new super-hero themed Science workshops. One of the workshops gave Key Stage 3 students the opportunity to investigate the ‘super’ adaptations of certain animals.
6. African Adventures launches School Geography Challenge
This story explained how school expedition company African Adventures had launched a School Geography Challenge for pupils in years 9 and 10, giving schools the opportunity to win a trip to Kenya for two staff and four students.
5. The School Travel Awards: voting and nominations now open
A virtual starting gun was fired on the voting and nomination process for the inaugural School Travel Awards on the STO website on 18th April. The news story directed readers to the voting pages and the category guides.
4. Big names partner with School Travel Awards
The fourth most popular new story on the STO website in 2016 revealed the names of the School Travel Awards partners. It revealed that Disney Theatrical Group, Legoland, educational travel company NST, The London Bridge Experience & Tombs, Halsbury Travel, The School Journey Association, The Rainforest Café, Scout Activity Centres and tour company WST had already signed up to partner the awards.
3. Schools invited to STEM-themed festival hosted by Shell
This story unveiled how oil and gas company Shell had planned a four day festival called Make the Future London, and had made 5,000 tickets available for students in Years 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Pictured: STEM themed festival hosted by Shell.
2. New educational overnight stay launched at The Historic Dockyard Chatham
On 18th March the story hit the STO headlines that The Historic Dockyard Chatham was offering overnight stays on board the HMS Cavalier to schools. It outlined how pupils would have the opportunity to experience life on board and sleep in real sailors bunks in two of the ship’s original messdecks (where the sailors socialised, ate and slept).
1. School Travel Awards; winners revealed
The most-read news story of 2016 was, unsurprisingly, the big reveal of the winners of the School Travel Awards. Published on the evening of the awards ceremony itself, the story unveiled the names of the winners of all 17 awards handed out on the day.
