This is a time of year full of excitement, enthusiasm, perhaps a little bit of apprehension, but mainly of possibilities, shiny stationery and new starts. Trends for school trips are on the up - and there’s lots of help out there to make yours a success.
Another new school year is starting!
Like a teacher planning for their year ahead, our dedicated team at CLOtC have been working hard over the past few months to develop the support programmes we offer to schools as well as reviewing and developing the LOtC Quality Badge accreditation scheme. We will start the new academic year with these ready and raring to go; ready to support teachers and providers and enable more children to experience quality learning beyond the classroom.
Like a new pencil case full of tools to use and lend to our friends, we are also bringing to the academic year a new film and website. Created by HelpFilm and thanks to LOtC Mark School staff and students, the fantastic short film beautifully captures what learning beyond the classroom is all about – we are so pleased to share this with you.
After many years of requiring a refresh, the CLOtC website is getting a new modern design that is much more aesthetically pleasing and on brand; segmented into two areas, there will be one for schools and settings, with the other for providers. This will make it it much easier to navigate; and the streamlined content allows users to quickly find the information they need.
Trends in educational visits bouncing back
It’s been really pleasing to see, after a difficult few years, the trends in educational visits bouncing back to pre-Covid levels. In the latest report from the team at eduFOCUS, the data* shows that schools and other educational settings once again are taking children beyond the classroom – especially on day and local visits.
Residentials and overseas experiences are slower to recover to pre-pandemic levels, reflecting the additional complexities, time and resources needed in advance to plan and deliver these visits. We know that schools are still dealing with the impacts of Covid-related staff absences, but despite this, schools continue to demonstrate resilience and the drive to get students beyond the classroom walls – it’s encouraging and exciting for the year ahead!
CLOtC National Conference returns
Also bouncing back this academic year, we are pleased to announce the return of the CLOtC National Conference. Taking place on Thursday 2nd March 2023 at LOtC Quality Badge holder, and winner of the School Travel Award for Best Wildlife Attraction, West Midland Safari Park. Hosted by the dynamic explorer and TV presenter Paul Rose, the day will be about ‘Achieving quality learning beyond the classroom’ and will feature inspiring keynote speakers, engaging workshops, discussion groups, networking, and a celebration of LOtC.
It will be a fantastic opportunity for like-minded educators and other professionals who are passionate about learning beyond the classroom to come together for a day of learning, sharing good practice and making connections - and to continue to raise the profile of the importance of real-life experiential learning. We hope to see you there.
Find out more about the CLOtC National Conference 2023 – early bird tickets are now on sale until 30th September. Go to www.lotc.org.uk/clotc-national-conference.
*Data provided by eduFOCUS, who run EVOLVE - the system that supports many schools/academies and other youth settings in their educational visit planning.
