Hyundai is investing £1 million in the Great British School Trip programme as research reveals that children are missing out on essential and accessible school trips.
A study involving 2,000 teachers and parents across the UK and commissioned by Hyundai, revealed that some children have intentionally not told a parent about an upcoming trip, with a further 54% of parents admitting it was over their child’s concerns of affordability.
Three in ten parents revealed that finances are the main barrier to sending their children on school trips. As part of the research, more than half of the teachers asked said they have had outings cancelled or not approved in the last 12 months, and more funding to help cover the costs would benefit in supporting them to run more trips.
The Great British School Trip programme has been designed to inspire school children aged seven to 14 and to help them to shape their future goals.
Hyundai has said it is committed to sending 25,000 pupils on school trips across the UK, starting from January 2023. The automotive company will offer bursaries to help the schools most in need to fund their trips, including booking fees and travel costs.
Ashley Andrew, managing director, Hyundai Motor UK, said: “School trips should provide some of the most exciting and memorable times for our young people. They help to bring their learning to life, encourage greater engagement and inspire their future ambitions. I know that’s what they did for myself and for my children.
“I firmly believe that they (school trips) are an essential part of our young people’s development and something that every child should have access to.”
“As a company that strives to support humanity and to foster an ambitious next generation, we are delighted to launch this pioneering initiative, which will deliver these life experiences as well as supporting teaching staff and parents.”
Seeing school trips as an essential part of a child’s education
The programme will support the curriculum by covering subjects such as art, maths and STEM as well as being centred around four themes: Imagination and Curiosity, People and the Planet, Journeys and Adventures and Breakthroughs and Discoveries.
It links to Hyundai’s vision for the future, Progress for Humanity, which looks at how connections and collaborations can accelerate progress and innovation. Hyundai Motor Company, established in 1967, is now present in more than 200 countries. In 2005, the car company opened its own UK subsidiary, Hyundai Motor UK Ltd, which is now in Leatherhead, Surrey.
More than 200 venues and providers have shown their support for the programme by signing up as trip locations already. These include the RAF Museum, PGL, YHA, Disney Theatrical and Nottingham Playhouse.
Watch: the launch of the programme
Tim Campbell MBE has been announced as Hyundai’s Educator in Residence as part of the initiative. The businessman, who was the winner of the first series of The Apprentice, sits on the City of London Education board and is chair of governors at St Bonaventure’s School in the city.
He said: “School trips are an integral part of a child’s education. Not only are they a fun day out but allow children to properly cement their learning outside of the classroom.
“I firmly believe in education as a facilitator of social mobility, so it’s shocking that our younger generation are missing out on this opportunity due to circumstances outside of their control. I’m thrilled to be involved with this programme and feel that it is exceptionally timely, not to mention necessary, to put school trips firmly back on the agenda.”
Other findings of the research
Of the 1,600 parents of school-aged children, 60% agreed more needs to be done to ensure all children have an equal opportunity to go on school trips.
Parents also acknowledge the pros of educating children outside of the classroom, with 38% saying the new experiences it gives them is a huge plus.
As well as this, they also listed that creating fond memories (34%), building confidence (34%) and it simply being more fun for their children (31%) were other advantages.
However, 39% recognise there is a chance their child won’t be offered the opportunity to go on school trips during the 2022 to 2023 academic year because of a lack of school funding and volunteers.
As many as 70% of the parents polled said their children enjoy the visits they go on, with science museums, the zoo and adventure activities, like kayaking or climbing, among the favourites.
Teachers can now register their interest in the programme at greatbritishschooltrips.co.uk to be among the first to access the full programme when bookings open in January 2023.
