5 top tips for planning your school trip

Everyone has a school trip that they remember right into their adulthood. You probably have some key memories – it was probably somewhere that the teacher made you dress up for (Victorian child anyone?), it might have been a very long coach trip, and one pupil almost certainly lost something in one of the attractions’ many acres. But the really memorable parts are usually those sparks of inspiration that have stayed in your memory – trying something unique for the first time, that one member of staff who made the day extra special, a one off  experience that has informed your choices in what you wanted to be when you grew up.

Many of us, as adults, have a special memory from a school trip. So the question is, how do you get the most out of that trip with your pupils so that they can take one of those sparks home with them, as well as getting your head around all the required logistics of making a trip a great success?

1. What sets each Museum apart?

What is it you’re looking for with your class trip? From traditional institutions with classical collections to immersive living museums, there is such a broad range of options to choose from. Of course you need to consider your key outcomes including curriculum links and learning activities, but is there a museum that you haven’t considered that might surprise you?  Maybe an industrial museum might be the perfect place for an art class to learn about landscapes in art, or a geological collection might be a perfect science lesson.  

Staff at museums are, of course, incredibly knowledgeable about their collections and there may be some topics you can explore in unexpected locations. Tap into it – there may be hidden gems in museums which will contribute to your overall plan, which staff can help you find.

2. Extend your trip into your own classroom

The key here is to use your planned visit in collaboration with your classroom learning – it could introduce the topic, provide memorable points for pupils to look back on when they apply their knowledge in later lessons, or it could be a way to recap what they’re studying in school.

Around your trip, there’s often an array of classroom resources available direct from museum websites. From worksheets to case studies, you can pick and choose highlights which apply to your learning and extend the learning experience. This will of course contribute to making the in-person trip even more memorable.

Many venues, including ours, will also bring the experience to you through outreach sessions. It might be a workshop, a show or an object handling box – there’s a host of options available out there. Either on or off site, many organisations offer more in-depth workshops that are developed specifically for school groups, giving pupils access to exclusive activities that aren’t available for the general public to try.

Find out more about our workshops and outreach.

3. Find out everything the venue has to offer

A lot of museums offer the opportunity for a free pre-visit trip for the teacher as part of your booking, so make the most of it and check out all the highlights yourself before bringing the class. This is particularly important if a museum collection is vast! Some places have thousands of years of history covered, and others are much more niche but still packed with objects.

An in-person visit yourself will also help you figure out the best use of time on the day. You can get a sense of the venue layout, see the arrival procedure, and gauge how much time you’ll need to physically navigate the space – your lunch space might be a short walk away from the highlight of the trip, for example. As well as being able to maximise every minute of the experience, it will also give you the confidence to brief the other adult helpers attending with you in advance of your arrival. Plus, it’s a handy way to complete your risk assessments for your peace of mind.

4. Engage with Museum staff

It’s not just the objects in the museum that can enlighten and educate your class. Make the most of the museum’s knowledgeable front of house staff – they absolutely love what they do and they want to share their passion with you! The most memorable experiences are those that feel the most personal, and there’s nothing like a human interaction for that. It could just be one object that a room guide points out, or a little bit of context about a particular sculpture in a gallery, but often these become key takeaways for pupils (and teachers alike!).

For living museums, there is nothing like the experience of learning from a costumed demonstrator. Standing in their “living room” hearing their story is extremely compelling and can add so much colour to the learning. It truly does feel like going back in time.

5. Work with your local Museums and share your experiences

If you’ve chosen to explore the history of your local area, I’d encourage you to support and visit your local museum. It sounds obvious but there’s so many stories on your doorstep and there’s something particularly special about connecting with the history of your own region. Local museums want to share their region’s story far and wide, but it’s particularly important for them to connect with their neighbours as it’s their history being preserved and celebrated after all.

Museums also love to hear from you! Your insights and thoughts about your experience are invaluable. Were there aspects of the trip you thought could be better? Are there any practical elements which the museum hasn’t got quite right? You’re the experts after all, and museums are open to working alongside schools to do everything they can to improve and enhance their offer.  They also love to hear when the class has had a great time too!

While it’s hard to predict what that little piece of magic might be in your trip, hopefully some of these tips will set you up for an amazing school visit that will ignite some inspirational sparks for your class’s future and give them cherished memories for years to come.

Want to get in touch with us about your next school experience? We’d love to hear from you! Simply complete our expression of interest form and our team will get back to you.

Got feedback from your last school visit? Please get in touch with us via learning@bclm.com to share your insights.