As you contemplate financial embarrassment after the Christmas blowout, tour operators are trying to get you to shell out for a dream holiday. But before you get carried away with visions of beaches and turquoise seas, you should probably put your mind to something less exotic and more practical the school trip.
The Heritage Education Trust hands out its annual Sandford Awards to historic attractions that have a proven track record in providing good educational visits. So if you choose one of the award-holders, you should be guaranteed a visit that caters to your needs. Visit the HET site at www.heritageontheweb.
co.uk for a current list.
If you’re looking for new attractions, it’s worth visiting the Millennium Commission’s website (www.millennium.gov.uk). In recent years, about pound;1.2 billion of Lottery money has been spent on millennium projects. Despite the well-known failure of the Dome, other related projects have been a success and make ideal locations for school trips, the best known among them being the Eden Project.
Other attractions suitable for schools include the Lowry in Salford, the National Space Science Centre in Leicester and The Deep, an aquar ium due to open in Hull in March.
The website offers a full list of the attractions available.
The Group Organisers’ Handbook has information on a range of attractions, from gardens and parks to museums and wildlife centres. It’s not a definitive guide, but schools on the hunt for new attractions in the South and the Midlands will have plenty to choose from. There are no listings for the north of England or Scotland and few in Wales and East Anglia. The handbook is available from Publicity Works, P0 Box 32, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL5 8BF.
Telephone 01453 835 499.
Other websites worth checking include the 24 Hour Museum, a virtu al gateway to more than 2,500 galleries, museums and heritage attractions. (www.24hourmuseum.org.uk) You could also visit the British Tourist Authority site for further options.
(www.visitbrita in.com) If you’ve never been involved in the planning of a school outing before, it’s worth noting that many attractions offer free teacher visits. These visits are supposed to serve as reconnaissance missions, but you’re usually allowed to bring along an extra person. So if you’ve got a free weekend coming up, it’s not a bad way to mix business with pleasure.
