With the academic year drawing to a close, it’s concerning that over a quarter of students (27%) have not yet had the opportunity to participate in a school trip. Recognizing the vital role these experiences play in fostering creativity and personal development, Hyundai is taking significant steps to ensure more students can venture beyond the classroom.
This initiative comes as part of Hyundai’s Great British School Trip (GBST) program, which has been expanded to accommodate an additional 25,000 students, aiming to support a total of 60,000 children throughout the 2023/24 academic year. By the end of its second year, the GBST initiative will have aided 90,000 pupils.
National School Trips Week, set to commence on April 29th, will spotlight over 40 educational events across the UK, benefitting nearly 9,000 students in just one week. Prestigious venues participating in the week include English Heritage, PGL, Eureka!, and the Royal Air Force Museum London.
Nick Tunnell, Business Transformation Director at Hyundai Motor UK, emphasized the importance of these trips in unlocking students’ creativity, confidence, and new skills, which are often untapped in the traditional classroom setting. Hyundai’s research further highlights that while 97% of teachers acknowledge the benefits of school trips for creativity, 78% find them challenging to organize with a creative focus.
During National School Trips Week, Long Mead Community Primary School experienced a memorable visit to the Turner Contemporary in Margate. This trip marked a first for many students, introducing them to both an art gallery and the seaside. Karen Follows, the school’s headteacher, praised the GBST program for making such transformative experiences accessible, particularly for families facing financial difficulties.
Toby Parkin, Head of Learning and Participation at Turner Contemporary, also commended the initiative, noting the essential role of school trips in enhancing students’ creative skills and broadening their horizons.
Hyundai remains committed to reducing financial barriers to these educational trips by offering bursaries covering booking fees and travel expenses. For more details on the GBST program and how schools can participate, please visit their website at https://greatbritishschooltrip.com/.
