School journeys policy

There are various kinds of school visits.

• extension of the classroom (a visit that can be accomplished without transport and within a morning or afternoon session)
• a half or whole day visit that requires transport
• more than a whole day visit that requires one or more night’s residential accommodation
• visit abroad for one or more nights
• activities which are hazardous, within the UK or abroad (skiing, water sports, mountaineering, adventure programmes, etc.)
• Visits may involve a varying number of students, from one or several groups, subject areas or years.

Aim of visits:

To support students’ learning, and to provide opportunities for enrichment of students’ curricular and extra-curricular experience.

Principles:

• A visit must have a clear aim, which should relate to curriculum and school aims.
• There will be an overall pattern of visits throughout the year, with loss of classroom time taken carefully into account when directed time visits are planned.
• Funding of visits will be organised so that all costs are met by funds raised.
• Visits should be financially accessible to all students, with the possibility of some financial support provided in appropriate cases. It is a legal requirement that all contributions are voluntary.
• Visits must be planned and organised following the school’s procedures.
• The organiser/leader of a visit owes a duty of care to the whole party, a care that a reasonable parent would themselves exercise. Students may be supervised in their work or be required to work independently. If the latter is the case, students must be clearly briefed re the task and conduct expected and safety code; they must know where a member of staff is available, and at what time they need to meet. They must have a watch and written information on them with identification and emergency contact number. They must always work in a group of two or more.
• All visits must be approved by the Head.

Staff intending to organise a visit must read the guidelines on organising school visits - copies available from school educational visits co-ordinator.

Updated: October 2, 2008