The Purpose of Educational Visits

How do educational visits enhance the school curriculum?
 

'Outdoor Education offers attractive opportunities for achievement to pupils across the spectrum of ability. These can stimulate and reinforce a positive attitude towards education, and are recognised as achievements by teachers and peers alike.' 
(DfES 'Extending opportunity: A national framework for study support') 

Educational visits provide wonderful opportunities to extend young peoples' learning and to enrich their understanding and appreciation of themselves, others and the world around them.

Many believe that there is great educational value in taking students 'out of the classroom' to see the world at first hand, and that such experiences help to 'bring education to life' - to stand in awe above a glacial valley, and imagine past ice ages can be a most powerful learning experience, and very different to merely viewing a picture in a textbook.

For many young people, educational visits and offsite activities offer immensely enjoyable, memorable and life enhancing experiences.  It is no wonder that many teachers feel that such experiences have an impact that is seldom achieved through other means.

The effect on self-esteem and motivation, and the development of personal and social skills, is also sometimes quite remarkable. This can have a dramatic and positive effect on the attitude and aspirations of young people, in many cases, such positive experiences may act as the catalyst for improved academic achievement, a lifetime interest or, even, professional fulfilment. 

It is widely acknowledged that educational visits can significantly benefit the personal and social development of young people, in particular by:

• raising achievement, through improved self-esteem and motivation;
• developing key skills;
• developing social education and citizenship;
• promoting education for sustainable development
• promoting health and fitness

Relationships between young people, and also with staff, are often transformed for the better, and this can have a positive ongoing effect on the whole learning and development process.