Gareth Jones

Outstanding School Trip Leadership Gareth Jones

Educational trips at primary and secondary level are under significant threat. Potential trip leaders are being frightened off by a culture of accusation and litigation. School Leaders increasingly are not prepared to take the risk by backing the staff who are willing to give up their valuable break time to take students away on residential trips. This short guide does it's best to guide new leaders through the process of taking students away. It also can be used as a checklist for more experienced Leaders. Now retired, I wanted to write this before the details start to fade. During my 34 years of teaching I spent an additional 475 days and more away in the holidays on residential trips. These were to Germany, Romania, Euro-Disney {too many to count}, Spain {10 +}, Italy {10+}, York {x 4}. Wiltshire and Wales. I also led month long expeditions to Alaska, Borneo, and Peru and a shorter break to Florida. This undoubtedly makes me one of the most experienced school trip leaders in the UK! A more anecdotal account of our journeys is available as "Travelling with Children," which is now in its second edition.