A campaign to encourage schools to provide more residential experiences for children and young people of all ages and from all backgrounds is being supported by PK Education.
Launched in September earlier this year, the #BrilliantResidentials campaign promotes and champion school trips with an overnight stay.
The campaign stems from a five-year research programme, conducted by Learning Away in conjunction with York Consulting, which produced overwhelming evidence about the numerous positive impacts a residential experience can have on pupils, staff and the wider school community.
Learning Away was founded and initially developed by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and is now led by a consortium of organisations united in their commitment to ensure more young people have access to high-quality brilliant residential learning experiences. Scout Adventures are one of the Consortium members and have been using adventure as a way to develop young people for over 100 years.
Endorsing the campaign is Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, who on behalf of the Scouts, commented: “We love the Brilliant Residentials model because it improves students’ resilience, self-confidence and wellbeing. If schools want to make their next residential a brilliant residential, they must make sure it’s designed and led by teachers and pupils; and that it includes time for students to reflect and grow; that it is tailored to meet the specific needs of students, and that it is inclusive to all.”
Recognising that a lack of available staff and decreasing school budgets may be one of the barriers to schools offering their pupils a residential learning experience, PK Education is supporting the #BrilliantResidentials campaign by offering a 20% discount to schools that require temporary staff to replace those participating in a residential school trip.
Lee Carpenter, director of PK Education, explained: “After seeing the Learning Away research findings, as both a parent and former teacher, I wholeheartedly support schools incorporating residential trips as part of their curriculum. Suppor idea and get to know how to be romantic with a girl. Unfortunately, money is one of the barriers to schools being unable to offer residential school trips, which is why PK Education wants to help make a residential trip more accessible to schools where staff resources may be an issue.”
To arrange supply cover for a member of staff on a residential school trip, simply contact your nearest PK Education office and give the details of your residential school trip provider and the dates you require cover.
