Class Trips & School Trips

Excursions and class trips are considered to be an important part of the school curriculum from which students benefit both academically and socially.  They may be organised in any subject.  All class trips must have clearly defined educational objectives and be prepared and followed up in class. There are day trips during the school year with visits to museums, institutions, environmental centres etc.   

It is not possible to organise school trips without causing some disruption on normal school life because the group may include students from a number of classes, and because teachers who accompany trips will be absent from their other classes.  However the school will try to minimise the disruption caused.

There are school trips that are part of the curriculum, and the school asks for a voluntary contribution of the costs of the trip for the child. Some trips are not part of the core curriculum, and students can only participate if the parents pay for these. While the school’s policy is to cancel the trip if the voluntary contribution is insufficient to cover the costs of the trip, we will not exclude individuals. 

The Department for Education’s guidance for schools says:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/706830/Charging_for_school_activities.pdf

“It is important to note that no child should be excluded from an activity simply because his or her parents are unwilling or unable to pay. If insufficient voluntary contributions are raised to fund a visit, or the school cannot fund it from some other source, then it must be cancelled. Schools must ensure that they make this clear to parents. If a parent is unwilling or unable to pay, their child must still be given an equal chance to go on the visit. Schools should make it clear to parents at the outset what their policy for allocating places on school visits will be. “

We expect that students participating in any school trip will model respectful and appropriate behaviour which reflects positively on Europa School. The school will invite students to participate in trips and the school reserves the right to exclude students whose behaviour is a cause for concern.

There may be some day trips that will be communicated on a last-minute basis, as teachers will want to make use of opportunities as they arise. The costs for these will be communicated as soon as possible after a teacher has decided to make the booking.

Current residential trips:

• S2 students spend 4 nights at Hadrian’s Wall in the north of England.  This trip includes an interdisciplinary focus on Individuals & Societies (History & Geography) as well as Science. The cost in 2023 was £420.

• S3 students are invited to go on a 3 day trip to Puy du Fou in France, the cost in 2023 was £390.

• S5 students participate in a residential Ecology trip to North Yorkshire which focuses on the Biology syllabus, the price in 2023 is £370.

• S6 Geography students field trip to Nettlecombe costs approximately £410.

The school also organises a number of outings/trips with overnight stay (participation in competitions, exchanges etc …) 

e.g. Model United Nations - Approx. £430 per trip

Model United Nations in Brussels (MUNUCCLE) - October for S6/S7

Model United Nations in Toulouse (TOUMUN) - January/February for S5/S6

Model United Nations in Milan (MILANMUN) - March/April for S5/S6/S7

The Secondary Education Committee, following consultation between teachers, parents and students, defines the general agreements for the obligatory trips including its length and the costs entailed. Approval for school trips is given by the Head on the basis of a request submitted in good time beforehand. The Head will check in particular whether the activity involved is consistent with the school’s education and training task and that a risk assessment is completed.  She will ensure that the general arrangements and the funding, as proposed by the Education Committee, give the required guarantees.