School Trips
“The world is the true classroom. The most rewarding and important type of learning is through experience, seeing something with our own eyes.” - Jack Hanna
School trips
School trips are a brilliant way to ‘pop the icing on the cake’ following a term of classroom learning. Practical memories and experiencing a subject firsthand can be a much easier way to understand a topic.
Sharing experiences with classmates and teachers is a unique way to improve relationships whilst venturing outside of the school gives children an opportunity to improve their confidence and broaden their horizons. Trips are very often inspirational, and we really hope, on top of all of this, a whole lot of fun!
KS1
Very often, these are the first day trips a child will experience away from their family. We appreciate the significance of this – for both the child and the parents. Our KS1 trips have been finely tuned over the years and we know that the children always return with huge smiles on their faces and many stories ready to tell anyone willing to listen!
For several years, we have taken the children in Years 1 and 2 on a trip to Weston Super Mare, to conclude our learning of the Big Question – “Why do we love to be beside the seaside?”
“It was really good. I liked the arcade, the donkey ride and I loved playing on the sand with my friends.” - Sebastian, Year 2
“It was really great fun. I enjoyed riding on the donkeys. My donkey was called Tom! It was so great playing with my friends on the beach.” - Sofia, Y2
The children also visit another attraction on alternate years. Previously this has been to the National Motor Museum and Windsor Castle.
KS2
In Years 3 and 4 our trips continue to be aligned to the current Big Question.
Our children love the experience at Hill End where they go back in time to experience life inside an ancient settlement. This ties in perfect to the subject the pupils have been studying “How did life change from the Stone Age to the Iron Age”. We are certain that a day spent building shelters, making bread, practicing flint knapping and making their own axes is a brilliantly immersive way to learn about history!
On the subject of history, Year 3 and 4 also get to spend an afternoon in the company of local historians walking around Hook Norton learning “How has our local area changed through history”. Their eyes are open to the old water wells and viaducts they pass every day on their journeys to school, and they are always fascinated to find out where the original Hook Norton School used to be. We think most children are grateful they are not educated in the same manner as children during the Victorian era!
In 2024 the children had a day out visiting the Cornbury Estate. We feel it is important for our pupils to learn about and appreciate the countryside in which they are privileged to live in. This trip gave them an insight into agriculture, arable farming, game-keeping and the importance of farm dogs!
In Year 5 children take part in a 5-day residential trip – typically to PGL. This is something that we find children look forward to for years, and when their time comes – it doesn’t disappoint! From orienteering and raft building to abseiling and ‘The Big Swing’ it is memory making from Monday to Friday.
Our Year 6 children get to enjoy 5 days at Yenworthy Lodge in Devon. Located close to the North Devonshire coastline, activities here include sand dune surfing, exploring rock pools, climbing waterfalls and a huge zipline! A real time to explore independence prior to secondary school and a massive lesson in laughter!
Please note that all our school trips are fully insured. The children are supervised by staff and DBS checked volunteers following the recommended ratios of children to adults. The trips are always meticulously planned with Risk Assessments having taken place. Our staff are experienced in ensuring that all children get the very best from these experiences – whether they are confident and keen to get going, or a little more reserved and possibly anxious about some of these trips. If you have concerns about school trips, please speak directly with your child's teacher.