Nearly half of parents say their fondest childhood memories include school trips

Almost half of adults admit their fondest childhood memories include school trips. A poll of 1,600 parents of school children found 44 per cent feel nostalgic about their formative years and trips outside the classroom – including getting to wear their own clothes, feeling grown up, and smuggling sweets into overnight bags.

Reserving the back of the bus also appeared on the list of the best things about a school outing, alongside learning something new, and spending time with friends. Nearly a third (32 per cent) even admitted that school trips had such an impact that they shaped their future career path.

And 46 per cent said school trips were their fondest memories from their education, with four in ten admitting they still talk about various excursions from their childhood. The research was commissioned by Hyundai, to launch its “Great British School Trip” programme, which will provide 25,000 school children, aged seven to 14, with free school trips.

Ashley Andrew, managing director at Hyundai Motor UK, said: “When you’re a child, it’s great to get out and about to bring your learning to life – so it’s no wonder it’s such a key memory for so many. Getting out of the classroom not only creates memories, but fundamentally also brings a sense of excitement to a particular school subject.

“Also, school trips are often the first opportunity for a child to gain a sense of independence – so it’s no surprise that many people remember the small things like reserving the back of the bus, and spending time with friends in a new environment. We firmly believe that school trips are an essential part of our young people’s development, and something that every child should have access to, creating the same memories as their parents.”

The research went on to find almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of parents wish their child had the opportunity to go on more school excursions, after having some great times during their days in education. Looking back on their school years, four in ten believe these trips played a big role in cementing things they learned in the classroom, and they often remember looking forward to the time away from school up to five days in advance.

And two-thirds (65 per cent) wish they'd appreciated the outings they had more when they were a child. A separate study of the same number of parents found 66 per cent consider this an essential part of a child’s development.

However, almost four in ten (39 per cent) fear their youngsters won’t be offered the opportunity to go on any trips during the 2022/2023 school year. As many as six in ten think more needs to be done to ensure all children have an equal opportunity to go on school trips. And two in five believe the responsibility to go on more days out lies with the school itself, according to the findings by OnePoll.

Ashley Andrew added: “All school trips offered through our Great British School Trip initiative will cover important subjects such as art, maths, and STEM, and will allow students to truly cement their learning outside of the classroom.”

Bookings for The Great British School Trip are now open, where teachers can select a school trip location.

BRITS' FAVOURITE SCHOOL TRIP DESTINATIONS:

1. Natural History Museum, London
   
2. Imperial War Museum, London
3. Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
4. Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, London
5. Cadbury World, Birmingham
6. SS Great Britain, Bristol
7. Snowdonia, Wales
8. Cardiff Castle, Wales
9. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
10. Holyrood, Scotland
11. Tate Modern, London
12. Dover Castle, Kent
13. Warwick Castle, Warwick
14. Stonehenge, Wiltshire
15. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
16. Hadrian's Wall, Cumbria
17. The National Videogame Museum, Sheffield
18. Birmingham Botanical Gardens
19. The Gates of 10 Downing Street, London
20. Gower Peninsula, Wales