School travel has become a big part of children’s education. We send many school groups to locations across the world every year, with demand for new and exciting adventures always increasing. But why is school travel so important and how can it benefit your child? Generally, school trips help to reinforce and expand on classroom learning, but there are broader social rewards for children that experience travel with their peers. Here we list our top benefits for children in taking part in a school group trip.

School group trips significantly increase engagement from students in their studies, and in the classroom more generally. Travelling with peers and experiencing real-life situations can greatly boost a student’s confidence and ignite a passion for learning.

This is because travel allows students to see the bigger picture and the opportunities that might be available to them if they take their school studies seriously. It also allows children to discover skills they have which they may never have in the classroom. For example, a child who is not great at writing a long essay may discover they have a flair for real-world problem solving or leadership.

By having the opportunity to realise their strengths and skills, pupils may more fully understand the purpose of education and learning. For many, it is the beginning of taking their education seriously and becoming more motivated around their studies.

For many children, travel will bring numerous positive surprises. Exposure to different food, culture and languages can have a significant benefit to personal development at an early age. School travel allows students to experience new cultures for the first time in a unique way – with a group of their peers in an organised and safe environment. This allows them to question and discuss what they experience more freely and to become comfortable in unfamiliar situations.

It is for this reason that school travel is often more meaningful and has a greater impact on children than holidays with family. Children are forced to step outside of their comfort zone, try new foods, spend time with new people and take part in activities they may shy away from if they were travelling with friends or family.

One of the biggest differences parents often see after their child has taken part in school travel is in their confidence, social skills and understanding of responsibility. While school trips are carefully organised, children do need to take responsibility for taking care of their belongings, being on time for activities and making decisions about how they would like to spend their free time.

Children may also find that outside of the school environment they have more in common with members of their year group they don’t normally spend time with. This often leads children to think more independently and make decisions for themselves rather than going along with what their friends decide. School travel is an excellent opportunity for children to make new friends and find out more about who they are outside of their usual friend group.

The purpose of our education system is to prepare children for future life, work and participation in society. Whilst school does teach children valuable skills such as teamwork, problem solving and initiative, it often lacks real-life application.

This is when school travel can become very valuable in giving children a chance to use what they have learned in a real-life context. For example, when travelling abroad, children will have the opportunity to use their foreign language skills. They will also need to budget their spending money, and even consider using their mathematical skills to think about matters such as currency conversion. These are just basic examples of the many ways in which school travel can enrich classroom learning, but there are an infinite number of ways school travel can provide students with the skills they need to succeed.

Furthermore, on educational trips, students get a chance to see and experience what has only been talked about in the classroom. School travel allows for students to have a more complete learning experience, giving room for observation and reflection on what they have experienced for themselves.

A recent study demonstrated that 82% of employers in the UK felt that travel made you more employable. While your child may not yet be looking for their first job, a memorable travel experience can serve as an excellent basis for examples of teamwork, leadership skills and responsibility. Such skills may be useful for college or university applications and interviews as well as for becoming part of any groups or clubs they may wish to join.

As you can see, there are many benefits for your child in taking part in school travel, many of which cannot be put into words. You can find out more about our trips and what we can offer your child using the information below.