The EVC Magazine Summer 2024 - Magazine - Page 6
NEWS & VIEWS
FIND OUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE
EDUCATIONAL VISITS SECTOR
Sutton Trust: difficult budget decisions lead to cuts in visits
Research conducted by the
National Foundation for
Educational Research (NFER) for
the Sutton Trust has shown that
educational visits remain an area at
risk from budget cuts in schools.
50 per cent of school leaders
surveyed (33% secondary and
53% primary) reported cutting spending on ‘trips and outings’ in 2024. This is a
continuation from last year when the figure jumped from 21 to 50 per cent. Over a
quarter (27%) reported cutting spending on sport and other extra-curricular activities.
Other areas where heads were forced to cut back were staffing, particularly teaching
assistants, and IT equipment. The research reveals that heads are increasingly using
pupil premium to plug holes in budgets. www.suttontrust.com/our-research/
school-funding-and-pupil-premium-2024
Waterways project boosts teacher confidence in learning beyond the classroom
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) and the Canal & River Trust have published
the outcomes of their 18-month collaboration project ‘Waterways, wildlife and wellbeing’.
Its aim was to support teachers
to take their learning beyond
the classroom, and to increase
pupils’ contact and connection
with the natural environment.
The University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness
Research Group acted as advisers.
Key outcomes
☑
80% of teachers reported a positive impact
on pupil enjoyment of, and engagement in,
lessons.
☑
40% of teachers reported feeling a lack of
confidence (in LOtC) before the project, no
teachers reported a lack of confidence after
the project.
The project supported over 500 schools in areas of
disadvantage across the West Midlands. 292 schools
received mentoring and training - including visit leader
training from EVOLVE Advice - and 56 schools, and 2,380
pupils engaged in practical environmental activities.
☑ Two thirds of teachers reported they now
use the school grounds regularly.
www.lotc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/WWWImpact-Report-2024-FINAL.pdf
☑ Most teachers reported that they now
used the local area ‘sometimes,’ versus ‘rarely’
before the project.
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