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

30 January 2023 , 13:45

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Reserving the back seat of the bus, getting to wear your own clothes, and learning something new are among the fondest memories of school trips – according to parents who now have school-aged children of their own.

Nearly half (46%) of parents, whose children are now in school, say that school trips are their most cherished memories from their education, with 44% feeling nostalgic about their trips outside the classroom.

Other exciting elements of a day out included feeling grown up, spending time with friends, and smuggling sweets into their bags for the trip.

Two in five, of the 1,600 parents polled, admit they still talk about various excursions from their childhood.

And almost a third (32%) even said that their school trips made such an impact, that they shaped their future career path.

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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%) 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%) 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% consider this an essential part of a child’s development.

However, almost four in ten (39%) fear their youngsters won’t be offered the opportunity to go on any trips during the 2022/2023 school year.

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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.

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