Key Stage 4 (15-16)

Key Stage 4 (15-16)

At KS4, there has been a gradually burgeoning number of types of educational visits – foreign language school exchanges, cultural visits all over Europe and further afield, sports competitions, youth conferences, winter sports and adventurous activities in more extreme environments. The Duke of Edinburgh Award becomes available at 14 years old and continues to be offered for those up to 24 years of age, and pupils of many ages start work on specialist awards in areas such as mountaineering, sailing and river sports. This increase in venue variety has led to a proliferation of specialist companies catering for these activities.

The aims of history trips tend to be more focused in KS4, with study trips to the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation and the 1944 Normandy Landings often proving popular along with the 1815 Waterloo battlefield. Venues of this type are often catered for by specialist travel companies to ensure participants get the best experience available.

A lot of schools have a tradition of school trips with their choirs, orchestras and musical/theatre students. There are specialist companies that can help any school wishing to explore this possibility, and many venues have tailored activities for groups that can help improve performers’ confidence and motivation.

British schools have been the forerunners in Europe for undertaking challenging outdoor activities both at home and abroad (you can visit here for good list of activities and gateway sites) but there is a notable increase of interest at KS4 in science-based trips – most notably the Science and National History museums in London, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the National Railway Museum in York, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre in Macclesfield, Techniquest in Cardiff, and the Bristol Science Centre, all of which have reported an increase in visitors in recent years.

Suitable Venues

Pevensey Castle is a great educational day out in East Sussex, encompassing rich history and fun things to do and see for adults and children. With a history stretching back over 16 centuries, Pevensey Castle chronicles more graphically than any other fortress the story of Britain's south coast defences.

Leicestershire's Most Popular Countryside Destination

Whether you want to explore this 840 acre country park with friends or family for a day enjoying the outdoors or want some peace and tranquility Bradgate Park is a must-visit. Take along a picnic, camera or your walking boots!

Bradgate Park was first enclosed as a deer park around 800 years ago.

Carlisle Castle includes an exhibition, a programme of guided tours, a picnic area, a unique gift shop and is in close proximity to Hadrian's Wall.

Opening in 1968, Sherborne Museum evolved from the town's Historical Society, which was its founding body. From the outset, it aimed to be an independent museum representing the history and life of Sherborne and its environs.

Discover the splendour of royalty

Built by architect Inigo Jones under the patronage of James I, the ceiling was painted by Peter Paul Rubens.

The hall was built for the performance of ‘Masques’ and for grand ambassadorial receptions.

This new BBC Tour is available to book now!

Step inside the exciting world of broadcasting! Here at BBC Tours we're inviting you to peek behind the scenes of our dynamic live broadcasting hub and hear what goes on at the beating heart of the BBC!

A super town museum at the heart of its community

Wymondham Museum gives you a wide-ranging overview of life in the town through the centuries and there's plenty for children to do too. 

Housed in the town’s Bridewell, or prison, you can visit a dungeon and a police cell and learn about the Bridewell’s link to prison reformer John Howard. 

One of the most complete surviving friaries of Dominican 'black friars' in England, later converted into a Tudor house and cloth factory. Notable features include the church and the fine scissor-braced dormitory roof.

Help us bring this special Grace II listed building back to life

Poltimore House is a significant Devon landmark, historically and architecturally. The drawing shows it as it was c.1900. The speculative reconstructions at the bottom of this page show it as it might be, once restored and back to full use. 

Handsome 17th-century merchant's house with walled garden

This beautiful 17th-century merchant's house is a hidden gem in London, a place of unique charm and ambience.

Lady Binning bought the house in 1936 and filled it with her highly decorative collections of porcelain, Georgian furniture and 17th-century needlework.

No. 1 Royal Crescent is a superb example of how Bath was developed in the 18th Century. It was built to the designs of John Wood the Younger in 1767 – 1774 as the first house in the Royal Crescent, a Bath stone crescent of thirty houses with a uniform Palladian design to the principal facade.

The Radio City Viewing Gallery is now open.

The Heritage Centre is the ideal place to come to find out about Bude and the surrounding area before setting out to explore the town, canal wharf, beaches and to take lovely cliff walks.

Home of the exciting museum and exhibition dedicated to the 2 Tone record label and its bands The Specials, The Selecter, Madness,The Beat et al.

Elegant and spacious 18th-century house in the Cathedral Close

When walking into the celebrated Cathedral Close in Salisbury, visitors step back into a past world, and on entering Mompesson House, featured in the award-winning film Sense and Sensibility, the feeling of leaving the modern world behind is deepened.

The Brangwyn Hall at the Guildhall, Swansea is renowned as a major concert hall and conference centre,

One of Norfolk and England’s greatest heroes

The Nelson Museum celebrates the life and times of Admiral Lord Nelson. Find out about his remarkable naval career, the sea battles he won, his Norfolk childhood, scandalous love life and untimely death at the Battle of Trafalgar. 

Packed with dramatic and moving details the museum also offers ships' games, family fun days and a garden for picnics.

This 'Castle of the Rock' is famous for its spectacular views, which take in no less than eight counties on a clear day.

One of the UK's leading outdoor activity centres

Dukeshouse Wood has had a whole raft of new adventure activity features installed to become one of the country’s leading residential activity centres. The activity park in the grounds houses many of these new additions including a quad bike track, zipwire, outdoor laser, Jacob’s ladder, an outdoor climbing and abseiling tower and leap of faith.

The original purpose built Kingswood centre overlooks the picturesque beauty of the Wrekin and Clee Hills

An exciting venue for outdoor adventure and learning in a picturesque and easily accessible location, Staffordshire provides a welcoming and friendly environment

Our original Kingswood centre, where guests instantly feel at home

Particularly suited for younger students where all activities are close to the main buildings

Huge range of activities from archery, bushcraft and fencing to high ropes, abseiling, leap of faith and adventure tunnelling plus LOADS more! For over 8s, minimum group booking is 6 people.

The Adventure Rope Course 

The MCC Museum was opened by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in 1953 and is one of the oldest sporting museums in the world.

English Touring Opera (ETO) is an opera company founded in 1979 under the name Opera 80. In 1992 the company changed to its present name. The company aims to bring high quality opera to areas of England that would not otherwise have ready access to such productions.

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