School residential trips in the UK?

[Bonsoir]

Does anyone have any recommendations for providers, apart from Kingswood.

Paignton Zoo was a fantastic trip - it was a mon-fri trip and the kids had use of the classroom there, had an after-hours tour of the zoo and did loads of science and geography based work while they were there. My eldest still talks about it and it was close to ten years ago for him!

I'm afraid I have no idea - I just knew it was Kingswood and AFAIK it was somewhere in Kent. Ish

That must be Grosvenor Hall then. Thank you very much for the info, bigTillyMint - really useful!

we are being asked for EUR 855 (£710) for a four night trip...

That's an outrageous price. DD2's trip from Germany to Hastings this year was 550 euros all inclusive for 7 nights. Including all travel there and back, use of the coach for a week, all trips, workshops and entrance fees, all food and accommodation. All that came on top of it was personal spending money (which was limited to 30 euros, thank goodness). Coming from Paris it should be even cheaper than that.

When we did our A Level Geography field trip we hired out an entire Bed and Breakfast hotel for the week. That might be an option for you?

Our lot go to Aylmerton in Norfolk. They have lots of packages not necessarily sporty but a fair bit outside. Our kids love the day trips on the broads and to the seals on Blakeney point. They go swimming and do activities on the local beaches including fossil hunting and rock pool dipping. Lots of activities outside- problem solving, thigh ropes and treasure hunts in the nearby woods.

They will do themed weeks- the evacuee experience is popular I believe.

Food is great too!

I agree amistill. DD has joint problems and hates outward bound type activities and has therefore never been on any school residential trips.

Don't have anything useful to add as am not teacher of pri school but wanted to say that we live near Canterbury and there are always groups of students on day trips or residentially! They come by bus, train, boat!!

www.yha.org.uk/hostel/medway

This one is about an hour from Dover and opposite a massive country park. Rochester has some great places and a safe high street - castle, cathedral, museum and Leeds castle in Maidstone would be forty minutes away.

AphraBane - thank you so much for sharing the price of your trip.

I agree that it is an outrageous price and many, many parents have voiced strong opinions about it. We have obtained a EUR 25 subsidy from the parents' association and a EUR 20 reduction for DC who are enrolled FT at the canteen, but it is still extortionate.

And thank you everyone for your ideas! Really grateful for you sharing them!

Rippledown House on the Kent coast is good. Near to several castles, Dover Castle and smaller ones.

Osmington Bay PGL. It's just amazing. The site is breathtaking and the staff so energetic and fun.