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Primary School Trip Ideas
Languages for Primary Groups
Language trips are probably our most popular option for primary schools as they offer incredible benefits for pupils.
Apart from (obviously) setting them up well for learning languages at secondary school, they also:
- Help students foster curiosity and learn about the world around them.
- Develop intercultural understanding and a greater respect for cultural diversity
- Allow pupils to compare aspects of daily life at home and abroad
- And if you choose to visit around a festival, they could even learn about celebrations in other cultures.
So, where should you go?
Rouen’s a great option for French. It’s quite self-contained and easy to walk around, which makes it ideal for primary pupils. It’s really charming too, with loads of history to explore, great food (very important) and plenty of fun activities to enjoy. It’s also not too far for a coach trip.
Lille is another great little city for younger groups and it’s particularly lovely at Christmas (the Christmas markets here are some of the most famous in France).
Another great option is the Opal Coast. Just a hop across the Channel, this part of Northern France boasts the shortest journey times for UK schools. As an area rather than a city, the activities are more spread out here, but you’ll have your coach to ferry you about, so it’s actually a really easy trip. And the activities here are fab for younger children. You can visit local food producers, enjoy the stunning beaches and just generally have a really lovely time watching your pupils experience France.
For German, the lovely city of Aachen in Western Germany is a really popular choice. A historic city, Aachen is quite small and feels really safe for younger groups. If you can, visiting at Christmas is particularly magical.
And for Spanish, Barcelona and the Costa Brava is the top choice for our primary school groups. You can stay in one of the quieter beach resorts along the Costa Brava (making the most of those incredible beaches) and travel into the city by coach each day to explore all that Barcelona has to offer.
STEM for Primary Groups
We're fortunate to have some great science museums in the UK. But there are also some fantastic ones in Europe, too. A trip to one of these will also give pupils the chance to experience another culture (and all the other benefits of a school trip), while encouraging and developing abilities in STEM.
A trip to Paris and Disneyland® Paris offers lots of exciting science and maths-based activities for primary school pupils. They’ll be able to see physics and engineering in action at the theme park and they’ll love exploring the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, which has some great exhibitions on things like the history of maths, climate change and space.
Cologne, Brussels and Amsterdam also have some great age-appropriate science museums that will help to spark a passion for STEM in your young pupils.
History for Primary Groups
If you’re looking at British history beyond 1066 with your pupils, you could stay in the UK for your trip. But taking them abroad to explore this topic will help them to realise that British history is ultimately connected to what was going on in the rest of the world at the time.
So, you could learn more about WW1 with a trip to London. But why not take them to Ypres or the Somme? For your pupils, born more than a century after the end of the war, it’ll help them understand the experience of the soldiers, the extent to which it really was a world war, and the important role it played in British, French, Belgian, German and European history (along with the history of the world as a whole).
And the same can be said for WW2. Again, you could go to London, Liverpool or Manchester and you’d have a fantastic trip with pupils who’ll learn loads about the war. But head to Dunkirk and Normandy and the war will really come to life for them.
Geography for Primary Groups
If you’re looking at topics like climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts and the water cycle, a primary geography trip could really capture the imagination of your junior geographers.
In the Massif Central (in France) and Barcelona you can learn about volcanoes and rivers (and how they shape the landscape).
Barcelona also offers the chance to explore coastal landscapes.
And if you’re happier to go further afield, Tenerife, Sicily and Naples and Sorrento also have some dramatic volcanic landscapes to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions For Primary School Trips
Why should I arrange a primary school trip?
Primary school trips are great for bringing subjects to life and giving pupils practical experiences to reinforce their learning.
Going away can also help pupils to develop their interpersonal skills. By spending time with their peers and their teachers outside of the classroom, pupils will develop their relationships and social skills both.
For most pupils of this age, your trip will be their first experience away from home without their parents, which is a big step. We’ll help you make sure it’s comfortable for them, so they can grow in confidence and independence.
What’s the ratio of teachers to students for primary schools?
As standard, we usually include a ratio of 1 free staff place for every 8 children on coach trips, and 1 free staff place for every 10 children on air trips.
But you’ll need to check your school or LEA’s requirements on this (whatever it is, we can adapt your quote to fit).
Learn more about adult-to-child ratios on school trips.
Do I need to complete a risk assessment?
Yes, you’ll be required to carry out a risk assessment. As this is really specific to your group, only you have the knowledge to complete it. However, there are a few ways we can help. For more info, check out our risk assessments guide.
What are the most popular destinations for primary schools?
Generally, we find most of our primary school groups prefer to keep travelling to a minimum (it can be hard for younger children to sit still on a coach or plane for extended periods of time) and prefer to travel by coach.
So, the UK (obviously), Northern France (we’re talking Paris, Disneyland® Paris, the Opal Coast, Lille and Normandy), Belgium and Western Germany are really popular destinations for primary schools.
Some groups are happy to travel a little further. Spain and Italy are both famously child-friendly and there are some great primary-friendly educational opportunities if you’re happy to take a short flight.
Need help with planning a trip?
We arrange primary school trips to destinations within the UK and all over Europe, including France, Germany, Belgium and Spain.
Our trips cover a variety of subjects, including languages, history, geography, maths and science (you’ll see on each trip page that we’ve highlighted the curriculum links for primary schools).
Wherever you’d like to take your primary school pupils, we’ll make sure the accommodation and activities are suitable for pupils of this age. And we’ll be with you every step of the way, from your first enquiry to the moment you return home (with 24/7 support while you’re on your trip).
Get started by browsing some of our most popular options below. All our trips are completely tailor-made, so just get in touch and we’ll help you put together the perfect experience for your pupils.
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