The Education Select Committee has published the final report of its inquiry into 16-19 participation in education. The full report can be read
here.
The Committee highlights the need to address the large number of students who are disengaged from learning, particularly given plans to raise the compulsory participation age in school to 18 years.
Encouragingly, the Committee also references the following quote from evidence submitted by West Nottinghamshire College which highlights the importance of vocational trips in keeping students engaged: “Similarly, enrichment activities such as vocational trips act as incentives for learners, keeping students motivated and interested and preparing them for the world of work and higher education. Reducing these life-enhancing experiences will demotivate students and, at worst, harm their employment chances.”
The STF welcomes this comment and believes that given the overwhelming evidence trips and learning outside the classroom activities bring, they should be considered more than enrichment and optional, but should be an integral part of the teaching and learning process, as much part of management's planning as classroom lessons are now.