Educational holidays

LONGLEAT GETS TOP MARKS FOR EDUCATIONAL VISITS

Longleat in Wiltshire has shown itself to be at the top of the class for educational visits by being awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.

Awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, the Quality Badge scheme combines for the first time learning and safety into one easily recognisable badge for all organisations providing learning outside the classroom experiences.

Longleat is one of only two wildlife parks in the country to have been awarded the Quality Badge, successfully meeting all the badge's quality indicators. In being awarded the Quality Badge, Longleat pledges to engage in an ongoing process to sustain high quality learning outside the classroom.

Longleat's Head of Education, Florence Wallace said "We are delighted that we have structures and processes in place that are now officially recognised through this national educational Quality Badge scheme.

"We have worked hard for many years to ensure that not just educational groups but all visitors have a great day out at Longleat and learning is considered to be part of the fun.

"The Education and Marketing departments work very closely together and the development and production of promotional material plus the extensive Longleat website have assisted us to qualify for this award," she added.

The Quality Badge was developed as part of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto, a national initiative to ensure young people are given more opportunities to have these experiences as part of the curriculum. The Quality Badge is designed to make it easier for teachers to identify providers of quality educational visits.

Ed Balls, Secretary of State Children, Schools and Families, said, "Educational visits are among the most memorable experiences in a child's school life. Quality Badges offer teachers a guarantee that not only is a venue providing the sort of educational value that they can build on in class long after the visit but they also have the appropriate risk management structures in place.

It is a significant victory in our battle to move away from the misguided perception that learning outside the classroom is a potential minefield for teachers. I want to see teachers using Quality Badges as practical decision-making tool. It should ensure that many more young people have memorable, exciting and valuable learning outside the classroom experiences. I congratulate Longleat on being awarded the badge."

For further information on Longleat and its educational opportunities and resources please visit www.longleat.co.uk/education. For information on Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge please visit www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk