School trip ideas, activities and attractions

It is not always easy to find Learning Outside the Classroom ideas, activities and attractions that both meet the demands of the curriculum and are best suited to your pupils’ interests and abilities.

In order to make the process of searching for relevant school trips easier, Educational Visits 2015 has put together an extensive online library of potential places to visit that will enhance pupils’ learning.

On the website (link below) you can search for educational visits by region, county, type, school subject and age group to find a suitable trip for your pupils and their education.

But of course, in providing your pupils with enriching LOtC experiences beyond the school’s immediate area, reliable and cost effective transport is required.

Leasing a minibus from Benchmark can often work out cheaper than buying a minibus outright (especially if one takes into account the re-sale value of a school bus at the end of its working life) or, indeed, hiring a coach each time.

It is an arrangement which makes it possible for schools to fund the minibus through a small payment each month, which has the added benefit of improved budgeting and cash flow forecasting.

What’s more, a full maintenance programme is included, so no matter the outcome of the vehicle’s services and MOTs the cost of repairs won’t affect the lease price.

For more information about leasing a minibus with Benchmark you can go to our website, call us on 01753 859944 or email minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk.

And to easily find Learning Outside the Classroom ideas, activities and attractions, go to: http://www.educationalvisitsuk.com/attractions.

Benchmark Leasing Ltd
11 High Street
Eton
Berkshire
SL4 6AS

www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php

minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Tel: 01753 859944

How can you ensure that your minibus is roadworthy and safe without you, or your colleagues, having to arrange its MOT or servicing?

Keeping students safe from harm is undoubtedly the highest priority of any member of staff.  Which is why the MOT, servicing and overall maintenance of the school’s minibus is of the highest priority.

But there is a problem. Because, not only is this an issue of utmost importance, but it is also an issue that takes up a significant amount of time.

And when it has to be done, it can’t be delayed.

Of course, if the person nominated as in charge of the School’s Transport Policy always has time at the moment when the maintenance is due, then there is no problem. But if this is not the case, it can mean that the vehicle is either being used outside of its safety parameters or has to be taken off the road.

However, there is a solution.

For if you lease a minibus with Benchmark we will arrange for the vehicle to receive regular maintenance and servicing checks by qualified engineers, giving you the comfort in knowing that the school minibus is fully operational and, most importantly, safe.

What’s more, our leasing option means that you can benefit from improved budgeting and cash flow forecasting, since you will always know what expenditure is coming along.

It is an arrangement which makes it possible for schools to fund the minibus through a small payment each month. And in some cases, where trips are paid for by contributions from parents and the PTA, it is possible to allocate a part of those payments towards the cost of the minibus.

You can find more information on our website or give us a call on 01753 859944.

What is the most cost effective way of upgrading the capacity of your school’s minibus?

Minibuses tend to have two problems.

First they can’t be in two places at once, and second they don’t carry enough people.

Now, of course, the first of these two problems is one that affects all modes of transport, but the second is a problem that is particular to the minibus.

But fortunately both of these problems can be overcome very readily – and the good news is that the solution doesn’t involve waiting for the TARDIS to become an affordable everyday mode of transport.

The answer, of course, is obvious – but it is an answer which often ignored because it is instantly rejected on the grounds of it being too expensive. But that concern no longer applies.

Quite simply the solution is to have two minibuses – thus allowing the bus to be in two places at once or on other occasions to have double the capacity where a whole class needs to go to one location.

As for the cost, this is overcome by leasing the second bus (or indeed, should you wish, leasing both).

Leasing can often work out cheaper than buying (especially if one takes into account the re-sale value of a school bus at the end of its working life), and incorporates a full maintenance programme – thus avoiding any increase in the work that needs to be undertaken by school staff.

Indeed, since the monthly leasing fee includes not just the cost of the service, but also MOT and overall maintenance of the vehicle, the savings can be significant.

What’s more, because a second bus removes the need to hire a coach on certain occasions, the saving can be even greater than at first imagined.

Leasing a second minibus with Benchmark makes it possible for schools to afford a modern minibus with greater capacity through a small monthly payment.

You can find more information on our website or give us a call on 01753 859944, or email us at minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk