What percentage of teachers have been engaged in at least one LOtC project during the past year? What is the most popular type of LOtC? What do teachers aim to achieve through offering LOtC? What factors limit the amount of LOtC that teachers can offer?

These are just a few of the questions that we, as sponsors of LOtC Week 2016, asked primary and secondary school teachers across the UK in a recent survey. And now we have the answers.

You can find the full Learning Outside the Classroom report which contains analyses of the survey results at www.learningoutside.info/index.php/lotc-survey-results.

However, in this email I would like to give particular focus to the question ‘What factors limit the amount of LOtC that teachers can offer?’. Clearly if we can offer a solution, more students and pupils will be able to reap the various and numerous benefits that LOtC offers.

In the survey both primary and secondary school teachers stated that transport was the main issue (50% secondary, 34% primary). Or more specifically, the cost of transport.

So how can this be overcome?

You might want to get your school involved with LOtC Week which is running from the 27 June to the 1 July 2016 as in doing so you will be privy to a wealth of information about how to overcome this issue, including transport costs, restrictions, legalities and regulations.

This information has been supplied by Benchmark Leasing – a company which specialises in the leasing of school minibuses and without whom, LOtC Week and the research conducted ahead of the Week’s launch would not be possible.

I do hope you will take a look at the LOtC Week website (www.learningoutside.info) and take advantage of all it has to offer.

And, if your school is looking to acquire a minibus, you can find more information about our school minibus leasing packages by visiting our website. Or, if you’d prefer, you can call us on 01753 859944 or email us at minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk.

Benchmark Leasing Ltd
11 High Street
Eton
Berkshire
SL4 6AS

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

minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Tel: 01753 859944

There is one thing that infuriates vehicle owners more than anything else (other than fuel prices, which rather frustratingly seem to be on the rise again). That is depreciation.

Drive a brand new vehicle out of the garage. Depreciation.

Own the vehicle for six months. Depreciation. A year. Depreciation. Two years……

Get a couple of Advisory Notices on your MOT. Depreciation.

……………………….. Depreciation.

…………………………….Depreciation.

………………………………. Depreciation.

Of course, the most effective way of reducing the impact of depreciation of a vehicle would be to buy it second-hand (when it has already had its fair share of depreciation), but when it comes to the school minibus you want to be sure that it is safe – which can (usually) be guaranteed by buying a brand new school minibus.

So the question remains, what is the most effective way of reducing the impact of depreciation of a brand new school minibus?

One word; leasing.

Indeed, many steer away from leasing because there is a common misconception that leasing is more expensive than buying a minibus outright or on finance. However, we’ve done the figures and have found that this is simply not the case, particularly when you take depreciation into consideration and lease from a company such as Benchmark Leasing.

Benchmark Leasing have for some time been working hard to create minibus leasing packages tailored especially for schools – evolving the arrangement through feedback from administrators, school managers, site managers…

Thus, our leasing arrangements offer substantial discounts so the impact of depreciation is much less than if you were to purchase a school minibus outright. Furthermore, the leasing rentals make the lowered depreciation easier to budget for as it is spread over the term in monthly payments.

You’ll also be glad to know that if the used vehicle marketplace worsens, our rentals are fixed so the school is protected.

For more information about the minibus leasing packages that we offer, please do visit www.minibusleasing.co.uk or call us on 01753 859944.

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 overcome the overwhelming number of obstacles to LOtC?

Because LOtC offers so many benefits, most educators would like to spend more time teaching their students outside the typical classroom setting. However, many can’t offer LOtC to their students as often as they would like because of the various obstacles in the way.

Just one of these obstacles is the issue of school transport – and, more specifically, the bureaucracy, legalities, paperwork, and costs that come with acquiring a school minibus (reported to be the most desired LOtC transport option).

Which is why, as a company which supplies school minibuses, we are sponsoring LOtC Week – to support schools in overcoming at least one of the obstacles to offering regular LOtC, in the hope that your students will be able to enjoy more LOtC in the future.

As sponsors of LOtC Week we have put together a wealth of information on acquiring a school minibus (including information about the practicalities, legalities, paperwork, and costs involved) which is easy to navigate and even easier to understand:

1. Who can drive
2. Operator’s Licence – what types are there and do you need one?
3. Seatbelts – the rules
4. Taking a minibus abroad
5. Towing with a minibus
6. Tachographs – what are they and do you need one?
7. Signage for School minibuses
8. Safety inspections and MOT’s – what are the rules and recommendations?
9. Driver training
10. Additional reading and information sources

To see this information all in one place, please do visit www.learningoutside.info.

On the LOtC Week website (www.learningoutside.info) you will also find information on the benefits of LOtC, as well as how your school can get involved with LOtC Week which is set to take place between 27th June and 1st July 2016.

Furthermore, the team here at Benchmark Leasing have for some time been working hard to create the most convenient minibus leasing packages especially for schools – evolving the arrangement through feedback, primarily from administrators and school managers.

To see these minibus leasing packages, please do visit www.minibusleasing.co.uk or call us on 01753 859944.