Why learning outside the classroom is twice as powerful

In a series of experiments undertaken several years ago, adults were asked to recall events from their primary school days. Over 50% of the events recalled were what might be called special off-site events – such as a visit to the local theatre, a trip to a historic building or an art gallery, swimming lessons at a nearby pool, and so on.

This is interesting because out of the 1000 days most people spend at primary school, for many children only about 10 involve being outside the classroom.

Put another way, only around 1% of school days involved being outside the classroom, and yet these were the days most remembered by adults looking back.

Which probably means that the headline about learning outside the classroom being twice as powerful is an understatement.

When a questionnaire was sent to schools asking why they didn’t do more learning outside the classroom, the replies often cited public transport as the problem.

Fortunately, however, the days of that particular problem are now over, as increasing numbers of schools are leasing minibuses.  You can find out more here www.minibusleasing.co.uk