Two-fifths of parents in the United Kingdom are unable to afford sending their children on school trips that could significantly enhance their curiosity and happiness, according to new research conducted by Hyundai Motor UK.
The Impact of School Trips on Children
The study claims that educational excursions can increase children's attention by 80%, their curiosity by 75%, and their happiness by 60%. However, 40% of UK children have either completely missed out or nearly missed out on these experiences because of their parents' financial limitations.
Teachers also identify cost as the biggest obstacle for schools (82%) and for parents (77%), even though 81% of educators say school trips are vital to a child's wellbeing.
The School Experience Index
Hyundai Motor UK conducted a nationwide study involving thousands of children, parents, and teachers to determine what constitutes a positive school day. This research has led to the creation of the School Experience Index (SE Index), which combines wellbeing and engagement into a single score. The index aims to help schools measure how experiences like school trips improve children's learning and wellbeing compared to a typical classroom day.
Scientific Validation
An experiment led by Dr. Martha Newson, a behavioural scientist at the University of Greenwich, assessed more than 100 children's feelings both on a school trip and during a regular school day. The results showed that children experience a noticeable boost when learning outside the classroom, including a 71% increase in excitement, 70% in memory-making, 62% in inspiration, and 40% in self-esteem.
Dr. Newson commented: "We measured how the same children felt and behaved on a normal school day versus a school trip day. By doing this, we found significant uplifts in curiosity and self-esteem on trip days, which are factors closely linked to engagement and learning. Our research means that we can see how the trip impacted factors like wellbeing, confidence, self-esteem, and focus."
She added: "We tracked the same pupils on both regular and trip days across a range of school trip types. The SE Index turns what teachers have long observed into quantifiable evidence. It is designed to support education providers in planning experiences that will have the most positive impact."
Teacher and Student Perspectives
In a poll of more than 100 teachers, 93% said trips should offer new experiences, 91% said they should prioritise learning new facts, and 89% said they should value developing skills beyond the classroom. The study also revealed that 77% of children consider a school trip their 'best school day ever'.
Hyundai's Great British School Trip Programme
This research marks the fourth year of Hyundai's Great British School Trip programme, which provides essential funding for trips to schools across the UK. Since 2022, Hyundai claims to have invested more than £3 million in bursaries, sending over 200,000 children on school trips. The initiative has reached nearly a third (30%) of schools in the UK, and the company plans to invite parents to get involved to help bring more school trips to life.
Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai Motor & Genesis UK, said: "Hyundai's Great British School Trip programme is all about giving children access to truly memorable learning beyond the classroom that they may not have had otherwise. And now, with the School Experience Index, we are able to give teachers rigorous, science-backed data that they can use to plan really impactful school trips."
