Since the outbreak of Covid-19 we’ve all had plans affected in one way or another. Weddings, birthdays, get-togethers, holidays… they’ve all been put on hold. Sadly school trips have not been missed off the list either.
Over the past 14 months, at Rayburn Tours, we’ve worked with party leaders to rearrange over 250 trips and with that 35,000 customers whose tour plans have been affected.
Behind these numbers are missed opportunities. Opportunities that students and teachers had been so looking forward to. A unique and unmatched way of learning about the world around us, giving real meaning to a subject. A chance to for students to form strong bonds with fellow pupils and teachers, as well as learn about themselves.
And this is precisely why many of the schools and teachers we’ve been working with are so desperate to ensure that, whilst their school trip plans have been put on hold, they certainly haven’t been cancelled. Making sure that they can take their students out of the classroom as soon as it’s safe to, so that they don’t miss out any longer.
One of many teachers ready and raring to help his students experience Geography in the real world is Guy Boyes, Head of Geography at St George’s College, Weybridge. For over 15 years St George’s College have been running invaluable trips for their pupils with the help of Rayburn Tours and these adventures are just as important today.
“We have organised trips with Rayburn for over 15 years and they always do their best to help us have the best trip possible. This year is no different.”
With trips to Iceland for A-Level students in October 2021 and for GCSE students in July 2022, there’s little denying that Guy, the school and parents are eager to get their students out experiencing the world and all it has to offer as soon as the green light is given.
Guy and his team are excited to take their budding geographers to new places, experience new skills and give them memories that will last a lifetime. And whilst this past year has brought about challenges, the desire to give back to students and step out of the classroom is stronger than ever.
“We are optimistic about our plans for an A-Level trip in October 2021 and for GCSE students in July 2022. Our uptake has been higher than ever for these trips as students cling onto the possibility of some form of return to normality in the near future.”
We understand, these are uncertain times right now, but with our Rayburn Tours Covid Guarantee the school have additional peace of mind. Students at St George’s College have the prospect of a once-in-a-lifetime trip on the horizon, whilst the school and parents have the reassurance that should their trip be affected by Covid-19 they are covered.
The school had also planned a Geography trip to Iceland this Summer, which due to travel restrictions has unfortunately had to be reviewed. With our Covid Guarantee in place, the school were able to cancel without losing deposits.
“We have already had to cancel one trip for July 2021, but parents and students were truly grateful for us trying to go ahead with it. In such challenging times students have had very little to look forward to. Despite the chance of having trips cancelled, the COVID guarantee gave parents, students and our school confidence to plan trips for 3 different year groups.”
So why is it that schools are so impatient to get their students back out of the classroom and into the real world? Because after such challenging times students need these experiences more than ever! Who better to tell us more than one of the students who travelled to Iceland back in 2019 with Rayburn Tours:
“I must admit that the natural, geographical wonders of Iceland really were spectacular. On the first day we visited the magical ‘Blue Lagoon’, which was one of the highlights of my trip, with the powers of geothermal seawater ensuring a sensational visit. We walked behind a colossal waterfall and even visited a glacier – which was very interesting to be able to see the landforms that we had learned about in our geography lessons in real life. I saw erratics, a V-shaped valley and even had the privilege to climb a drumlin, from which we saw an incredible outwash plain.
Overall, Iceland was an experience that I will never forget and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to visit. I learned so much and was able to experience fantastic physical geography that I thought I would only ever learn about in lessons.”
We couldn’t have put it better ourselves!
“These trips are an amazing way for students to immerse themselves in new cultures and gain exposure to different environments. They get to see all that they have learned in the classroom first hand and put their knowledge to the test.”
Guy Boyes
If you’re eager to get your students out of the classroom, then we’re here to help. We understand that these are challenging and uncertain times right now, but our team are here to support you every step of the way. With our Covid Guarantee you can also feel confident and comfortable knowing that should your plans be affected, you’re covered. Find out more about our Rayburn Tours Covid Guarantee.