Starting secondary school is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming for many Year 7 students. Adjusting to a new environment, meeting different teachers, navigating a new timetable, and making new friends can be daunting. However, a well-planned school trip can make this transition smoother.
By giving students the chance to bond with classmates, build confidence, and develop essential skills outside the classroom, school trips provide the perfect opportunity to help them feel more at home in their new school.
The Challenges of Transitioning From Primary to Secondary School
Starting secondary school is a big step for Year 7 students. While it’s an exciting time, it can also be overwhelming as they adjust to a completely new environment. Many students face challenges such as:
- Feeling Nervous About a New Environment – Moving from the familiarity of primary school to a much larger secondary school can be daunting. New classrooms, different teachers for each subject, and larger student populations can make the first few weeks feel intimidating.
- Struggles With Making New Friends – Friendship groups often change as students move to different schools, meaning many Year 7s have to form new social circles. Without structured opportunities to bond, some students may struggle to connect with their classmates.
- Adjusting to a More Demanding Routine – Secondary school brings new responsibilities, navigating timetables, managing homework across multiple subjects, and becoming more independent. This shift can feel overwhelming, especially for students who rely heavily on teacher guidance in primary school.
- Building Independence and Confidence – With less one-on-one attention from teachers, students need to take more initiative in their learning and personal organisation. Some Year 7s may struggle with this increased independence, which can affect their confidence in the classroom.
- Feeling Disconnected From Their Peers – Some students take longer to settle into secondary school life, which can make them feel isolated. A lack of confidence in social situations can lead to hesitancy in speaking up in class or joining extracurricular activities.
The Benefits of Year 7 School Trips
A well-timed Year 7 school trip can ease many of these transition challenges. By providing a relaxed and engaging environment outside the classroom, trips encourage students to form friendships, develop independence, and build confidence, all of which help them settle into secondary school life more smoothly. Let’s take a closer look at some of the main benefits of year 7 school trips:
Opportunity to bond with classmates
Adventurous school trips allow pupils to compete in various challenges, collaboratively and individually. It’s healthy competition that can see classmates bond in ways they might not have in school. Our team games get students talking to each other, suggesting ideas and getting creative, and developing their relationships in every challenge!
Develop skills useful in the classroom
Boosting their communication skills and teamwork skills could prove useful for when they’re back in the classroom. Whether it’s learning how to work better with a partner, in a team, or maybe even individually, it could have a positive effect on their learning, helping them to feel more relaxed and confident when these situations arise.
A neutral environment can be beneficial
For some, the classroom can be quite intimidating, making it hard to raise a hand or try something new. However, a Year 7 adventure school trip can boost their confidence and help them realise they can achieve anything. Outside the classroom, the constraints are lifted, allowing students to express themselves freely and build invaluable communication skills.
For instance, a student who might feel shy about talking to certain classmates in school can find it much easier to connect with them during a thrilling team game on a school trip, free from the usual classroom pressures.
Showcase their own skills
Students might not be able to show some of the skills they have in the classroom, but a school trip could offer them the opportunity to do this. With plenty of physical and creative activities, it’s a great place for students to showcase some of their own skills, which are a little tough to express in the classroom.
Enhancing independence and confidence
For many pupils, a Year 7 trip might be their first time away from home without their family. This experience is instrumental in fostering independence and self-confidence. Pupils learn to manage their belongings, make decisions, and navigate new environments, all under the watchful eyes of their teachers. Successfully handling these responsibilities gives them a sense of achievement and boosts their confidence, making them feel more capable of handling the challenges of secondary school.
Types of Year 7 School Trips to Take Your Students On
Year 7 school trips offer a fantastic way to support students’ learning while helping them settle into secondary school life. Whether you’re looking to reinforce the curriculum or develop key life skills, the right trip can make a huge impact. Here are some excellent options to consider:
- Museums and Galleries – Bringing Learning to Life
A visit to a museum or gallery is a great way to make subjects more engaging. History trips to places like the Imperial War Museum or a local heritage site can help students connect with the past, while science museums offer interactive exhibits that make STEM subjects more exciting. Art galleries, such as the Tate or the National Gallery, can spark creativity and inspire budding young artists.
- Outdoor Residential Trips – Building Confidence and Independence
Outdoor activity centres, such as PGL, provide students with the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, try new challenges, and build friendships. Whether it’s team-building activities, problem-solving challenges, or outdoor adventures like canoeing and high ropes, these experiences help students develop resilience, independence, and confidence—all essential for settling into secondary school.
- STEM-Focused Trips – Inspiring the Next Generation
For schools looking to ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, and maths, STEM-focused trips can be incredibly valuable. A visit to a science centre, such as the Science Museum in London, allows students to explore hands-on experiments, robotics, and space exploration. Tech-focused workshops can introduce students to coding, engineering, and problem-solving in an exciting, real-world context.
- Theatre and Cultural Experiences – Encouraging Creativity
Watching a live theatre performance can bring literature to life and deepen students’ understanding of drama and storytelling. A visit to London’s West End, the Globe Theatre, or a local theatre production can provide an immersive experience that ties into their English curriculum. Cultural trips to historical sites, festivals, or even international destinations can also broaden students’ perspectives and encourage a love for the arts.
No matter which type of trip you choose, providing Year 7 students with opportunities to learn outside the classroom can help them gain confidence, bond with their peers, and settle into secondary school more smoothly.
How Year 7 School Trips Support Learning
Year 7 school trips do more than just provide a break from the classroom—they actively enhance students’ learning experiences. By taking education beyond textbooks, these trips help students engage with subjects in a hands-on way, making lessons more memorable and meaningful.
Reinforcing Classroom Learning with Hands-On Experiences
One of the biggest benefits of school trips is the opportunity for students to see and experience what they’ve been learning about in class. Whether it’s standing inside a medieval castle, experimenting with scientific principles in a hands-on workshop, or watching a Shakespeare play performed live, real-world experiences help solidify classroom concepts and make learning more engaging.
Linking Trips to the Curriculum
When carefully planned, school trips can directly support key learning objectives across various subjects:
- STEM subjects – Visiting a science centre, planetarium, or engineering workshop helps bring theories to life and encourages problem-solving skills.
- History and geography – Trips to historical sites, battlefields, or geological landmarks offer students a deeper understanding of the past and the natural world.
- English and drama – Seeing a play at the theatre can enhance comprehension and appreciation of literature in a way that reading alone cannot.
- Personal development – Outdoor residential trips build essential soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience, which benefit students both inside and outside the classroom.
Boosting Engagement and Personal Development
For some students, traditional classroom learning can feel abstract or challenging. A well-planned school trip provides an alternative way to absorb information, helping to engage different learning styles. Experiential learning encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity, skills that are valuable across all subjects.
Beyond academics, trips also contribute to students’ personal growth by improving confidence, communication, and problem-solving abilities. Activities that require teamwork and independent decision-making help students develop social skills and resilience, qualities that are crucial for success in secondary school and beyond.
By choosing school trips that align with learning goals, teachers can create powerful educational experiences that not only reinforce the curriculum but also help students develop lifelong skills.
Overcoming Common Barriers to Booking School Trips
While school trips offer invaluable benefits, some schools hesitate to organise them due to concerns about cost, safety, and time away from lessons. However, these challenges can be managed with the right planning and support. Here’s how to overcome the most common barriers to booking a Year 7 school trip.
Budget Concerns? Affordable Options Are Available
One of the biggest challenges schools face is funding trips, but there are several ways to make them more accessible:
- Funding and grants – Schools can apply for educational grants, local authority funding, or PTA support to help cover costs.
- Subsidies for disadvantaged students – Some programmes offer financial assistance to ensure all students can participate, such as PGL’s breakthrough fund.
- Fundraising initiatives – Encouraging students and parents to get involved in fundraising activities can also help offset expenses.
Worried About Safety? Rigorous Measures Are in Place
Student safety is a top priority for any school trip. At PGL, strict safety procedures are followed to ensure a secure and well-managed experience:
- Comprehensive risk assessments – Schools receive detailed risk assessments for all activities and accommodations.
- Trained and experienced staff – PGL team members are fully trained to supervise activities, manage risks, and provide first aid.
- High safety standards – From equipment checks to 24/7 on-site support, everything is designed with student well-being in mind.
- Clear supervision plans – Schools work closely with PGL to establish supervision ratios and emergency protocols, giving teachers peace of mind.
Time Away from Lessons? The Long-Term Benefits Outweigh the Short-Term Absence
Some schools worry about students missing classroom time, but school trips provide educational and personal development benefits that extend far beyond a few days away.
- Trips reinforce learning – Many school trips directly support the curriculum, helping students better understand subjects like science, history, and geography.
- Boosts confidence and social skills – Time spent away from school allows students to develop independence, resilience, and teamwork skills that enhance their overall education.
- Improved engagement in lessons – Experiential learning can reignite students’ enthusiasm for subjects and improve participation back in the classroom.
By addressing these concerns, schools can feel confident that a Year 7 trip is a worthwhile investment, one that helps students settle into secondary school while gaining valuable skills for the future.
Book a Year 7 School Trip with PGL!
Our residential school trips offer students an experience they’ll never forget! Life at PGL is about adventure, fun and laughter! With fantastic group activities galore, your students will never tire of the wide range of adrenaline-fuelled activities and amazing activities into the evening too.
Reach UNITE! Is our dedicated adventure weekend to help your students build relationships and strengthen friendships, all in time for their big change moving into secondary school.
We provide school trips for primary schools and secondary schools that are all about outdoor education!
At PGL, we have an exceptional offering of trips, locations and activities to enjoy, so get in touch today to discuss your next school trip.
