Dave Cook and Craig Pryer of Tendring Technology College in Essex discuss their shared passion for helping young people to thrive outside the classroom.
What is the biggest issue you face when it comes to organising trips?
Dave: As a school we love to dream big with our visits, but the reality is that some of our students may not be able to afford it. Finance and the ability to pay for a visit has to be the paramount consideration, but that doesn’t mean the pupils have to sacrifice on the experience it gives them.
For example, I took a group of girls to the Houses of Parliament to inspire them with politics and civic duty. I drove the school minibus to save on coaching costs, and the visit itself included a workshop and was completely free. We’re also taking a group of girls to the local energy company site to spark curiosity in STEM, so it’s about thinking creatively.
Craig: We also do several fundraising events throughout the year and speak to different companies about potential sponsorships to help our pupils get out of the classroom. It’s important for those people who can help financially to see where their money goes in providing life-changing experiences for our young people. We want to offer things to our students they’ve never done before which inspires them for later life.
How do you get teachers on board with visits?
Craig: We’re really lucky that we have a headteacher who supports what we’re trying to achieve. We support every member of staff who wants to run a trip as we want them to have the confidence to offer their pupils something different.
Dave: It really does make a difference when you have a headteacher who is fully on board with your outlook on educational visits. This then factors down to all departments so everyone is on the same page with the same vision.
What process do you have in place for choosing staff for trips?
Craig: We always make sure we choose individuals for the right reasons. Over our time together we’ve created a strong network of teachers who we know can be relied on and do a great job. These people are just as passionate as we are about educational visits, and they come along to be engaged with our students which overall, makes for a much better visit.
Dave: As a trip leader, I like to know that the visit is worthwhile and the staff attending don’t see it as a waste of time. It also takes the pressure off when you can oversee everyone, rather than having to take control of everything when away from school.
Where do you find affordable ideas for your pupils?
Dave: If I’m completely honest, I get bored and just start scouring the web for ideas! Sometimes I wake up at 3am with an idea and fire off some emails. It comes in all different forms, including speaking to ex-colleagues from other schools.
I don’t believe a teacher’s job is just in the classroom, especially in a school like this. It’s our duty to show these kids and educate them about the wider world out there.
Where does your passion for your roles come from?
Craig: I think we work so well because Dave came from a different school with another background, whereas I’ve been at this school for more than 20 years, so we’re both constantly learning from each other. I feel great pride in how much we’ve developed in my time here and there is nothing better than seeing the smile on a child’s face when you take them out of their comfort zone.
Dave: Craig is right, I came from an outstanding school in Colchester, but I didn’t feel I was being rewarded in myself as a teacher. Young people need enthusiastic teachers to lead and provide them with opportunities to grow and develop. I get a massive buzz out of seeing our pupils grow in confidence.
It must be nice to work together on different projects?
Craig: We just clicked straight away when Dave joined the school, and I love what we’re building together. We have to be strict and create certain boundaries, but ultimately, we both believe in the power of visits and that there is more to school life than grades.
Dave is really good at finding these random schemes or free trips. I’ll then look at it, and we’ll go back and forth together until we come up with a plan. One of our colleagues once said we’re like the Ant & Dec of the school, as we’re a bit of a double act!
Dave: It comes down to trust – I trust Craig and he trusts me, and without that, it will never work. Craig is great at getting on board with my crazy ideas but will also be the voice of reason if I go too far!
Would you like to tell us about the work you do in organising educational visits? Get in touch by emailing editorial@schooltravelorganiser.com.
