Glynis Pattison, school visits coordinator at Conyers School in Stockton-on-Tees used her School Trip Champion prize money to give a group of young carers the chance to spend a day at Alton Towers in Staffordshire.
Glynis Pattison was honoured at the School Travel Awards in November of last year after winning the School Trip Champion Award. It’s an accolade to recognise and reward those who work in a school setting and make an invaluable contribution to getting children out on school trips and learning outside the classroom.
Not only did Glynis win the award, she also scooped £2,000 to spend on a future visit and she decided to choose a group within her school community for a special day out in order to give something back. For her, the choice was obvious.
She handed the opportunity straight over to the school’s remarkable young carers group. These students juggle more than most, caring for family members at home with an emotional maturity well beyond their years on top of doing their schoolwork.
The trip was designed to give them a breather and a break from responsibility, where they could simply enjoy being themselves.
What followed was one of those rare, golden days: full of sunshine, laughter, and the kind of memories that don’t fade. 12 young carers got to do something they don’t often get the chance to do: just be kids.
The journey was smooth, the group buzzed with excitement, and Alton Towers welcomed them with open arms (and sweltering heat: nearly 30°C!). Once inside, the students grouped up and set off to explore. From the dizzy highs of rollercoasters to the sheer joy of just walking around with their friends, they threw themselves into the experience. The Smiler was so much of a hit, some groups went for seconds!
The day had its standout moments. Evie pushed past her nerves and took on the park’s biggest rides — the pride in her face afterwards said everything. Chloe won a giant cow, which she carried around like a trophy for the rest of the day. Not to be outdone, Mr Gallacher and Mr Earl took on Oblivion and The Smiler with as much (slightly shaky) courage as the kids; they even managed to hold onto their lunches in the process!
From a logistical point of view, everything ran smoothly. The park was clean, accessible, and staff were kind and helpful throughout — a real relief on such a hot day. The facilities made it easy to relax and focus on the fun.
Commenting on the day, Glynis said: “Days like this are a reminder of why we do what we do. These students give so much of themselves at home, and yet they still turn up to school with humour, kindness, and determination.
“I’m incredibly grateful to School Travel Organiser for the award and even more grateful I got to share the reward with a group who couldn’t have deserved it more, I feel incredibly humble.”
“These students give so much of themselves at home, and yet they still turn up to school with humour, kindness, and determination.”
Glynis Pattison, school visits coordinator, Conyers School
School visits to Alton Towers
Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire welcomes primary and secondary school groups. Visiting pupils can enjoy the various rides during a day trip or extend their visit for a residential, staying in the resort’s hotels and enjoying access to the theme park, waterpark, conference facilities, and team-building activities.
You can also give students the opportunity to learn about key areas of the resort such as STEM, business and careers by visiting the Alton Towers Resort Education Hub.
You can find out more at www.altontowers.com/schools.
About the School Trip Champion Award
The School Trip Champion Award recognises someone who really embraces the importance of learning outside the classroom and shines a spotlight on EVCs, teachers and school staff for the important role they play in organising trips.
The accolade is presented to an EVC, teacher or member of school staff who identifies the power of school trips and who tries to innovate the ways in which children can learn beyond the school gates, as well as promoting the benefits of educational visits for everyone.
Glynis Pattison was named School Trip Champion at the 2024 School Travel Awards. She was recognised for supporting staff every step of the way with organising trips and providing assistance to parents and students, being their single point of contact.
Some of the visits Glynis was involved in included: bushcraft camping, language trips to Paris and Switzerland, Berlin, Italy, watersports trips to the Azores, theatre visits to London, Manchester, ski trips and New York.
Find out more about the School Travel Awards at schooltravelorganiser.com/awards.
