The Victoria Art Gallery continues to be top of the class for educational visits after retaining its Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.
Awarded by national charity The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (on behalf of the Government), the Quality Badge combines learning and safety in a standard certificate for all organisations providing learning experiences outside the classroom.
The Victoria Art Gallery has been successful in renewing its Quality Badge status – an accolade also held by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Fashion Museum and Roman Baths – as part of its commitment to offering creative opportunities for the whole community.
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “Retaining the Quality Badge is a real boost for all the staff working in Bath & North East Somerset Council’s heritage attractions as it shows that we continue to provide children and young people with the type of high quality learning experiences they really benefit from. We’re thrilled to have official recognition for our efforts and we look forward to welcoming even more children and young people to our interesting and enjoyable venues, so that everyone has the opportunity to participate in cultural activities.”
Taking learning beyond the walls of the classroom makes the educational experience more memorable and appealing to children who use a variety of learning styles. In a survey conducted for travel firm TUI’s Education Division, 99 per cent of teachers said that students are more animated and engaged when learning outside the classroom.
Ofsted has reported that learning outside the classroom can contribute significantly to raising standards and improving pupils’ personal, social and emotional development, as well as being crucial to delivering a broad and balanced curriculum.
The Victoria Art Gallery offers educational sessions relating to its permanent collection as well as temporary exhibitions in the Gallery’s engaging and stimulating surroundings.
Teacher Margaret Warne, who brought along year 5 and 6 pupils from Swainswick Primary School in September, said: “It was a bonus to be able to explore the Radev Collection and made the workshop even more relevant. We came away with plenty of ideas to develop in the classroom.”
The Government-backed Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge is designed to make it easier for teachers to identify providers of quality educational visits. Organisations display the Quality Badge as a signal to schools that their venue has met the required standards.
Beth Gardner, Chief Executive of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, said: “Educational visits are among the most memorable experiences in a child’s school life. The Quality Badge offers teachers a guarantee that not only is a venue providing the sort of educational value that they can build on in class long after the visit, but they also have the appropriate risk management structures in place.”
For more information, or to book an educational visit to the Victoria Art Gallery, telephone 01225 477233, email [email protected] or visit www.victoriagal.org.uk.
