An exploration of the lived experiences of Year Six children on a residential trip to Normandy

Over the last decade, a plethora of research has been undertaken into learning outside the classroom and its resultant benefits on pupils [Dillon, J., M. Rickinson, K. Teamey, M. Morris, M. Y. Choi, D. Sanders, and P. Benefield. 2006. “The Value of Outdoor Learning: Evidence from Research in the UK and Elsewhere.” School Science Review 87 (320): 107– 111; Peacock, A. 2006. Changing Minds: The Lasting Impact of School Trips. University of Exeter; Malone, K. 2008. Every Experience Matters. Farming and Countryside Education; Waite, S. 2011. Children Learning Outside the Classroom from Birth to Eleven. London: Sage; Beames, S., P. Higgins, and R. Nicol. 2012. Learning Outside the Classroom: Theory AQ1 Guidelines and Practice. Abingdon: Routledge]. Despite this wealth of research very little has been conducted into residential field trips. The research carried out in this study focuses specifically on exploring the residential experience of a group of 10- and 11-year-old children from a junior school in the UK who participated in a one-week residential field trip to Normandy, France, staying in a Chateau and undertaking both cultural and historical activities. The findings reveal what children can gain from participating in such an experience