Best Way to Teach Outside School

Work experience, after school clubs, ‘adventure’ days and field trips are extra parts to teaching that are also essential parts of the curriculum. If your class is scheduled to take part in an out-of-school activity, it is highly likely that you will be expected to help supervise.

Out of school events don’t have to be a worry, provided that both you and your students are well aware of what is expected. This means that behaviour policies within the classroom also apply outside it and, as their teacher, you are still in control of the class. As with any extracurricular activity, ensure you know exactly what is due to occur. Always plan for the unexpected!

Top tips

•  Write a detailed checklist to go over on the day, as well as a list of all students involved.
•  ’Brief the students on details of the event, what they will be expected to do and how they should behave. Make it very clear that any unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly.
•  If the activity involves a class visit, check that the coach is booked, tickets have been bought, permission slips have been signed, etc.
•  For events such as work experience, make sure you know who is based where, and that any relevant contact details have been checked, etc.
•  Plan ahead and consider any potential problems, such as lostWellingtons, forgotten lunches, unsuitable attire, etc.
• Take frequent registers or head-counts and make sure no one wanders off. Alert other members of staff immediately if a student goes missing.
•  Ensure all students know where they should go if they get lost or split up from the group. Set definite timescales for returning to coaches, meeting for lunch, etc.
•  Ensure appropriate provisions have been made for students with spe­cific medical requirements (diabetics, asthmatics, epileptics, etc.).
•  Consider health and safety and first aid requirements – remem­ber your duty of care. Consider doing a ‘risk assessment’ for the activity if necessary.
•  Have contact and emergency numbers to hand. Take a fully charged mobile phone with you and ensure you can contact and be contacted at all times.