Category Archives: Travel

Gapforce School Expeditions

Please may I introduce our company to you as a possible provider for your future Overseas Expeditions and Trips.

To give you a little background, we have 28 years’ experience running Educational Travel Programs throughout Central & South America, Africa and Asia. Our principal difference lies with our highly trained UK Expedition Leaders who can create unique and exciting itineraries from 7 – 28 days, based on your specific needs and budget.

We work with a number of leading UK and International Schools and I would be delighted to provide sample itineraries and references for the work we have done recently if you are interested.

Destinations currently popular with our school clients are:

  • Costa Rica
  • Galapagos
  • Tanzania
  • North India
  • Sri Lanka
  • Borneo
  • Vietnam

Whether you are planning an overseas trip for the first time, wanting to compare quotes with your current provider, or simply after fresh ideas then I would be delighted to hear from you.

To receive a free sample quote please complete our short quote request form here.

Alternatively, if you would like to arrange an initial discussion to learn more about our trips then feel free to call me on 0207 384 3028 or email me back directly.

Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.

James Catterall
Schools Manager, Gapforce

FREE Hoodies for Staff

LeaversGear would be obliged if you could pass this email on to your School Trip Coordinators.  It will definitely be of interest to them.  Especially when we are pleased to announce:-

FREE Hoodies for Staff – Offer now extended to ALL School Trips.

Although LeaversGear are the leading supplier of Leavers hoodies and shirts to schools in the UK, Ireland and Europe, we don’t just do leavers hoodies and shirts, we do all sorts of customised clothing for schools and other organisations.

Dear School Trip Coordinator

We would like to tell you about our FREE Hoodies for Staff Offer.  This has proved very popular for SKI trips and we are pleased to announce that we are now extending the offer to ALL School Trips.

How it works:

Simple really.  For every 10 students going on the ski trip we will provide one FREE hoodie for accompanying staff (fully printed and embroidered with the same graphics) – 40 students = 4 FREE staff hoodies.

We have loads of new designs coming online and we can even put your own ideas into a design making your hoodies totally unique.  School logo embroidered on the front and a large backprint are all included in the all-inclusive price.

Leavers gear hoodies

Please click here to contact us TODAY for a quote.

We will reply promptly with a comprehensive quote; details of our FREE sample service and a draft of what your hoodies could look like.

You can simply use our website contact form or lift the phone and have a chat for free on 0800 9545662.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards

The LeaversGear Team

www.leaversgear.com
E-mail: enquiries@leaversgear.com
Freephone: 0800 9545662

Top 5 School Group Destinations for Biology 2017/18

A Biology trip overseas is a great way to bring your subject to life.

Not only will your students understand and appreciate the living world better, it is also a great way to promote your subject within the school.

So where are the best places to travel to inspire students and teachers alike?

Here at Gapforce, we pride ourselves on unique, tailor-made Biology trips to some of the most incredible parts of the world.

We work with a number of schools each year including Millfield School, The King’s School Chester and Marymount International School.

Based on the feedback we’ve received, the following destinations currently rank highest amongst schools for Biology:

  1. Costa Rica: The incredibly varied topography means you can cruise the cloud forest one day, visit an active volcano the next, and finish relaxing on a hot sandy beach.
  2. Ecuador & Galapagos: Nowhere else on earth will you find so much natural diversity in so tiny a place. From the Amazon basin to Andean volcanoes, the balmy pacific coast to the astounding biodiversity of the Galapagos islands
  3. Tanzania: Boasting some of East Africa’s most famous wildlife parks and is home to a myriad of fascinating native tribes and cultures.
  4. Borneo: Home to over 250,000 species of flora and fauna and 30 different tribal groups, Borneo is a jaw-dropping mix of raging rivers, precipitous mountain ranges, unexplored caves and dense jungles.
  5. Sri Lanka: Home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient temples , rainforest, elephants and the world’s best surfing beaches

To receive a free quote for a School trip, please click here

Best wishes,

James Catterall
Schools Manager

W: www.gapforceschoolgroups.co.uk

E:  james@gapforce.org

T: 020 7736 2769

James Catterall • Manager
Hurlingham Studios, Ranelagh Gardens, Fulham, SW6 3PA United Kingdom
Mainline: +44 (0)207 736 2769 | Email: james@gapforce.org | Website: www.gapforce.org Groups: www.gapforceschoolgroups.co.uk

For many schools the cost of a minibus seems prohibitive but two developments have cut the price dramatically.

It is rare to find a school that wouldn’t accept the offer of a minibus if it was there, available for them.  But they don’t buy one, because of the cost.

However, two recent developments have ensured that more and more schools are now able to have minibus transport that they previously felt was out of their reach.

But – and this is the key fact – these two new approaches have to be seen together; on their own they look like interesting notions – but not a solution.

The two approaches are a) to lease the minibus on a set monthly fee which includes all servicing, maintenance and repair costs, and b) to share its use with a nearby school that is in the same cluster, trust or council as they are, so that each school has the bus for an agreed amount of time.

What’s more, many schools do then add a third element of their own to the equation – since they know how much the minibus will cost each month they do sometimes ask the PTA or other support group to make a contribution to that cost each month.

Now that is often very much welcomed since it means that the parents making the contribution to the minibus account know that is it their children who are benefitting, rather than the children in future years (as happens when the fund raising goes on for several years before a bus can be bought).

Sharing a leased minibus also has the benefit of ensuring that everyone is always driving a bus that is well maintained – since it is the leasing company that works on maintaining the bus in tip top condition.

If you haven’t leased a minibus or thought about sharing one, please do give me a call on 01753 859944 and I can talk you through how it all works.

But if you want to take a look at who we are and what we do before you call, you’ll find more information about leasing at www.minibusleasing.co.uk.

What more can you do to help your pupils with their creative writing?

Writing in an unfamiliar environment is something that nearly all successful writers do as it can provide them with the inspiration to think and write more creatively than before. Thus, when your pupils are tasked to write creatively, it can be a good idea to take the lesson elsewhere.

Whether it’s a short story or a poem, by taking your pupils to a park, busy street, reservoir or anywhere else which isn’t considered as commonplace, your pupils will be inspired by their surroundings and thus (in terms of creativity) their writing will be improved.

Of course, to do this you will need some kind of transport (unless your school is fortunate enough to be located within walking distance of such an environment), which is where Benchmark Minibus Leasing can help.

Leasing a minibus with Benchmark can often work out cheaper than buying a minibus outright (especially if one takes into account the re-sale value of a school bus at the end of its working life), or indeed hiring a coach each time.

It is an arrangement which makes it possible for schools to fund the minibus through a small payment each month, which has the added benefit of improved budgeting and cash flow.

What’s more, a full maintenance programme is included, so no matter the outcome of the vehicle’s services and MOTs, the cost of repairs won’t affect the lease price.

For more information about leasing a minibus with Benchmark Leasing you can go to our website, call us on 01753 859944 or email minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Benchmark Leasing Ltd
11 High Street
Eton
Berkshire
SL4 6AS

www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php

minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Tel: 01753 859944

For many schools the cost of a minibus seems prohibitive but two developments have cut the price dramatically.

It is rare to find a school that wouldn’t accept the offer of a minibus if it was there, available for them.  But they don’t buy one, because of the cost.

However, two recent developments have ensured that more and more schools are now able to have minibus transport that they previously felt was out of their reach.

But – and this is the key fact – these two new approaches have to be seen together; on their own they look like interesting notions – but not a solution.

The two approaches are a) to lease the minibus on a set monthly fee which includes all servicing, maintenance and repair costs, and b) to share its use with a nearby school that is in the same cluster, trust or council as they are, so that each school has the bus for an agreed amount of time.

What’s more, many schools do then add a third element of their own to the equation – since they know how much the minibus will cost each month they do sometimes ask the PTA or other support group to make a contribution to that cost each month.

Now that is often very much welcomed since it means that the parents making the contribution to the minibus account know that is it their children who are benefitting, rather than the children in future years (as happens when the fund raising goes on for several years before a bus can be bought).

Sharing a leased minibus also has the benefit of ensuring that everyone is always driving a bus that is well maintained – since it is the leasing company that works on maintaining the bus in tip top condition.

If you haven’t leased a minibus or thought about sharing one, please do give me a call on 01753 859944 and I can talk you through how it all works.

But if you want to take a look at who we are and what we do before you call, you’ll find more information about leasing at www.minibusleasing.co.uk.

On-site facilities are not all that schools are sharing in the bid to save money

Schools have reported that they are saving a considerable amount of money by sharing their facilities (an IT suite, play area, school hall…) with neighbouring schools, and vice versa.

But on-site facilities are not all that schools are sharing in the bid to save money.

Indeed, a growing numbers of schools are leasing an extra minibus (meaning that there is no initial large payment required – just a monthly lease fee) and then sharing it part time with one or two other schools or groups.

In this way, the cost of running the minibus is shared, and each school knows exactly when it has the extra bus and arranges events around it.

Better still, there is no issue about the cost of repairs, servicing and the like, since leased minibuses come with all the arrangements and all the costs of servicing and repairs built into the lease.

If you haven’t before leased a minibus, or thought about of sharing one, please do give me a call on 01753 859944 and I can talk you through how it all works.

But if you want to take a look at who we are and what we do before you call, you’ll find more information about leasing at www.minibusleasing.co.uk.

How half a minibus can be an absolute bonus – and a perfectly practical idea

Much of the world comes in unbreakable units.  You can’t really have half a person (unless you work in a mortuary and really need to do the odd bit of dissecting).  You can’t have half a football either – or at least not meaningfully.

And you might imagine that the same applies to half a minibus?  But strangely enough, the notion of half a minibus is not only practical, but it is one that hundreds of schools now utilise.

Not surprisingly large numbers of schools have a situation in which their minibus is booked to overflowing, meaning that some sports events, such as away fixtures and the like, become hugely difficult operations to arrange.

You know you can’t possibly justify another minibus, because you only have this problem a few times a week, but you also know that if you could have a minibus for these additional occasions life would be so much easier.

However, there is a solution.

Growing numbers of secondary schools are leasing an extra minibus (meaning that there is no initial large payment required – just a monthly lease fee) and then sharing it part time with one or two other schools.  There are many ways in which this can be done, but sharing with a local feeder primary school is one of the most popular.

In this way the cost of running the minibus is shared, and each school knows exactly when it has the extra bus and arranges events around it.

Better still, there is no issue about the cost of repairs, servicing and the like, since leased minibuses come with all the arrangements and all the costs of servicing and repairs built into the lease.

If you have not leased a minibus before, or not thought of sharing one before, probably the best way forward is to give me a call and I can talk you through how it works – not least because a fair number of schools are now involved in shared minibus leasing projects, so we have a lot of experience in helping to set up such a project.

But if you want to take a look at who we are and what we do before you call, you’ll find more information about leasing at www.minibusleasing.co.uk.

Email: minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Tel: 01753 859944

Gapforce Introduction – Overseas School Group Trips

I understand you are the best person to contact with regards Overseas School Group Trips.

By way of introduction, we run subject specific trips as well as general education, adventurous activities and volunteering, all tailor-made to meet each schools requirements.

We work with a number of UK and International Schools each year and I would be happy to provide sample itineraries and references.

Popular destinations currently include:

  • Costa Rica
  • The Galapagos Islands
  • Tanzania

To receive a free brochure about our School trips, please click here

Best wishes,

James

James Catterall • Manager
Hurlingham Studios, Ranelagh Gardens, Fulham, SW6 3PA United Kingdom
Mainline: +44 (0)207 736 2769 | Email: james@gapforce.org | Website: www.gapforce.org

Student trips to Germany 2016 and 2017 – planning tools for teachers

Organizing students trips is among the most exciting and stressful activities in your school year.   The information in this newsletter about trips to Germany will help you to bring success to every step of the process – and make your next trip the most enjoyable and rewarding ever for you and your students!

In this Issue:

–       Creating student trip with the new module system by Go2City
–       Germany’s Rhineland – 4 of the best cities for student travel
–       Christmas Market 2016 special – DJH City Hostels in Bonn and Düsseldorf
–       Free overnight stays for teachers and chaperones

Creating the perfect Germany travel program  – the new module system by Go2City

You know how much work goes into building the best program for your group travel: Finding the right accommodations, then securing all activities and events – many phone calls and emails and weeks of work, or working with expensive tour operators.

New one-stop shopping for UK teachers – the catalog of options for affordable group travel to Germany’s Rhineland at go2city.travel

You’ll find all the information you need in one place:

  • Information about 4 of the best cities in Germany for student travel:  Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Duisburg
  • Top quality accommodations that comply with the highest UK standards for student groups – at low prices starting at Euro 24,90 per person per night including all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet and all taxes!
  • Ideas and options for tours, activities, educational programs, day trips, and more.  We have hundreds of options for programs in all four cities and beyond. Find descriptions, prices, photos and videos and choose the best options for your program needs.
  • Booking online or with your dedicated Go2Citiy team.  Our online booking options include packages and individual modules.  Or call our team with your specific needs and we’ll create a customized program for you.

Organizing the perfect student trip to Germany has never been easier.

Complete list of all hostels in the DJH City-Hostel Group:

Bonn – DJH Hostel Bonn
Cologne – DJH City-Hostel Cologne Deutz
Cologne – DJH City-Hostel Cologne-Riehl
Duisburg – DJH Hostel Landschaftspark
Duisburg  – DJH Hostel Sportpark
Düsseldorf – DJH City-Hostel Düsseldorf

Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr Region – 4 Great Cities – 7 City Hostels – Hundreds of Options

Introducing four amazing city destinations in the Rhineland for your next trip:
Cologne – 2,000 years old yet young and vibrant
Bonn – the site of fascinating German post-war history
Düsseldorf – state capital known for world-class art and culture scene
Duisburg – amazing example of the beauty of German industrial culture.

We invite you and your group to explore and enjoy these cities and all they offer!

Introducing: Go2City, the travel and service agency of the youth hostels in Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Bonn

We hope to see you in Germany’s Rhineland in 2016, and please feel free to contact our office in NYC at any time with your questions and ideas. We’ll be happy to send you a personalized proposal for room reservations, programs, and all your city activities.

Christmas Market 2016 special – DJH City Hostels in Bonn and Düsseldorf

Now’s the time to secure the best spots for one of the most beautiful seasonal Germany experiences – a trip to the wonderful Christmas Markets.  Bonn and Düsseldorf are not only among the best cities in Germany for student travel, but they also have two of Germany’s most beautiful Christmas Markets — and our specials there make a trip during the holiday season this year even more affordable and easy.

Details (valid for bookings for stays between November 1 and December 24, 2016):

DJH City-Hostel Bonn Special

3 nights:  59.90 Euro per person per night in multi-bed room (regular price: Euro 83.90)!

Includes:

– 3 nights in multi-bed room
– All-you-can-eat breakfast buffet
– Admission and guided tour of famous Chocolate Museum in Cologne (tour in English)
– All taxes

DJH City-Hostel Düsseldorf Special

Overnight stay:   30.90 Euro per person per night in multi-bed room (regular price:  Euro 37.40)

Includes :

– 2 meals: all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet and lunch or dinner
– All taxes

Free overnight stays for teachers and chaperones

Don’t forget: Teachers stay for free!

With any booking of 10 students or more, teachers stay for free during the stay.  That’s one single room per 10 students, plus breakfast (2 rooms for 20 students, etc.).

For more information about DJH, to request a customised proposal or to book your group reservations, please contact:

Rainer Perry

Marketing & Sales Manager North America UK & Ireland

DJH Go2City
934 8th Avenue 2b; New York, NY 10019; USA
phone: +1 646 207 6406
email: rainer@go2city.travel
www.go2city.travel
www.city-hostel.de

Check out our free online resources:
In-house agency Go2City
http://www.djh-rheinland.de/docs/city-hostels/ebooks/go2city_en/index.html

An effective way of dealing with parent parking in a friendly way.

Parking both in and outside school is a fairly emotive issue and can lead to increased tensions among staff and parents at those peak busy times of the day.

There are many ways to approach the issue, from naming and shaming the guilty parties to bringing in official traffic controllers.

One simple way however to reduce the problem is to use parking signs, but parking signs with a difference.

Upson Downs have developed a set of signs ‘Parent Calming Parking’ which not only get your message on parking across they are presented in such a way that they are friendly and at the same time emphasise that the reason for parking restrictions is not to make life inconvenient for the parents but to protect the children themselves.

What’s more, at no extra charge, the characters’ jumper colours can be changed to match your school’s uniform.

WEEDON BEC_parkingsign

Below are some more samples of our friendly, ‘Parent Calming Parking’ but effective signs.

https://www.upsondowns.co.uk/safety-signs/parent-calming-parking.html

Orders placed before the end of July will get a 10% discount if you Quote code MCHH1.

To order call 01423 521654 or fax us 0844 443 2455
Email info@upsondowns.co.uk

Upson Downs Ltd
13 Claro Court Business Centre
Claro Road, Harrogate
North Yorkshire, HG1 4BA

 

A Demos Study reveals how you can enhance your pupils’ engagement levels in the classroom.

The BBC has reported on a Demos study which has revealed the extent to which school projects such as renovating a garden or hosting a school club can enhance pupils’ engagement in learning.

The study reported that there was an improvement in the behaviour of 45% of the pupils in schools that hosted projects in which teachers and pupils worked together to achieve a common goal.

Furthermore, participation in school clubs or projects was also shown to increase pupils’ confidence levels and social skills, whilst also improving teacher-pupil relations.

All sorts of activities can be organised that will achieve such an improvement in behaviour – although, of course, some schools can be restricted in the types of projects and clubs that they can offer.

Such restrictions are typically as a result of the school having limited resources and facilities of their own or in their local area, such as a garden or another school that has a sports team with which your pupils can compete.

One way to overcome this is by leasing a minibus with Benchmark Leasing so that you can travel further afield and thus offer your pupils the opportunity to take part in projects which will ultimately enhance their engagement levels and improve their behaviour in the classroom.

Leasing means that the cost of the minibus is spread over time with fixed monthly costs. The PTA can still contribute by raising money to pay for the monthly payments, but there is no longer that long wait for a lump sum to be accumulated to pay for a vehicle up front.

What’s more, as part of the leasing arrangement, the maintenance of the minibus can be taken on by the leasing company, thus keeping the vehicle roadworthy all the time.

Benchmark Leasing specialises in the supply and maintenance of school minibuses and because of this we are able to offer very competitive prices.

For more information about leasing a minibus with Benchmark Leasing you can go to our website, call us on 01753 859944 or email minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk.

Link to article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-35418346

Benchmark Leasing Ltd
11 High Street
Eton
Berkshire
SL4 6AS

www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php

minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Tel: 01753 859944

Benchmark’s LOtC newsletter: Turning your classroom inside out

We recently set up a Facebook and Twitter page to accumulate a vast amount of Learning Outside the Classroom research, news, free resources, locations, ideas and transport solutions to make implementing LOtC easier for everyone.

Below is just an example of some of the LOtC items that we have shared with our Facebook and Twitter followers thus far.

Research and News

School field trips ‘help students engage with subjects’ (BBC)

What are Ofsted rather keen on? (Benchmark)

Learning-outside-the-classroom benefits report (Benchmark)

The joys of learning outside the classroom (SEN Magazine)

Children need more geography field trips says Michael Palin (The Telegraph)

How a school turned around its GCSE results by taking learning outdoors (TES)

We need fewer exams and more wilderness in education (The Guardian)

Free LOtC Resources

Educational talks for your class – www.thelondonbridgeexperience.com/groups

Educational resources and services – www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/

Teacher packs and worksheets – www.haynesmotormuseum.com/home/discover-learn.php

Workshops – www.abingdon.gov.uk/museum/schools

Free LOtC resources from Woodland Trust and The Pod

School trip locations and ideas

BECKs Training – outdoor activities and leadership and team building programs.

Woodland Ways – offers in depth instruction in Bushcraft & Survival Skills

The Muckleburgh Military Collection – the largest privately owned military Museum in the UK

Field Trip to the Apple Store – Inspiring collaboration and creativity

For more Learning Outside the Classroom locations, ideas, free resources, research, news, and school transport solutions, follow us on Twitter @MinibusLeasing or like our Facebook page – Benchmark Minibus.

For more information about Benchmark Leasing you can go to our website, call us on 01753 859944, or email minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk.

Benchmark Leasing Ltd
11 High Street
Eton
Berkshire
SL4 6AS

www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php

minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Tel: 01753 859944

Are these not the most convenient arrangements for leasing a minibus?

The team here at Benchmark Leasing have for some time been working hard to create the most convenient minibus leasing packages especially for schools – evolving the arrangement through feedback, primarily from administrators and school managers.

Here are the arrangements that we have put together to date:

The New Ford Transit Minibus
Key features: Daytime running lights, Bluetooth, power side step, curve control, tinted glass, and remote central locking. The Trend in addition (for a modest rental increase) includes such items as metallic paint, power heated and folding mirrors, heated front windscreen, and parking sensors.

Ford Transit Minibus 12 Seater
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £299 + VAT.
A favourite as it can be driven on a regular driving license due to its light weight.

Ford Transit Minibus 15 Seater
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £317 + VAT.

Ford Transit Minibus 17 Seater
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £368 + VAT.

Renault Trafic Minibus
Key features: 62 mph speed limiter, electronic stability control, digital tachograph, two 2kg fully compliant water/foam fire extinguishers, first aid kit with VOSA approved content, electric side step, individual spot lights and air vents for passengers, and rear safety doors.

Renault Trafic 9 Seat Minibus
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £318 + VAT.

Vauxhall Movano
Key features: Padded head restraints, dual front passenger bench seat, individual saloon lighting, optional air conditioning, illuminated rear passenger walkway, overhead storage and coat racks, retracting side step, and standard Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).

Vauxhall Movano 17 Seat Minibus
3 years, 30,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £470 + VAT.

All prices include a Full Maintenance package consisting of tyre replacement, servicing, Road Tax, MOT, and 6 Monthly Safety Inspections. Based on an initial rental equivalent to 3 monthly rentals.

You can find more information about Benchmark Leasing’s school minibus packages by visiting our website. Or, if you’d prefer, you can call us on 01753 859944 or email us at minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Are these not the most convenient arrangements for leasing a minibus?

The team here at Benchmark Leasing have for some time been working hard to create the most convenient minibus leasing packages especially for schools – evolving the arrangement through feedback, primarily from administrators and school managers.

Here are the arrangements that we have put together to date:

The New Ford Transit Minibus
Key features: Daytime running lights, Bluetooth, power side step, curve control, tinted glass, and remote central locking. The Trend in addition (for a modest rental increase) includes such items as metallic paint, power heated and folding mirrors, heated front windscreen, and parking sensors.

Ford Transit Minibus 12 Seater
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £299 + VAT.
A favourite as it can be driven on a regular driving license due to its light weight.

Ford Transit Minibus 15 Seater
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £317 + VAT.

Ford Transit Minibus 17 Seater
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £368 + VAT.

Renault Trafic Minibus
Key features: 62 mph speed limiter, electronic stability control, digital tachograph, two 2kg fully compliant water/foam fire extinguishers, first aid kit with VOSA approved content, electric side step, individual spot lights and air vents for passengers, and rear safety doors.

Renault Trafic 9 Seat Minibus
2 years, 20,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £318 + VAT.

Vauxhall Movano
Key features: Padded head restraints, dual front passenger bench seat, individual saloon lighting, optional air conditioning, illuminated rear passenger walkway, overhead storage and coat racks, retracting side step, and standard Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).

Vauxhall Movano 17 Seat Minibus
3 years, 30,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £470 + VAT.

All prices include a Full Maintenance package consisting of tyre replacement, servicing, Road Tax, MOT, and 6 Monthly Safety Inspections. Based on an initial rental equivalent to 3 monthly rentals.

You can find more information about Benchmark Leasing’s school minibus packages by visiting our website. Or, if you’d prefer, you can call us on 01753 859944 or email us at minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Survey reveals that 75% of schools say they’d benefit from having at least one more minibus.

A survey conducted by Benchmark Leasing has revealed that a significant rise in the number of schools that are leasing rather than buying their minibuses; yet one third of respondents say that they have looked into leasing, but decided against it.

It’s suggested that the reason for this is because there are few minibus leasing contracts on offer which meet the specific and varied needs of schools. Thus we’ve put a great deal of time into creating such contracts – see our top five school minibus leasing arrangements.

Furthermore, despite over half of survey respondents reporting that their secondary school already operates two or three minibuses and a quarter reporting that their school operates more than three, 75% said that their school would benefit from having at least one more.

On a final point, the survey also found that three out of four school minibuses on the road are over five years old, so are becoming increasingly at risk of breaking down or failing their MOT.

Minibuses leased from us are brand new, and with our leasing packages we offer full maintenance which covers tyre replacement, servicing, Road Tax, MOT’s, and 6 monthly (or more often to suit) safety inspections if required.

For more information about Benchmark Leasing you can go to our website, call us on 01753 859944, or email minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk.

Benchmark Leasing Ltd
11 High Street
Eton
Berkshire
SL4 6AS

www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php

minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Tel: 01753 859944

Easier Student Trips to Germany

Exclusively prepared for teachers who organize
student trips to Germany

Dear Teacher,

For easier 2015 and 2015 Student Trips to Germany’s Rhineland:
Your partner Go2City – DJH’s all-in-one travel agency!

The incoming agency partner you’ve been looking for!  We help you with all aspects of your stay, so that you don’t have to spend your time and money planning the best travel for your students. Our in-house meeting planning agency creates the best itineraries at no cost and helps you book tours and tickets, often at huge discounts.  You safe money and time.

We own the accommodation and the in-house agency.  No middle men, no extra fees, no miscommunications or wasted time.  Just tell us what your group wants to do, and we’ll put the whole package together!

What do you want your students to experience in Germany?

  • Music? – We know the right festivals, concerts and local choirs and music groups for your performance
  • Performances? – We find local theaters, rehearsal spaces, audiences and stage time.
  • Sports? – We connect you to local teams, competitions, and stadiums
  • Education? – We have loads of contacts at local schools, universities, and programs.
  • Other programs also available, including drama, languages, etc.

Choose your customized itineraries and activity modules

  • Museum and theater visits
  • Sports and tournaments
  • Specialized city tours and looks behind the scenes
  • Excursions beyond city limits
  • Transfers and coach trips (free coach parking at our hostels!)
  • Local contacts for activity-centered trips (sports, theater, music, education)
  • And much more

Packages also available:

  • 3-day programs starting at 79 € per person
  • 5-day programs starting at 161 € per person

For more information, visit: www.go2city.travel

Free Unlimited Overnight Stays for 2 Chaperones with any Student Group Bookings!

Teachers and chaperones stay free with a group of 10 students or more, no matter how long the stay.  Ask us for details!

Budget accommodations – high quality hotel alternatives for student groups

You’ve heard amazing things about modern hostels in Germany. They are true at DJH City-Hostels in Bonn, Cologne, and Düsseldorf.  You get amazing 3-star hotel-quality accommodations in Germany at hostel prices, and they are perfect for student groups.  Our hostels are still among the best kept secrets of the budget-conscious traveler, but more and more foreign groups are catching on to the amazing value and quality:

  • Some of the best hostels in the world.  3-star hotel level at hostel prices!
  • Pristine, modern single & multi-bed rooms, all with private baths
  • Amazing rates: starting at € 22.90 per night per person, including breakfast, lunch or dinner, and all taxes

Who we are:

DJH GO2City is the new in-house travel agency by non-profit DJH (German Youth Hostel Association).   Operating 6 hostels in 4 cities in Germany’s Rhine Ruhr Region, DJH GO2CITY also plans and executes customised itineraries and programmes for groups and individuals.

Here a list of all our hostels:

City-Hostel Bonn
City Hostel Cologne-Deutz
City-Hostel Cologne-Riehl
City-Hostel Duisburg Sportpark
City-Hostel Duisburg Landschaftspark
City-Hostel Düsseldorf

Additional Ideas for Rhineland Trips:

Discover Duisburg

This city of almost 500,000 is one of Germany’s largest university towns, has the largest inland harbor, and is an important city for commerce, steel production, architecture, history, and culture.   Only about 20 miles from Düsseldorf Airport, Duisburg is the perfect city to include in a Rhineland itinerary filled with the region’s exotic and unique attractions. 

Stay at these two DJH City Hostels in Duisburg:
DJH Hostel Sportpark

An amazing hostel – brand-new, and with a look and a list of features that equal many top sports hotels:

  • In-house sports center, gym and sauna
  • Ball field on-premises
  • 2 volley ball fields
  • 7 conference rooms
  • All rooms with private bath

The hostel is located right in the enormous Sportpark Duisburg, one of Germany’s largest and most modern sports parks, with over 500 acres of land and 150 acres of water facilities. It supports 40 different sports and is home to 30 local clubs and teams.  Perfect for your sports-related trips!  Find information and pictures at:  http://www.duisburg.de/fa/sportpark/.

DJH Hostel Landschaftspark

The hostel is named after the Landscape Park Duisburg, a public park built in 1991 on a former industrial site and a stunning example of how the industrial past of a region can be healed by transforming industrial elements into objects of beauty and recreation.  Our modern hostel is right in the park, and it’s the perfect location for your Rhineland adventure.

Bonn & Cologne Christmas Market

A Magical Germany Christmas Experience for Your Groups

A visit to the enchanting Christmas markets in Cologne and Bonn is a spectacular occasion for all ages.  Each city’s market is unique, and Cologne’s has seven different markets all over the city waiting to be discovered by your student and group travelers.   Stay at our hostels in Bonn and/or Cologne.  Optional: additional activities, e.g. a trip to the Odysseum Adventure Museum in Cologne, the Cologne Cathedral, the Chocolate Museum, and much more – for a fascinating itinerary.

Rates: starting at € 22.90 per night per person, including breakfast, lunch or dinner, and all taxes.

Contact us for a free proposal for rooms and activities!

For more information, contact Rainer Perry – Marketing & Sales Manager North America, UK & Ireland; email:  rainer@go2city.travel

Full contact info below

Christmas Markets are just one of many reasons for a school trip to Germany.  Germany is becoming a trendier and more popular travel destination all the time, especially for student groups from the UK.   You know why:  whether by train, coach, car or plane, Germany is an easy reach from most places in the UK, often in just a few hours.  The country offers great values in accommodations, restaurants, and many other attractions – and the options keep growing from year to year. 

We at DJH GO2CITY want to help you get the latest about traveling to one of Germany’s most fascinating – and most accessible – areas: the Rhine Ruhr Region. 

For more information about DJH, to request a customised proposal or to book your group reservations, please contact:

Rainer Perry – Marketing & Sales Manager North America, UK & Ireland
DJH Go
2City
934 8th Avenue 2b; New York, NY 10019; USA

phone: +1 646 207 6406
email: rainer@go2city.travel
www.go2city.travel
www.city-hostel.de
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djhgo2city

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DJH City-Hostels in Cologne & Düsseldorf

New in-house agency Go2City