The Power of Virtual School Trips: An Interview with The School Trip Community’s Tom Sanderson

Written by Brett HardingFebruary 15, 2021
Articles , Education

With the UK’s third lockdown showing no signs of easing anytime soon, ongoing school closures have meant that, up and down the country, teachers have once again been assigned the difficult task of moving their syllabus online. And, with children now facing day after day staring blankly at a screen, away from the buzzing, interactive environment of the classroom, it’s no surprise that – for teachers and students alike – school is starting to feel a bit like Groundhog Day.

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Is virtual tourism the answer to the problem of overtourism?

Written by Brett HardingJanuary 19, 2021
Articles , Travel

We all remember the start of lockdown, where the streets were stripped bare of people and it seemed like an almost eery stillness had descended over everything around us. The empty canals of Venice turned translucent, hotels lay empty, and pollution was so low that people could see the Himalayas for the time. With international travel bans in place, COVID-19 seemed to bring a globalised and interconnected world to a sudden, screeching halt.

Now, as news of the vaccine brings about a new era of hope for a post-pandemic world, it’s anticipated that those who have been deprived of their usual summer getaways will begin flocking to tourist hotspots in record numbers once travel bans are lifted. With concerns rising about the impact this will have on countries already battling overtourism, we explore whether virtual reality could become part of travel’s “new normal”.

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If walls could talk: Netflix’s The Crown and Buckingham Palace in the 1980s

Written by Brett HardingDecember 14, 2020
Articles , Education , Heritage

It’s official: Crown-fever has taken over! With this season chronicling the royal events of the 1980s, including the infamous Princess Diana years, it’s easy to see why the show has captivated audiences. Offering an unparalleled window into the royal family, who have long prided themselves on maintaining a “stiff upper lip”, The Crown takes us behind closed doors, revealing a more human side to the institution we all thought we knew so well.

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Five Ways to Bring Your Virtual Open Day to Life

Written by Brett HardingDecember 1, 2020
Articles , Education

Everyone remembers their first day at school; the ill-fitting uniform, the oversized rucksacks, the curious flutters of nerves mixed with excitement, the… face masks?

As the education system slowly adapts to the “new normal”, digital tech and virtual reality have become vital substitutes for in-person experiences – and school open days are no exception. But, understandably, many headteachers are left scratching their heads wondering how to channel the magic of their school through a laptop screen.

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