Staff at West Midland Safari Park are celebrating, after winning ‘Best Wildlife Attraction,’ at the School Travel Awards.

This national award recognises the high-quality level of service the Park’s Education Team deliver for school travel, as well as proving their commitment to providing unforgettable trips alongside inspiring the next generation of conservationists.
 
The award was presented to the Education Team at a prestigious ceremony on 25 May 2022 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, hosted by Olympian sprinter, Katharine Merry. Education Manager, Nicola Anslow, said:

“We are delighted to have received the title of ‘Best Wildlife Attraction,’ for a second year running. Winning this award acknowledges that we are continuing to prove our commitment in providing unforgettable school trips with educational and memorable wildlife experiences, whilst also providing the opportunity to inspire young people ‘out of the classroom’.
 
“The School Travel Awards really highlight the impact that school excursions have in developing confidence and resilience in young people. As the Park continues to develop and flourish, we look forward to many more opportunities to continue to deliver this wonderful learning experience.”
 
The awards recognise the best companies, venues and attractions who provide school trips and are voted for by teachers and educational visit coordinators. The Education Team at the Park offer a variety of school trip packages, including guided tours, on-coach rangers and Discovery Sessions, all bringing learning to life in an ‘outside of the classroom’ environment.
 
Discovery Sessions allow children of all ages to get closer to nature by providing curriculum-linked learning across a huge variety of topics, from habitats and adaptations to conservation. The sessions also offer the chance to meet some of the Park’s smaller animals, encouraging children to learn the importance of caring for the natural world and help protect endangered species.
 
The sessions are held in the Safari Academy, a state-of-the-art building, purpose-built for visiting schools, which celebrates its fifth birthday this year. This is where the team also teach their City and Guilds accredited qualifications, to students studying Animal Care and Animal Management.
 
Teaching continues over the summer holidays too, as the team will be welcoming children to their Safari Summer Clubs, suitable for children aged 8-13 years and covering a range of exciting themes and topics.
 
The Education Team has been commended on how easy it is to book a school trip, by helping with planning their visit, not requiring deposits and being able to tailor their day around topics and themes.
 
For more information on school visits, guests can email education@wmsp.co.uk, call 01299 404888 (choose option 1), or visit safariacademy.co.uk