The EVC Magazine Spring 2025 - Flipbook - Page 21
PLANNING AHEAD: THE CHECKLIST
Surround yourself with a competent and supportive team.
Have a clear plan, and a Plan B, but be flexible – this will
make the visit more enjoyable and stress-free for staff and
students alike.
Pre-visit training is invaluable – it helps to prepare you for
unexpected situations.
Don’t be put off by risk assessment – it is vital for
anticipating and preparing for challenges. Do involve the
whole team and the EVC in the risk assessment, and don’t
rush it; it encourages you to think through the ‘what if’
scenarios and ensure that all aspects of the visit are carefully
considered.
Revisit your risk assessment during the planning process
(and the visit) to adapt to changes or anything new that
comes up.
“I make sure that they can contact
home regularly,” says Annabelle. “For
example, we have a school phone
that students can use to call home.”
She found that it helped if students
packed some comfort food, and she
organised a trip to the supermarket
so they could buy snacks.
She also learned some valuable
practical skills, such as how to
manage passports and other vital
items. The visit team had to adapt
for each situation and ensure that
documents and medication were
kept safe and accessible when
needed.
Annabelle learned so much about
how to run an overseas visit that
when a Visit Leader was needed for
the next adventure, to Nepal, she was
ready to take up the position. She
took with her some staff members
who were new to this style of visit
and shared with them all that she
had learned in Cambodia.
MEMORIES FROM
CAMBODIA:
a Running English
language workshops
with students aged 9–12,
planning each workshop
in the afternoon and
delivering it the next
morning
a Helping to plant 100
trees at the local school
Since the Nepal visit, Annabelle
has been working hard to secure a
partner school near La Rochelle in
France, so that the College can offer
overseas residentials to its younger
students.
a Spending weekends
With the help of EVC Dr Jean Wheeler,
Annabelle also successfully applied
for a new Turing experience, leading
a visit to Panama in February 2025.
She is now planning a visit to
Thailand, to expand and enrich the
lives of even more of her students.
and Killing Fields from the
Khmer Rouge regime and
the Peace Museum
and evenings exploring
Cambodia, including
Angkor Wat and the
temples of Battambang
a Touring the Killing Caves
a Visiting local markets for
shopping (and haggling)
a Singing a lot of karaoke!
Annabelle says... have a strong team to support you
“I couldn’t organise these visits without the incredibly
supportive team around me, starting with Principal Maéve
Taylor, who has fully embraced the importance of school
visits and made sure such opportunities are
encouraged.
“I had full access to
support from the
EVOLVE Advice team,
ensuring I could seek
expert guidance when
needed. Before my visit
to Panama, I attended
an EVOLVE Advice
training session
on leading
visits abroad, which kept me up to date with the latest
developments and best practices.
“As EVC, Dr Jean Wheeler has been invaluable, ensuring
that every detail is meticulously checked. She also does
tremendous work in securing funding for students who
otherwise might not be able to take part.
“My Head of Department, Fernando Valentine, played a key
role in training me in Cambodia and continues to be hugely
supportive, always just a phone call away.
“This network of colleagues, mentors and training
opportunities has been vital in helping me to lead
successful visits while ensuring students have meaningful
and enriching experiences abroad.”
Annabelle in Cambodia with Fernando Valentine
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