Stagecoach helps primary school enjoy a trip to Hastings

Bus operator Stagecoach South East invited an entire primary school on board to enjoy a trip to a Hastings art gallery last Tuesday.

The children of Beckley Primary School started their journey in Rye and caught a Route 101 bus to Hastings’ Old Town. They then returned from Hastings on the same service, setting off from The Stade bus stop back to Rye town centre. For some children, it was their first time travelling by bus and this trip gave them practical experience of using public transport, equipping them with vital life skills.

The group visited Hastings Contemporary where they took part in various workshops based on exhibitions in the gallery, including work by Elias Sime and Sir Quentin Blake. Using the trip as inspiration, the children will create their own artwork with the goal of putting on a ‘Brilliant Beckley Art Exhibition’ in the school hall.

Alice Bolton, class teacher at Beckley Primary School, said, “Whenever we are planning a trip, hiring coaches can be expensive and mean that we can’t run them, so children miss out. Knowing that Stagecoach operate a local service, I was keen to find out if we could give the children a real bus ride experience.”

“I am the art lead at school, so was keen for the children to experience an art gallery, so after a meeting at the Hastings Contemporary and talking to the Learning Coordinator we came up with a plan for a whole school visit there,”

“This trip would not have been possible without the generosity of Stagecoach South East enabling our travel to Hastings.”

 Children from Beckley Primary School travelling on the Route 101 bus.