What is the Golden Ticket programme? 

The Golden Ticket programme supports and actively works with local primary schools who are most affected by deprivation and face the most barriers to extra-curricular and educational days out. Each school is invited to the SS Great Britain with coach travel, ticketing and workshop costs all covered to remove every financial obstacle. For many of our partner schools, trips like this would not be possible without the support of the Golden Ticket programme. Therefore the programme allows every child to climb aboard the SS Great Britain and be immersed in the sights, sounds and stories of this world-changing ship. 

Through this work, children in the most educationally deprived areas of Bristol can enjoy a free visit to our world-famous heritage site. 

How do we choose the schools we invite? 

Since 2011, the Trust has built relationships with 63 local primary schools. Golden Ticket schools are identified using proxy measures such as council deprivation data, free school meal usage and pupil premium data. 

We prioritise school with over 50% of children on free school meals and for some of our partner schools up to 73% of children receive pupil premium. We regularly review data and aim to build long term relationships with our Golden Ticket schools, many of whom have built the programme into their annual curriculum. 

We also work closely with local SEND schools and offer the Golden Ticket programme to them, as they can sometimes face more barriers to organising school trips. 

What problem does it solve/why is it important? 

• The programme reaches children aged 5 to 11 who are increasingly unable to access cultural experiences and gain cultural capital.
• It supports the national curriculum as Ofsted expects schools to provide disadvantaged students with diverse cultural experiences.
• Has a positive impact on society – Research shows that learning through arts and culture improves behaviour, skills, attainments, and evens leads to students being more likely to volunteer and vote.
• Up to 90% of families are cutting back on cultural experience and 52% of schools are cutting back on school trips due to lack of funding – this programme means children are not missing out. 
• Reduces financial pressure eon parents who cant afford to pay extra for children to go on trips, ultimately reducing inequalities between students. 
• Funding pressures on primary school have also resulted in 77% of schools cutting back on teaching assistants and 27% cutting back on the number of teachers, and this can make planning and facilitating school trips difficult.