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The 22 Ultimate Virtual Field Trips & Tours for Students

Written by Maria Kampen

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What is a virtual tour and how does it work?

Technology powering virtual field trips for students, 22 best virtual field trips for students, how to incorporate virtual tours into learning activities.

Imagine taking your entire class to see one of the seven wonders of the world up close and personal — and then being back at school before the final bell rings. 

The rise of online learning activities during the pandemic accelerated the availability of virtual field trips , tours and experiences for students of all ages. Now there are many interactive virtual tours available to places that would be impossible to reach on a class trip — the pyramids in Egypt, the Louvre museum in Paris or even an African safari.

We put together a list of 22 unforgettable virtual field trips and experiences that will help your students see amazing sights, connect their learning to real-world experiences and expand their horizons.

Virtual tours allow students to explore noteworthy places around the world, from the comfort of their home or the classroom. 

Virtual tours give students the opportunity to stop, explore and guide learning at their own pace. While they’re exploring, they can get up close to nature or artifacts that might not otherwise be easily accessible. 

Virtual tours can be many different things, including:

• A live webcam of a zoo or animal habitat
• A 360 degree view of a location you can manipulate
• Pictures enriched with helpful information and diagrams

Even ten or fifteen years ago, video tours would have been rare or impossible. Advancements in technology and education have combined to help people learn and explore from anywhere!

• National Geographic creates TV series about nature, history and archaeology
• Food shows like Netflix’s Salt Fat Acid Heat take viewers on food journeys across the world
• Planet Earth , a television series, brings far-flung locations to your living room or classroom
• Discovery Education gives educators access to multimedia resources that supplement classroom learning
• Video conferencing technology like Zoom lets you connect with people and learning experiences around the world

We love being able to sit at home or in the classroom and learn about different foods, cultures and geography. Why not introduce that to your students?

1. Take a trip to the zoo

Whether it’s live webcams of adorable pandas or behind-the-scenes tours with zookeepers, zoos all over the world offer ways for animal antics to delight and entertain your students. 

Some of our favorites include:

• Edinburgh Zoo’s Panda Cam
• Georgia Aquarium’s Beluga Whale Livestream
• The Smithsonian National Zoo’s Naked Mole-rat Cam
• A live feed of African river wildlife in Laikipia County, Kenya
• The San Diego Zoo Live Ape Cam , or any of their other live animal feeds
• Home Safari videos from the Cincinnati Zoo, where zookeepers introduce you to the hundreds of animals that make the zoo their home.

2. Visit The Hidden Worlds of National Parks

From Yosemite to Mesa Verde, explore some of the USA’s most beloved and beautiful national parks with The Hidden World of National Parks .  

Supported by Google Arts & Culture , students can use the same technology that powers Street View to explore the national parks at their own pace. 

The program also includes guided tours from park rangers, where they share their expertise as you explore. Follow the on-screen prompts and let them guide your adventure!

3. Watch the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otters

Play with the sea otters as they swim around Monterey Bay Aquarium in California! Tune in throughout the day to see them being fed, learn fun facts about otters and watch them play in the water. 

If you’d like to check out some other aquarium-related channels, Monterey Bay Aquarium also offers Open Sea or Kelp Forest live streams.

4. Swim through Palau coral reefs

Travel to the Pacific Ocean through a virtual adventure and see the Palau coral reefs . Hosted by Nature Lab and the Nature Conservancy, this tour teaches students about the importance of preserving some of the most fragile ecosystems in the world — no wetsuit required. 

Take learning to the next level with the Nature Lab’s Teacher’s Guide , which includes discussion questions and related resources to keep learners engaged. 

5. Visit the surface of Mars

It took the Perseverance rover about seven months to get to Mars. But thanks to this virtual tour , you and your students can go for a visit in just one afternoon. 

Created by Google and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this virtual tour takes you through the history of Mars explorations and turns what might be a far-flung topic into something right at students’ fingertips. They’ll explore the surface of Mars, learn more about the rovers that have studied its surface and understand how Mars exploration fits into the history of space travel.

6. Power up with renewable energy

Powering the Planet from the Nature Conservancy is an interactive lesson that focuses on renewable energy sources. It explains to students how energy around them is necessary for life, and covers how energy can be sourced in a way that’s not harmful to the environment.

All the Nature Conservancy’s programs come with a Teacher Guide , which offers lesson plans and activities relating to the virtual tour. 

7. Walk the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is over 13,000 miles long, so be sure to pack your walking shoes for this trip!

This virtual tour lets students explore key points in the Great Wall of China, plus see the history and amazing view up close.

8. Float around the International Space Station

Did you know that astronauts have continuously inhabited the International Space Station for 20 years? Now your class can join them!

With tours of the different parts of the space station, facts about the layout and assembly, and information about the different astronauts who’ve visited from around the world, students can get an out-of-this-world experience from the comfort of their home or classroom. 

Plus, there are plenty of images, videos, graphics and media resources to help you tie topics into your curriculum.

9. Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a delicate ecosystem especially vulnerable to the effects of pollution and climate change. 

David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef is a tour created in partnership with the Natural History Museum in London that teaches everyone about the beauty and fragility of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. 

The Great Barrier Reef is also available on Google Street View through Google Maps as one of the first underwater locations to be mapped. 

10. Learn about water and Colombia’s páramo ecosystem

Just outside of Bogotá, Columbia, is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. In this virtual lesson, students will learn about how the water cycle plays a vital role in biodiversity, and get an up-close look at the animals that call the area home. 

Use the accompanying Teacher Guide to help students discuss the topic and stay engaged with the lesson. And check out the rest of the Nature Lab's YouTube channel for even more virtual experiences.

11. Tour the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

The Smithsonian Institute is the world’s largest museum — so there are plenty of things for students to explore. 

With a variety of virtual tours to choose from, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History is full of ways to get students excited about learning. Students can watch narrated tours of different exhibits ranging from history and geography to the research stations in the museum. 

Whether students want to walk through the museum on their own or let someone else do the talking, there’s something for every lesson.

12. Get caught up in the American Revolution

History meets the present at the Museum of the American Revolution ! 

This virtual tour lets students see artifacts, meet museum staff and hear stories of real people who fought for American independence.

It also comes with a Classroom Ki t for 2nd to 8th grade that supplements learning and makes it even more meaningful. 

13. Trek up Mt. Everest

This 360 degree video from National Geographic lets students explore Mt. Everest along with a group of researchers. Together, they’ll discover what kind of effects climate change has on the mountain, and how we can work to preserve natural landscapes. 

Not up for climbing mountains? Take a virtual ride on Expedition Everest , the tallest rollercoaster in any Disney park! But beware — there’s a monster lurking in the dark.

14. Get the right angle with Explore Geometry

Powered by Nearpod, Explore Geometry ’s lesson plans connect classroom lessons with architecture in the natural world.

Students can explore the gardens of Versailles to learn about the geometry of a French garden before moving on to the next lesson and putting their skills to practical use.

15. Wander through the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

One of the most well-known museums in the world, students can now explore The Met’s vast collections with the Met 360º Project .

Virtual tours help students get a sense of the space, art and collections inside of the museum. Whether they’re interested in the Met Cloisters or the Arms and Armor gallery, students can go at their own pace, accompanied by a soothing soundtrack. 

You can also book virtual tours with a museum guide to line up with your lesson plan. Tours are free for NYC public schools and all Title I schools, and $200 USD per class for other schools.

16. Explore history in the British Museum

Another world-class museum, students can explore the British Museum in London using Google Street View, read facts about the artifacts and connect what they see to their history lessons. 

Whether it’s the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, Egyptian sculpture or any other historical treasure, there’s something every student will find interesting!

If you want to let someone else do the exploring, there’s also a 46-minute virtual walking tour , where you can skip to the sections that are most relevant to you and your class. 

17. Visit the White House

In Washington, D.C. the White House is the symbolic heart of America, and now students can walk the halls for themselves. 

Whether they want to take a lap around the Oval Office or wander the building, students can explore this virtual tour from the White House Historical Association . Plus, it comes with class tie-ins like vocabulary lessons and other activities to make the experience even more memorable! 

18. Arrive at Ellis Island

Ever wonder what it was like for new immigrants to see the Statue of Liberty and step foot on American soil for the first time?

Now students can experience it for themselves with this virtual tour , a collaboration between Scholastic and the National Park Service. They’ll learn the importance of immigration in the history of the United States and hear real-life stories about the people who came looking for a better life. 

After students watch the video, they can click through this interactive map with facts and stories about the people who came through Ellis Island. 

19. Explore China's forests

In this online tour, students can explore the natural habitats of pandas in the forests of China . They’ll discover how the panda’s home plays a role in understanding our world, learn about local conservation efforts and see the big-picture view of how these vast forests fit into our understanding of nature and climate change. 

Plus, this program also comes with a handy Teacher Guide for you to use in lesson planning!

20. Bundle up in the Arctic tundra

Take a virtual field trip all the way up north to the tundra! Discovery Education’s tundra programs for elementary, middle and high school students cover the natural habitat of polar bears, plus their activities and migration patterns.

This virtual tour comes with instructional activities and classroom tie-ins, so you can be sure students are getting a productive learning experience.

21. Go spelunking in the world's largest cave

Travel through Vietnam’s Son Doong, the world’s largest cave . First explored by researchers in 2009, this cave is up to 200 meters tall in some areas and even has its own jungle inside. 

It’s estimated that the total length of the cave system is over 200 kilometers, and with this National Geographic tour students can explore to their heart’s content. High definition pictures and helpful facts mean that not only is this an awe-inspiring trip for students, but it’s also educational! 

Because the cave is ecologically sensitive, only a certain number of tourists are allowed to visit each year. This virtual tour is a great way for kids and adults to experience the wonder up close!

22. Browse the Louvre

Take your students on a quick trip to Paris where you can explore the architecture and art of the Louvre without the crowds. 

Plus, the Louvre also offers Louvre Kids , as well as a Mona Lisa Beyond the Glass virtual app experience where users can learn how Leonardo da Vinci created his most well-known masterpiece.

From kindergarten to high school, virtual field trips are a great way to get students excited about learning. And if you’re homeschooling , they’re the perfect way to get real-world experience without leaving the house!

To get the most out of the experience, keep these tips in mind:

• Ask students what they’re interested in exploring 
• Look for virtual experiences that fit into your lesson plan for maximum impact
• Search for supplementary resources like teacher guides and discussion questions
• Try out the virtual tour first to make sure it’s worth it and to avoid any unpleasant technical glitches
• Use virtual field trips at the beginning of a unit to introduce students to new concepts, or at the end as a reward and wrap-up activity

Be sure to follow up with students and see what they liked the most. Then, harness that excitement for your next lesson or activity! 

Prodigy Math Game is an adaptive math platform where students can explore a world filled with adventure, excitement and rewards — all for practicing math! While they’re having a blast answering questions and completing epic quests, Prodigy’s free teacher tools help you align their learning to your classroom lessons. 

Sign up for your free teacher account today!

National Geographic Education Blog

Bring the spirit of exploration to your classroom.

Virtual Tours Are Taking Off. Here’s How to Integrate Them Into Your Teaching

Educator James Fester wrote this post.

It is said that every place tells one story better than any other place.

As a volunteer educator at Angel Island State Park in San Francisco, I came to appreciate this more deeply. I was lucky to have such an excellent teaching environment. The park, which covers an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, tells a multilayered story. It has been the site of Indigenous settlements, Civil War fortifications, World War II embarkation facilities, and the U.S.’s main West Coast immigration station from 1910 to 1940. The visitors who participated in my program were surrounded by an environment full of resources that I could leverage to illustrate my points and that they could explore to fulfill their own curiosity. I’d always wished I could duplicate in my classroom the kind of learning that took place in the park.

Fortunately, California State Parks developed the PORTS Home Learning Programs , which provide distance learning to students across the state. The creation of a virtual tour took this concept a step further, allowing students to explore parts of Angel Island on their own.

These resources weren’t unique to Angel Island, with many other parks and museums creating their own virtual experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic for learners of all sorts to use. Educational sites and organizations that previously catered to visiting student groups were forced to close down, but like classroom educators, they didn’t give up. Rather, they began rapidly adapting to distance learning, and the result was an explosion in virtual tours.

As a park volunteer, I saw this occur firsthand. The same pivoting that occurred in thousands of classrooms also happened at parks, zoos, museums, and aquariums across the United States, and the result was a rapid increase in interactive and virtual experiences that engaged students and promoted deeper thinking.

These kinds of resources aren’t backed up just by anecdotal evidence. Multiple studies have shown that the inclusion of virtual tours and trips in curriculum increases reading comprehension , helps promote global awareness among isolated or rural populations , and can be used to effectively engage and reduce dropout rates for at-risk populations of students .

However, even the fanciest website, with all sorts of interactive buttons, isn’t automatically a valuable learning experience. It is just a resource unless you pair it with a method. The tour needs to be supported by a framework that encourages the kinds of exploratory activities that give learners the opportunity to find and construct their own answers.

Creating activities that both incorporate virtual exploration and connect to the National Geographic Learning Framework can be done in a lot of different ways. Here are a few:

• Similar to exploring a physical environment, exploring a virtual environment requires observation. For example, students learning about differences between how people live today and how people lived long ago might take this 3D tour of Hampton National Historic Site. They could record their observations in a Venn diagram or share them during an all-class discussion.
• Students can be given a question or inquiry challenge, then can collaborate in pairs or small groups, discussing what they are learning as they navigate through an experience. For example, students can use this interactive tour of Carlsbad Caverns to learn about the site’s complex cave ecosystems, then get into small groups to construct annotated diagrams of ecosystem features based on what they learned.
• Virtual tours help promote awareness of distant cultural resources and natural wonders. Without virtual tours, archeological marvels like Mesa Verde National Park were inaccessible to millions and millions of people. Now, through platforms like YouVisit , global audiences can experience this place and hopefully turn that awareness into empathy for its protection and preservation.
• When virtual exploration is structured along inquiry-based lines, student curiosity becomes the driver, allowing for choice and interest to guide learning. Using a broad, open-ended question like “How do monuments communicate meaning?” and allowing students choice as they explore memorials and monuments helps them learn how sculpture and symbolism convey meaning. 3D models of locations like the Lincoln Memorial and Mount Rushmore help students stay engaged and investigate more deeply.

These great resources will get you started teaching with virtual tours:

• Google Arts & Culture has an extensive collection of resources you can use to create immersive virtual experiences for students interested in exploring the natural and cultural wonders preserved by the National Park Service!
• CyArk is a fantastic site that includes amazing virtual tours that are navigable and narrated, as well as terrific 3D models that are manipulable. They also curate great collections, like this collection focusing on social justice and equal rights .
• The National Park Service provides a multitude of options for exploring virtually. Visit their website for a selection of virtual tours and multimedia resources, or check out the Virtual Passport Cancellation activities offered by a nonprofit partner of the park service.
• Finally, my COVID-19 Remote Learning Emergency Fund project, funded by the National Geographic Society, allowed me to create resources that can be used by any teacher to develop their own Google-powered virtual tours and explorations! I wanted to create exemplary virtual tours that could be used either on their own or by teachers interested in making their own virtual tours. Check out my webpage to learn more about how to build your own virtual interpretive tours!

For more on the National Geographic Learning Framework, read the overview on nationalgeographic.org and enroll in our free, 90-minute mini-course “ Developing a National Geographic Explorer Mindset with Your Learners ,” open now.

James Fester is a consultant and author passionate about project-based learning (PBL) and experiential learning. His educational experience includes classroom teaching, instructional coaching, technology integration, and, most recently, serving as a member of the PBLWorks National Faculty. In addition to his consulting work, James is a National Park Service volunteer who collaborates on educational programs for parks across the country. His writing has been featured by National Geographic, TED-Ed, KQED, and in a recent book on PBL and environmental science published by ISTE . He currently resides in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Learn more about his work or how to work with him on his website !

This post references a project made possible in part by an award from the National Geographic Society’s COVID-19 Remote Learning Emergency Fund for Educators .

In the featured image, a caver lights up a gypsum chandelier in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, one of several parks educators and students can experience in a virtual tour hosted by Google Arts & Culture. (Dr. Jean K. Krejca, Zara Environmental LLC – For Public Use)

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Touring a college campus is an exciting rite of passage for many high school students as they explore their future stomping grounds. For a variety of reasons students and families might not be able to visit in person—but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out! Below, 15 of the many virtual college campus tours available online right now.

University of Southern California

Get a glimpse of USC’s beautiful campus and historic University Park with this video that showcases the school’s classic architecture, park-like grounds, museums, cafés, entertainment, and more.

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Harvard University

Take a virtual tour of the oldest university in the United States. And even visit places you can’t even see during an in-person campus tour! Explore classrooms, laboratories, residence halls, and more.

Location: Cambridge, MA

This self-guided virtual tour of Penn State University Park gives students an insider’s view of classrooms, residence halls, athletic facilities, and much more. You’ll even learn about the school’s majors and vibrant student community along the way.

Location: State College, PA

College of William & Mary

The second-oldest school in the country invites you to a virtual engagement where you’ll learn about William & Mary’s academic programs, unique student research opportunities, study abroad programs, and supportive campus community of passionate students and faculty.

Location: Williamsburg, VA

Texas A&M

Get an up-close view of Texas A&M, the state’s first public institution of higher learning. This research-intensive flagship university is committed to sending leaders out into the world prepared to take on the challenges of tomorrow.

Location: College Station, TX

University of Miami

The University of Miami offers one of the most extensive virtual college campus tours on this list. Choose from many different locations including the main campus, library, Campus Arena, residential college, and more!

Location: Coral Gables, FL

Howard University

Tour the historic main campus, situated upon a hilltop in Northwest Washington just a few blocks from the storied U Street and Howard Theatre. Howard University is also located just two miles from the U.S. Capitol building where many students have both interned and gone on to shape national and foreign policy.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Vanderbilt University

The 10 schools at Vanderbilt University reside on a parklike campus set in the urban heart of Nashville. To explore, move along the tour route and then click the “360,” “photo,” and “video” icons to see even more.

Location: Nashville, TN

University of Oxford

Visit the oldest university in the English-speaking world. This 360° virtual tour offers views of facilities such as the dining hall, library, and chapel. Also find an example of a student room, garden or quad, and the porters’ lodge.

Location: Oxford, England

Hampton University

You’ll feel just like you’re strolling through campus with this very extensive virtual college tour. Explore many areas of Hampton University including the dorm courtyard, student center, library, and even Armstrong Stadium.

Location: Hampton, VA

Northwestern University

Take Northwestern’s online guided tour which offers an interactive 360-degree view of the campus including academic and residential buildings, dining halls, athletic facilities, and more.

Location: Evanston, IL

Boise State University

Boise is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. And this virtual college tour provides a view of the university’s state-of-the-art research labs, living and dining spaces, and brand new high-tech home for visual arts.

Location: Boise, ID

University of Nebraska

Enjoy an aerial view of the entire University of Nebraska (courtesy of drone footage)! Next, check out residence hall living spaces, the library, recreation, and wellness centers. There’s so much to see on this virtual college campus tour!

Location: Lincoln, NE

Duke University

There are several ways to enjoy this extensive online tour of Duke University. You can jump to recommended spots, click on the map to visit specific buildings, or simply “walk around” and take in the sights. Plus, you can click the interactive elements at each stop for more details!

Location: Durham, NC

Meredith College

Begin your tour of Meredith by the flagpole that marks the entrance to the school’s campus. From there, select any location by using the links on the page to see everything from the residence hall and courtyard to the Gaddy-Hamrick Art Center and athletic complex.

Location: Raleigh, NC

Did we miss a virtual college campus tour? Share them with us, and we might just add it to this list!

Also, view 15 Fascinating Aquarium Virtual Field Trips .

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8 Virtual School Tour Examples

January 25, 2021

Written By: Will Purcell

Similar to test driving a car, or viewing a house, a school’s campus tour can provide comfort and confidence for prospective students where they feel the most “at-home.” That’s why campus tours are one of, if not the most important selling points for enrollment marketers.

However, the recent shift to remote work and distance learning has complicated the entire admissions process. Especially for schools entering their peak yield period with admission counselors seeking to finalize as many deposits as possible, the need for cost-effective innovation is at an all time high. That’s why schools are placing a much larger emphasis on virtual tours .

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Especially for independent schools offering K-12 classes and higher education institutions, the need for immersive virtual tours is critical for success. Below, we’ve identified eight examples of effective virtual tours and break them down into three categories:

• Budget Friendly
• High Quality

Check out these examples to enhance your school’s virtual tour, or to implement a new tour that best aligns with your school’s marketing strategy and enrollment goals.

Budget-Friendly Examples

Contrary to popular belief, virtual tours can be used by all schools, regardless of their endowment or class size.

If you’re working with limited time and resources, some cost-effective tools for developing a solid virtual tour could include:

• Google Slide Presentations
• Photo albums on Facebook Gallery
• Screen sharing via webinar software

Admissions counselors can utilize these tools to provide valuable and interactive experiences. Here, we’ve provided some examples of schools maximizing these resources to deliver an effective virtual platform for prospective families.

1. Sewickley Academy

Located just outside of Pittsburgh, PA, Sewickley Academy offers a unique set of materials for prospective students and families. The student’s journey is a key component of their virtual resources, which aligns with other inbound-focused content from Sewickley Academy as well.

In particular, their virtual school page provides several resources for both current and prospective families. These resources include virtual school parent testimonials, school student projects, and a comprehensive reopening of school plan, which includes two click-through guides and a link to FAQs as well.

The virtual experience also includes a clickable map with pins highlighting key points on campus. Each pin showcases photos of the facility along with a write-up describing the building’s function, history, and influence.

From helpful links, FAQs, a click-through guide, and parent testimonials, Sewickley Academy provides an excellent list of resources that highlights the social, cultural, and educational aspects of life on campus.

An independent school in Watertown, CT, Taft has a number of virtual resources for prospective students and families to reference in their search for the “right-fit” school.

Specifically, Taft provides an admissions video that highlights school activities, facilities, and buildings. They also provide a comprehensive list of information on their virtual visit page .

From photo galleries, to student interviews, and social links, the virtual visit page gives admissions counselors an invaluable resource to reference when speaking with prospective families about daily student life at Taft. Ultimately, all of these resources help to guide and facilitate prospective students and their families as they progress through their journey to select the right-fit school.

For schools looking to make an investment into a more interactive virtual tour, there are several resources available.

Most notably, schools and businesses alike have used Google’s Street View technology to enhance their presence online. This software uses panoramic photos to give users a unique 360 degree perspective, which for the purposes of a virtual tour, allows users to feel as though they’re actually on campus.

With this format, admissions counselors can showcase life on campus through immersive and visual storytelling. Here are some examples of schools using this software to help potential students in their search for the right fit school.

3. Choate Rosemary Hall

An independent school in Wallingford, CT, Choate Rosemary Hall offers a unique look at their facilities. Listed under the admissions page , Choate offers virtual tour information through an interactive map .

A key factor for this map is that it not only offers an interactive “maps view” with clickable pins for key campus buildings, but also offers a write-up and “mini-tour” video for each building as well.

A listing of thumbnail previews are also placed at the bottom of the screen, which further enhances each user’s tour experience.

Along with the mini-tour videos, Choate also offers several photos in a slideshow format above descriptive text for each specific location on the tour. Overall, Choate’s virtual tour offers prospective students and families an interactive and valuable resource to learn more about their school.

4. Milton Academy

Milton Academy is an independent prep school located just outside of Boston in the town of Milton. Their admissions page offers a number of remote resources for prospective students and families, such as a welcome video, Instagram feed, and links to virtual events.

Towards the bottom of the page, visitors will notice an option to take a virtual tour, which links to an immersive, click-through tour.

As seen in the screenshot above, Milton Academy’s interactive tour allows prospective students to learn about each building on campus, all within the click of a button. Each section of the tour offers detailed information about the specific building with a short video overview in the top left of the screen. These informative videos are hosted by current students as well.

This virtual tour is informative and interactive, which allows prospective students and families to learn more about the school at their own pace.

5. Oxford University

With a click-through tour experience, England’s famous Oxford University uses a similar format found in companies using Google My Business street-view photography.

A comprehensive list of tours is available for prospective students to click through and view immersive photos of Oxford’s dining halls, administrative buildings, dorms, and student life centers.

The click-through street view option is particularly popular with schools and businesses because it provides a high-quality, immersive tour for viewers, but at a reasonable installation price for marketers.

6. Salve Regina University

With a beautiful campus located near the shores of Rhode Island, Salve Regina showcases their facilities with a high-quality 360 campus tour.

The interactive platform showcases panoramic views of 15 different spots across campus, which includes a small library of videos and images for each location as well. These resources highlight quick facts about campus life, the student experience, and more.

This comprehensive tour gives admissions counselors a great resource to utilize when speaking with prospective students. And, by using a 360 interactive tour, prospective students and their families can enjoy an immersive experience of life at Salve Regina.

For schools looking to create a virtual tour that’s fully immersive, there are several resources available for enrollment marketers.

Below, we’ve highlighted two universities that show just how excellent and innovative a virtual school tour can be when maximizing the resources necessary to achieve such a large and comprehensive platform.

7. Kean University

Located in New Jersey, Kean University has several interactive tools for virtual tours. In particular, Kean utilizes virtual reality to provide prospective students with a comprehensive 360 view of campus.

In addition to providing two campus tour videos — one as a standard campus tour and another as an interactive video tour — prospective students can request their own pair of virtual reality goggles for a fully comprehensive experience. This particular tour is also offered in standard definition with an interactive map providing 360 degree views of campus.

With these tools, admissions counselors at Kean can offer prospective students and families with a fully immersive, and quite frankly, unparalleled virtual experience.

8. Kent State University

Kent State University takes the virtual tour experience to the next level by integrating an interactive click-through map with virtual reality and 360 panoramic views.

Utilizing VR software compatible with smartphones and VR headsets, prospective students can view points of interest on campus in a truly immersive way. A virtual host guides viewers through each tour landmark, providing useful information and highlights for each.

For prospective students seeking insight from current students and faculty, Kent State provides a video library of information as well.

Overall, Kent State provides a truly comprehensive and immersive virtual tour experience for users to enjoy while gathering valuable information for their school search.

Maximize Virtual Tours for your Prospective Students

As you can see, there are a number of options when it comes to finding the right tour for your school. Moreover, these examples prove that an effective tour doesn’t require a massive sacrifice of time or resources.

Regardless of your budget or aspirations for your virtual tour, it’s important to remember your student’s journey when selecting the right school. Find out what makes your school unique and align those characteristics within your virtual tour to develop a story arc for prospective students and their families.

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School360Tours.com

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We provide solutions for your school's enrollment challenges in the age of COVID-19

School360Tours.com creates beautiful and captivating virtual tours of your school that solve all of the challenges of hosting in-person school tours and help you meet your enrollment goals.

Producing a virtual tour is an effective way for a school to showcase its facilities, programs, and culture to prospective students. It provides a 360-degree interactive experience that allows students to explore the school at their own pace, from anywhere in the world. Here are a few reasons why a school should consider producing a virtual tour:

First, a virtual tour can provide a realistic and engaging experience for prospective students. It can showcase the school's features and facilities in a visually compelling way, which can help to create an emotional connection with viewers. This can lead to increased engagement and enrollment rates.

Second, a virtual tour can be highly convenient for students and their families. Instead of having to travel to the school for an in-person tour, students can explore the campus from the comfort of their own home. This can be especially helpful for out-of-state or international students who may not have the resources or time to visit the school in person.

Third, a virtual tour can be a cost-effective marketing tool for schools. It can be shared on the school's website, social media channels, and other digital platforms, which can help to reach a wider audience and increase visibility.

Overall, producing a virtual tour is a smart investment for any school looking to attract and enroll students. By providing a realistic and engaging experience, creating convenience for viewers, and reaching a wider audience, a virtual tour can be a powerful tool for increasing enrollment and showcasing the school's unique features and culture.

The Top 5 Reasons to Use Virtual Tours on Your School’s Website

If you are in charge of marketing an educational center to potential students or parents of the students, you need to find a way to draw them in. While in-person tours can be persuasive and effective, these are only beneficial if individuals are physically present at your school or university.

There may be prospective students (or their parents) that look up your educational center online, so take advantage of this opportunity by allowing them to virtually visit you!

5 Reasons to Use Virtual Tours on Your School’s Website:

1) a virtual tour will help people to become comfortable with your facility..

By allowing website visitors to visually check out your school or university, they will become familiar with it. This is important, especially for website visitors who may currently live out of the area and perhaps are looking to move into the region. For universities or educational facilities that specialize in teaching specific skills/careers, students who are too far away to take a physical tour may be thinking of applying!

2) Not every school website offers virtual tours, so this allows yours to stand out online.

It’s common for the websites of educational centers to display pictures of their buildings and to relay details about the education they provide. However, not all schools offer actual virtual or interactive tours . By doing this, your facility can stand out among the other schools people come across in online search results. A virtual tour makes your educational center come alive and gives website visitors a realistic idea of the layout and what they can expect.

3) A virtual tour can highlight how your educational center is unique.

Throughout an online virtual tour, you can display the areas of your school that make it special. Even if there are other schools in the area that offer similar educational classes or courses, there are no doubt things about yours that are superior and different.

4) Virtual tours are more engaging than photos.

Website visitors who view your school’s virtual tour are more likely to be engaged than if you were to only display a photo gallery. It allows them to see the school grounds/buildings/campus, and they can better picture themselves there. This may very well be the most interesting feature of your website for potential students or their parents!

5) Displaying a virtual tour will present your school and website in a professional manner.

Using a virtual tour on your website will help your school come across as professional. It will indicate that you are welcoming of new students, but also that you are serious about the education you offer. Virtual tours are perceived as high-quality, which is how you want your school portrayed as well.

Make the Most of Virtual Tours on Your Website

At concept3D, we recognize that it’s not just about using virtual tours, but also about how you use them! That’s why we’ve collected these three tips to help you make the most out of your virtual tours.

1) Use virtual tours to highlight the history of your school.

In addition to using virtual tours to display a current view of the layout and features of your educational center, you can also use them to show the history of your school.

Many businesses have an online ‘about us’ page that talks about when they were established and what their facility/services were like at the time they started. Sharing the details of a school’s rich history likewise helps it to come across as stable and reputable.

Instead of just talking about the history of the school, and only trying to describe what it was like, you can show your website visitors! Take advantage of a virtual tour to show how your school was when it started, where things used to be, and how far you’ve progressed.

In addition to a historical virtual tour, you can share some quick ‘fun facts’ on your site about the history of your school/university. You could even include a few short stories of students who graduated/attended your school in the past and what they went on to do (especially if there are some whose names will be recognized!)

2) Use virtual tours to show the full picture of your school (not just where classes take place.)

In addition to showing the layout of the school itself and drawing attention to where different classes and courses are taught, you can also highlight other areas in connection with your school. This could include areas outside of the building, such as fields for sports or other areas designated for outdoor activities for students.

If there are on-site living accommodations (for campuses, boarding schools, etc.) you can show a tour of the layout of the living facilities and even how the individual dorm rooms look. This is important for students or their parents who may have some anxieties about them moving away from home and living elsewhere. It will help to put them at ease and become more comfortable with the idea of them going to your school.

3. Use a virtual tour in connection with genuine testimonials.

It’s also beneficial to include examples of positive real-life experiences in connection with your educational center. By displaying good results on your site in addition to virtual tours that show an interesting and pleasant physical environment, you increase the effectiveness of the tours. Testimonials and virtual tours are powerful marketing tools on their own, but by making effective use of both of these, you are more likely to persuade website visitors to apply to or attend your school.

You could use brief quoted statements for testimonials, or even show a professional video recording of people’s experiences.

A few types of testimonials you could include:

• Experiences of students who’ve completed their education at your facility and how they’ve benefited.
• Parents’ perspectives on how they made the right choice sending their children to your school.
• Quotes from teachers who enjoy working there and what they love the most about the atmosphere.
• Statements from well-known employers/companies that are eager to hire graduates from your school/university.

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360 Virtual Tours for Schools

We are market leaders in school virtual tours. Established in 2008, we’ve shot for both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, numerous colleges and the country’s top independent schools.

A unique way of showcasing your location and its surroundings.

School virtual tours allow you to show students around your school, college or university from the comfort of their own home.

Students now expect to find some form of virtual campus tour when viewing a school, college or university online. Whilst in person open days are still popular, having the ability to further expand on this with an online virtual visit is invaluable.

Our virtual tours for schools allow you to show key areas of your campus, from dining rooms to boarding houses, and add information points to further describe each area being viewed.

Start your school virtual tour using one of our unique aerial drone 360 shots, the perfect introduction to your location. Have an illustrated school, college or university map? We can build this into your virtual tour to create the perfect interactive marketing tool.

They are also extremely affordable, with small projects costing as little as £500.

View some of our previous education sector virtual tours below

City of London School 360 Virtual Tours --> Education , Independent Schools , Virtual Tours

St Peter’s School York 360 Virtual Tour --> Education , Independent Schools

Giggleswick School Bespoke 360 Virtual Tour --> Independent Schools , Student Accommodation , Virtual Tours

Rendcomb College Independent School Virtual Tour --> Aerial 360 Virtual Tours , Aerial Video & Photography , Aerial Work , Education , Virtual Tours

Sidney Sussex College Virtual Tour with Content Management System --> Content Management System , Education , Virtual Tours

St Albans High School for Girls Virtual Campus Tours --> Independent Schools , Virtual Tours

St John’s College, University of Cambridge 360 Virtual Tour --> Education , Independent Schools , Student Accommodation , Universities , Virtual Tours

University of Essex Virtual Campus Tour --> Education , Virtual Tours

Shrewsbury Independent School 360 Virtual Tour --> Case Studies

Read some testimonials below from some current and past school, college and university clients.

Matthew and the team have been incredibly helpful and professional throughout the process of the 360 virtual tour. From the first call, to the finished product, everything ran smoothly and quickly. On the day, they were able to provide us with suggestions and comments for the best shots. The finished tour is excellent and better than we could have ever expected.

360 Virtual Tours provided us with an exceptional 360 tour of our college campus. They were attentive, enthusiastic, and easy to work with from the start of the project, as well as being incredibly organised. At a time when we couldn’t welcome prospective students and families through our doors, they provided an invaluable insight into our college. Thank you very much to Matthew and his team, we would highly recommend you to anyone that asks.

From initial enquiry through to final launch, 360 Virtual Tours provided us with an efficient and highly professional service. The photoshoot ran very smoothly, thanks to Matthew’s expertise, and the final product was everything we expected it would be.

The service provided by 360 virtual tours was professional, supportive and efficient from the start of the process to the final edit. We are delighted with the virtual tour and the service that we received – we would recommend the services of 360 virtual tours to other schools.

Thank you to 360 virtual tours for putting together tours of our five college campuses and university centre. These have been a fantastic resource in a year when open events for our potential students weren’t a possibility, and we have had many compliments on the quality and how easy they are to navigate. Working with 360 was an extremely straight forward process. They are helpful, professional and got the final tours put together quickly for us to an excellent standard.

We were very impressed at how 360 Virtual Tours were able to bring our exhibition and laboratories to life. The process was very smooth and all done remotely from taking the photos, to designing the layout and style, and to incorporating our edits. 360 Virtual Tours comes with our highest recommendation. The result is a polished, dynamic, and immersive experience!

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32 Questions to Ask on a College Visit

Students should feel free to ask questions during an information session or on tour.

Questions to Ask on a College Visit

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Prospective students should conduct at least basic research to facilitate questions to ask during the information session or on tour, experts say.

Key Takeaways

• Before a campus visit, students should do basic research on the school.
• Students and their families have various opportunities to ask questions.
• No question is dumb.

College visits, whether in person or virtual, can help give prospective students a better feel of campus life.

Contrary to popular belief, however, students don’t need to have that “a-ha” moment when they eventually find the campus where they belong, says Thyra Briggs, vice president for admission and financial aid at Harvey Mudd College in California.

“I just don't think that happens for most students,” she says. “I don't want students to walk away from a visit where that didn't happen thinking, ‘Oh, this is not the place for me.’ This is a long-term relationship. It's not necessarily love at first sight. … In this age of instant gratification, I think it's an important thing to give a school a chance to affect you in a different way.”

For an in-person visit, families should prepare ahead of time by checking the weather and dressing comfortably as tours are mostly held outside.

"Leave plenty of time at an individual campus and allow yourself to enjoy the experience, be present in the moment and (don't) feel rushed because that could also skew your perception of things," says Bryan Gross, vice president for enrollment management at Hartwick College in New York.

It’s also important, experts say, to conduct at least basic research on the institution – even if it’s just looking at their social media accounts – to help facilitate questions to ask during the information session or on tour.

"We know that for some of you, this may be the first time you are going through this," Briggs says. "For others, it's a different student (going through the process) than the student you had who's older. So there’s no bad questions. ... I would hope that any college would welcome any question a student would ask.”

Here are 32 example questions, collected from college admissions and enrollment professions, that students don't always think to ask on college visits. These questions – edited for length or clarity – were provided by Briggs, Gross and Brian Lindeman, assistant vice president of admissions and financial aid at Macalester College  in Minnesota.

Questions About Admissions

• Does this school consider demonstrated interest?
• Is there an opportunity for prospective students to sit in on a class to experience a real lecture?
• Are there options to receive a lunch or dinner pass at the dining hall to try the food?

Questions About Academics

• Where do students typically study?
• How does advising work?
• What are the academic strengths of this school?
• What opportunities are there for study abroad and exchange programs?
• If available, are these global programs directly run by this school – where faculty members travel with students – or are these study abroad programs outsourced to a third-party company?
• Are these study abroad experiences built into the tuition or are there additional fees to participate?

Questions About Financial Aid

• What is this school's average financial aid package?
• What is the average net cost when students enroll?
• What is the current level of funding with endowed scholarships – how much are donors contributing to scholarships?
• Do you offer merit aid ? If so, what are you looking for in a candidate?

Questions About Campus Housing and Community

• What are the housing options?
• What are the fee structures for these different options?
• Are students required to live on campus ?
• How does your campus define diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging?

Questions to Ask Your Tour Guide to Gauge Campus Life

• What surprised you about this school? What's something you didn't expect?
• What keeps you coming back to this school each year?
• Have we seen your favorite place on campus?
• What event on campus gets the biggest turnout every year?
• If you were struggling with an issue, would you know who to turn to? Who would that be?

Questions About Work and Research Opportunities

• What are the opportunities for undergraduate research on campus?
• How do those research opportunities give students valuable hands-on experiences that enhance their resumes?
• What are some specific ways this school helps students gain hands-on experience through internships ?

Questions About Student and Career Outcomes

• What is the retention rate from freshman to sophomore year?
• What is the five-year graduation rate?
• What is the job-attainment rate of graduates within six months of graduating?
• What percent of students are going on to graduate school ?
• What percent of students are intentionally taking time off post-graduation compared to those who are not able to find jobs?
• What size is the alumni network?
• How are alumni actively engaging with recent graduates to help connect them specifically to opportunities in their fields?

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Tour campus, get an inside look at our admissions process, participate in an admissions workshop designed to help you strengthen your application, hear from current students about life at VU and more through this half-day visit.

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Parking, Lodging, and Nashville Visitor Information

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is located at 2305 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37203. 

Parking is at a premium in midtown Nashville. If you need to park on campus, parking is available for admissions visitors at a pay garage, 2525 West End Garage (for GPS directions, use 2550 Kensington Place, Nashville, TN), about a 10-minute walk to your admissions event. For admissions events, validation is available for up to 4 hours if you follow all parking instructions.

• Before leaving your car, you must follow the posted “Scan to Pay and Park” instructions.
• Follow the steps to set up your account by entering your license plate and credit card details to avoid being ticketed.
• After your admission visit, to validate your parking, you must visit the reception desk at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions or the checkout counter at the Vanderbilt Bookstore to scan a QR validation code. You may use this confirmation email as proof of attendance. Please check the bookstore hours before planning your visit.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is not responsible for ticketing or towing during your campus visit. Vehicles that need higher than 7-foot clearance are not able to park in the 2525 West End Garage.

Looking for a place to stay in Nashville? Vanderbilt maintains a list of local hotels for visitors. 

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Bring Back In-Person Field Trips. Here’s Why

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Just as peak field trip season was set to get underway in the spring of 2020, the pandemic hit. Schools, and the cultural institutions and countless other organizations that normally welcome K-12 students for experiential learning, closed their doors.

“The pandemic was absolutely devastating for field trips. They went off a cliff, even when schools went back to in-person,” said Susie Wilkening, principal of Wilkening Consulting, a Seattle-based audience research firm.

Statistics bear this out. In the spring of 2023, Wilkening Consulting and the American Alliance of Museums conducted a survey of 340 museum directors from around the country on post-pandemic visitation. Forty percent of respondents reported that they continued to experience lower on-site visitation from K-12 teachers and students.

Several factors may be keeping schools from venturing back to in-person field trips. Virtual field trips rose in popularity during the pandemic, allowing students to glimpse educational sites as far-flung as the Egyptian pyramids or the Louvre art museum in Paris from the comfort of their homes or classrooms—and those opportunities still exist.

Logistics and funding may also be preventing schools from returning to on-site field trips. Educational researchers have suggested that some schools prioritize putting resources toward activities that may improve student achievement on standardized tests over experiences like field trips, whose results aren’t as quantifiable. That may especially be the case for schools struggling to help students recover from pandemic-era learning declines.

The argument for doing field trips again

But a growing body of research, advocacy from some district-level officials, and anecdotes from students provide compelling reasons for bringing back in-person field trips.

Lin Tajeken Jeufack, a high school junior at Kenwood High School in Maryland’s Baltimore County schools, vividly recalls how a 6th grade field trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore that offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into husbandry of aquatic animals planted an idea in her head about one day becoming a marine biologist.

Lin described testing the water in the animal tanks, peering under a microscope in an onsite laboratory at the aquarium, and learning about a profession she knew little about. The 16-year-old, who is now enrolled in her school’s International Baccalaureate program, volunteers at a local hospital, and says she’s leaning toward majoring in math in college, though she hasn’t ruled out a career in marine biology. Lin still welcomes the opportunity to attend in-person field trips—like a recent outing to the Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute, an art museum that features a “Giant Heart” exhibit that allows visitors to walk through the organ’s enormous, lifelike chambers.

“I think students feel safer now [post-pandemic],” said Lin. “We have a really tough course load; we’re always working. It’s good for us to get away from school for a little while.”

Field trips are especially beneficial for disadvantaged students

The lasting benefits of field trips don’t necessarily register in students’ consciousness at the moment of the visit. But these experiential outings have been proven to increase student interest in, knowledge about, and motivation to study subject matter to which they’re exposed, according to a sweeping, decade-old report by Ohio University researchers on field trips. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to reap the biggest benefits from these experiences, as they are less likely to have the opportunity to engage in these activities outside of school-sponsored trips.

That’s not lost on Kadee Anstadt, superintendent/CEO of Washington Local Schools in Toledo, Ohio, who’s committed to ensuring that the students in her high-poverty district take field trips routinely.

“We are quite intentional now about the breadth of experiences we are offering our students,” said Anstadt, who recently established what she refers to as “superinten-dates,” in which she personally takes groups of students on field trips they likely wouldn’t otherwise experience.

“As an urban district, our kids sometimes don’t get to see their larger community. We’ve been to the Detroit Auto Show, to hear a Holocaust survivor, experienced the Toledo Opera, and taken the entire junior class to the Henry Ford Museum,” she said.

Some of the field trips students in the Washington Local Schools take are culturally enriching; others, practical. The district has developed a partnership with two local YMCA branches in which every 2nd grader receives eight water safety lessons.

“This ensures our kids know the dangers of a pool, pond, or lake, and also know how to get help if they need it. Some learn to swim during this time. For so many, it’s the first time they’ve ever been in a pool,” said Anstadt.

Since last year, more than 1,000 of the district’s approximately 7,000 students have received the lessons.

Fish hatcheries, hiking, ice fishing, and Native American landmarks

Laurie Barron, superintendent of the Evergreen school district in Montana, shares a philosophy on experiential field trips similar to Anstadt’s—but with vastly different surroundings to explore.

“We are in northwestern Montana bordering Glacier National Park, a recreation mecca,” said Barron, reeling off a number of recreational and cultural resources available within a quick bus trip: fish hatcheries, hiking, ice fishing, skiing, forestry opportunities, and Native American landmarks.

Barron says administrators aim for younger students in the K-8 district to go on between two and four trips per year, a number that increases to six to eight trips by the time students reach 8th grade.

“We love for them to have several off-campus opportunities each year, experiencing the great west Montana outdoors. It’s very relevant and easy to connect that to our curriculum and content,” Barron said. “And students remember a lot more that way than just reading about places in a book.”

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• Year 9 Enrolment 2025
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PROSPECTUS       VIRTUAL TOUR

Pukekohe High School has now moved to fully online enrolments.

Online enrolments for In Zone families are available throughout the year.

You will need the following documents to complete an Online Enrolment :

• Birth certificate
• Recent proof of permanent address in zone (electricity, rental agreement or mortgage letter)
• A fully completed Health Information Form (this form and the following digital forms come through automatically and do not need to be uploaded through the portal)
• A fully completed Student Digital User Policy
• A fully completed Parent Digital User Policy
• A fully completed Student Social Media Policy

Notes: if you have not received a message from the school within 3 working days, please check your ‘spam’ or ‘junk’ folder. If you are having problems completing the online enrolment document, press the ‘refresh’ button (top left round arrow) several times and try again. 

To start an online enrolment, please follow the link HERE

A student is deemed enrolled at Pukekohe High School once a confirmation of enrolment message has been received. There is no requirement for future Year 9 students to have an enrolment interview – all of the required details can be gained from the online forms. If your student has learning support needs, and you would like to have an interview, please let us know on the enrolment application.

Subject selection for 2025 will start in September and is completed online through SchoolPoint. Login details will be emailed directly to caregivers, along with a how-to guide. Login details are sent each Friday pm to families who have completed an enrolment in the preceding week.

Enrolment Zone

Pukekohe High School has a Ministry of Education approved enrolment scheme. Under this scheme, students will be enrolled if they live within the home zone. A copy of the zone is available from the school office or HERE on our website.

Out of Zone Enrolment

From the beginning of 2018, the Pukekohe High School Board of Trustees determined that out of zone enrolments will only be accepted from siblings of current students and that there will be no limit on the number of such enrolments.

News & Events

Hikoi to Pukekohe War Memorials Our Year 9 Social Studies Pukekohe War Memorial walks have begun! 🌟 Year 9s are already diving into the rich tapestry of war memorials, exploring…

U18 NZ Junior White Sox selection for Mia Kingi-Hicks Congratulations to Mia Kingi-Hicks who also plays for the Thoroughbred Softball Club in the CMA. Mia plays in the U15s boys’ team in the Auckland…

Mikaera Kingi-Hicks Softball Success Congratulations to Mikaera who has excelled in softball this season. Mikaera plays for the Thoroughbred Softball Club in the Counties Manukau Association. His 3 teams…

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Enrolment Years 9-13

• 14 Harris Street PO Box 206 Pukekohe Auckland New Zealand
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Main Reception: 8.00am to 4.30pm Student Services: 8.30am to 4.00pm

Term 1: 01 Feb (Y9 , other new   students &  Peer  Support)                   02 Feb (All Year Levels) – 12 April

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With the resurfacing of COVID in our region and changes in Alert Levels causing students to continue their learning from home, having a reliable device at home to access online learning, remain connected with teachers, and receive feedback about their work makes  BYOD more essential than ever.

Click here for a reminder of our BYOD recommendations.

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