Learning Outside the Classroom
“The Teachers’ Perspective”
Foreword by
Barry Sheerman MP,
Chairman of the
Children, Schools and Families Select Committee
“Education matters. Inspiring and life-changing education matters even more.
That’s why in 2005 the Committee I chair in Parliament decided to launch an inquiry
into ‘Education Outside the Classroom’. During the course of the inquiry we found
that the provision of outdoor education is extremely patchy, with many schools being
deterred by the false perception that there is a high degree of risk associated with
outdoor education, not to mention the cumbersome bureaucracy and issues of
funding, time and resources.
Since the publication of that report, I’ve been pleased to see that the Government
and wider education sector has taken some important steps to develop and promote
more learning outside the classroom.
It’s absolutely common sense that we learn differently in new environments. What
child wouldn’t come away with a new and deeper understanding after walking round
the graveyards of world war battlefields, or seeing evidence of huge glacial
movement hidden in our landscapes, or speaking a language overseas for the
first time?
But it’s not just common sense. There’s also a raft of new research which shows that
when young people are challenged with new skills away from school it helps them
to learn in different ways and contributes to their emotional well-being, social
interaction, physical experiences and responses to their world.
An Ofsted report in summer 2008 found that
“when planned and implemented well,
learning outside the classroom contributed
significantly to raising standards and improving pupils’
personal, social and emotional development”.
Sadly, research also reveals without these opportunities children are “significantly
disadvantaged.” (Source: Making The Case - Learning Outside the Classroom,
Malone, 2008)
So what has been done?
In 2006 we saw the launch of the “Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto” and
now, in April 2009 the mantle for delivering this Manifesto will be taken on by the new
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.
But there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that all children have access to
these learning opportunities.
This new research by Education Travel Group provides us with teachers’ points of
view. It provides us with a better knowledge of the problems and needs of teachers
who want to provide and run school trips. With 94% of teachers taking part stating that
it will be harder to run school trips in the current economic climate, it’s clear that
government, the teaching community and parents will have to re-double their efforts
in the coming months to ensure that more children have the opportunity to understand
the world beyond their classroom walls.”
Introduction by
Paul Gilbert,
Chief Executive Officer of
Education Travel Group
“When people ask me what I do for a living I say:
I change children’s lives.
and that quite literally is our role at Education Travel Group. We bring textbooks to
life by extending the learning experience beyond the classroom for children. Working
in education outside the classroom is incredibly rewarding. I see shy children
blossom, cautious children take leaps of faith and enquiring children open their eyes
with wonder as they encounter anything from plays, language, history, geography,
technology or a piece of music in a new way.
We’re in the business of education. Our founder was a language teacher called
Victor Groves who saw the benefit in taking his students abroad and so turned it
into a viable business. 75 years later and we remain a trusted and established leader
having taken close to ten million students on excellent value for money educational
trips. In that time our company has seen the increasing demands on teachers who
organise such trips and so we support teachers throughout the whole process to
ensure that it is as seamless as possible.
Despite the concerns highlighted by teachers in this report, this year we are taking
away more children than ever before. Both parents and teachers see the huge
benefits in allowing children to learn outside the classroom. We welcome more than
140,000 children a year to our Kingswood UK Activity Centres and send more than
110,000 children a year overseas on educational school trips. We deal with teachers
up and down the country from primary through to secondary and university staff.
“We’re huge supporters of the government’s drive to encourage learning outside the
classroom and we felt it was important to provide a voice for teachers in this debate.
So these are the voices of teachers.
It’s our job to listen and help.”
school
An
Education Travel Group survey of more than 400 school
teachers across the country, carried out by independent researchers Opinion
Matters reveals how teachers value learning outside the classroom.
Half the respondents were in primary education and half in secondary education.
Worldwide tours with STS
www.ststravel.co.uk
1. Who goes?
The Teachers’ Perspective
The study found that nine out of ten teachers take pupils
on school trips.
One in five teachers (21%) take children out at least
once a term.
The majority (57%) take trips once or twice a year.
But, one in ten (10%) said they never took school trips
potentially depriving their children of a valuable
experience and around one in eight (12%) only
undertake school trips once every few years.
12%
Once every
few years
10%
21%
At least one a term
Never
57%
Once or twice a year
- 05 -
At least once a term
Once or twice a year
Never
Once every few years
2. Why go?
The Teachers’ Perspective
Enjoying the activities at a Kingswood UK Activity Centre
www.kingswood.co.uk
Which of the following are reasons why you take pupils on school trips?
32%
44%
46%
60%
45%
59%
52%
60%
80%
80%
80%
40%
40%
0%
9%
1%
0%
0%
5%
20%
20%
Once or twice a year
At least once a term
100%
75%
70%
100%
60%
0%
It allows children to have fun
whilst learning
It allows for socialising
It gets students more active
It facilitates team building
The top reasons teachers take children on school trips are:
To facilitate a broader understanding
of the subject
(83%)
To help children have fun when learning
(77%)
Only a quarter of teachers who never took children on trips
agreed with this reason, compared to 95% of teachers who
took children out of the classroom at least once a term.
(73%)
Almost eight out of ten primary school teachers valued
first hand experience and having fun whilst learning.
To facilitate team building
3%
Never
It gives a first hand
experience
To give children first-hand experience
13%
0
Once every few years
It facilitates a broader
understanding of a subject
15%
8%
4%
6%
20%
23%
25%
20%
18%
40%
26%
40%
50%
60%
52%
80%
60%
78%
80%
84%
89%
86%
100%
88%
100%
94%
Responses sorted by ‘How often do teachers take school trips’.
(45%)
Teachers who take children out of the classroom most
regularly valued team-building more highly than giving
children first-hand experience. Over five out of ten regular
party leaders valued the team building generated by trips,
while close to nine out of ten appreciated first hand
experience.
To get students more active
To allow for socialising
I do not take pupils on
school trips
Other
(43%)
(35%)
Secondary school teachers valued the opportunity to allow
for socialising (40%) and team building (48%) more highly
than primary school teachers.
Going overseas?
Teachers said they took children on overseas school
trips in order to let children experience other cultures
(82%), simply to experience travelling abroad (66%)
and to experience learning another language (64%).
More than half the teachers surveyed also enjoyed seeing
children encounter hands-on learning overseas and just
under half also valued the opportunity for both teachers and
students to form links with schools abroad.
- 07 -
Case Studies
The Teachers’ Perspective
Environmental Field Studies
programme at a Kingswood UK
Activity Centre
www.kingswood.co.uk
Case Study One
“There are a million reasons to take school trips.
Obviously there is the educational benefit but that comes
further down my list as I don’t do formal, class based
activities on my trips. It is important to get the children
away from school, to give them independence and to
enable them to bond as a year group. Parents always say
that children come back as different people, the trips have
expanded their horizons in every single way.
At many schools in challenging areas, parents don’t want
to let their children go for a number of reasons. Many also
find it difficult to pay. This year, the school will pay several
thousands of pounds to subsidise the Year 6 trip but we
feel it is money well invested.
Case Study Two
“One year a veteran of the First World War came in to talk
to my class about his experiences. At the end of the lesson
he turned to me and said; “I don’t know how you can
teach this without seeing it”. So that got me started. In
the first year I took a group of 15 to 16 year olds to the
battlefields of the Somme and Ypres. It broke our hearts to
see it and we all wept. I’ve been running school trips to
those battlefields ever since. We are lucky in that the
school gives us time to go on these trips. We leave on
Friday and get back late Monday night and all of us are
straight back into school on Tuesday.
It’s a hassle of course. Any trip is a hassle to arrange and
the level of risk assessment we now have to do is very
time consuming. But it’s important you travel with a
company like Equity Travel that you can trust. So that
when things go wrong - which they can do - you’ve got a
company with the experience and knowledge to help you
immediately.
Case Study Three
"I've taken about 30 - 40 trips in total and the school as a
whole generally takes quite a lot of trips. Of these trips,
about six or seven each year are residential and the rest
are all day trips.
The day trips can be anything from an art gallery to paint
balling. We try and increase the number of trips we
take year on year and all of the teachers are generally in
favour of this. We find it quite easy to organise the trips
and there aren't any major issues that prevent us from
taking school trips.
The paperwork/litigation surrounding trips is not an
issue at all as we have a separate department within
Fear of litigation and paperwork certainly puts many
teachers off but Kingswood offers pre-done risk
assessments which certainly help. Once you’ve done
one trip and you see the benefit, you’re far more
likely to take another. Many headteachers are far too
worried to take the children any further than a local centre.
In my opinion, the ferry and the journey are part of the
excitement of the trip - they make it ‘real’ for the children
and give them leave to be independent.”
Mr Gerry D’cruz
Headteacher
Ashford Oaks Primary School, Ashford, Kent
A customer of Kingswood.
Our trips have such an impact on our students that
they often tell me it’s one of their clearest memories
from school. It’s not just about learning facts but facing
the spiritual issues of war. Last year we stopped the coach
at a cemetery we’d never visited before and I gave each of
the girls a rose and asked them to lay it on a grave and to
bring that man’s name home with them. If I ask them
today, not one of them has forgotten the name of their
fallen solider. I’m a huge advocate of school trips and
I’ll continue to run them until I stop teaching.”
Mr Shaun O’Connor
Head of History
Notre Dame School, Sheffield
A customer of Equity Travel for more than a decade
finance that takes care of all paperwork and forms that
need to be filled out.
The main obstacle is probably the lack of staff as the trips
often take place over a holiday and a lot of the teachers
would prefer to just go on holiday with their own families
rather than work and take a school trip."
Mr Selwyn Boothe
Teacher
Gunnersbury Catholic School
A customer of Kingswood.
- 09 -
Warming up for a SkiPlan ski lesson
www.skiplan.co.uk
3. Perceived Barriers
The Teachers’ Perspective
As the Government gears up the Learning Outside the
Classroom Council to encourage more school visits,
Education Travel Group’s research has found three clear common barriers which
are holding teachers back from taking more trips, as well as a widespread concern
about the economy potentially reducing or changing the school trips in future.
Which of the following reasons prevent you from doing more school trips?
60%
80%
25%
21%
20%
19%
17%
16%
15%
14%
12%
9%
8%
36%
40%
41%
41%
41%
60%
uc
m
s
rn
La
ck
of
To
o
To
o
ce
C
on
To
o
Th
e
m
co
uc
h
st
ov
er
is
or
ga
to
o
lit
ig
ni
hi
si
gh
ng
0%
m
st
uc h p ati
af
o
h
a
ft
bu pe n
o
r
rd
w
ac
La
en or
co
ck
m
on k
of
pa
La
st
t
a
ck i m e n y
ch ff
of
to
i
l
s
d
pr
ta
St
r
ud ff t e-v en
en o o isit
t
r
s
Fe s n gan ite
ar ot w ise s
Pa of
el
l b trip
d
re
eh s
nt isci
s
pl
av
To
d
i
n
on
o
D
ar ed
hi
iff
’
y
t
ic
gh
al
ac
ul
lo
tio
t t er
w
r
o
La
ch n
ge isk
ck
i
ld
t p for
re
of
ar
a
n
ad
en cc
i
e
d
t
s
Id
qu
e
pe
n
o
La ate
rm ts
no
ck
tra
is
tf
si
ee
v
of
on
lt
ed el fa
he
u
c
O
c
y
ili
at
ar the
io ties
e
r(
na
lin
pl
ls
ea
ke
ite
d
se
s
t
o
Id
s
pe
th
o
e
c
no
if
cu
ts
rri y)
ee
cu
lu
th
m
e
be
ne
fit
s
2%
1%
20%
Perceived Barrier 1 - The cost for parents
Teachers feel the major barrier to arranging more school
trips is that “costs are too high for parents”.
Six out of ten teachers said that concern that costs are too
high for parents deterred them taking more school trips.
But comments by teachers also indicated this may be
something that schools could discuss more with parents.
For example, one respondent said: “senior managers
constantly quote it’s too expensive even though there is a
high take up when a trip is organised.”
The survey also revealed that cost is now a major concern
for teachers planning future trips. Some said they were
worried about the cost of coaches, exchange rates and
the cost of fuel and said they’d be looking at options such
as visits to more free sites, or home school exchanges
in future.
The vast majority - nine out of ten teachers surveyed,
expressed concern that the economic climate may make it
harder to organise school trips as parents may not be able
to afford the cost. This is particularly a major barrier for
teachers who never arrange school trips (98% agreed it
would be a problem) and for primary teachers (94%).
Eight out of ten (85%) teachers said they felt school trips
may be less frequent as a result of the economic
downturn. Primary school teachers are most likely to see
this as an option (90%) compared to secondary school
teachers (80%).
Six out of ten (63%) teachers were also worried that some
children may not be able to join future trips. This was a
particular concern for secondary teachers – 70% were
worried that some children may not be able to take part,
compared to 56% of primary teachers.
Other ways that teachers feel school trips may change
because of the economy, are arranging trips closer to the
school (58%), going to different venues or sites (38%),
taking shorter trips (23%), taking smaller groups (19%),
parents may forfeit their own holiday in order to let their
children take a school trip (13%).
- 11 -
Making friends at a Kingswood UK Activity Centre
www.kingswood.co.uk
Perceived Barrier 2
Paperwork and resourcing issues
Four out of ten teachers said arranging trips required too much organising (41%), involved
too much paperwork (41%) and put a burden of responsibility on school staff (36%).
A further quarter of teachers surveyed also said there weren’t enough staff to take children
on trips (25%), not enough time to pre-visit sites (21%) and a lack of staff to help organise
trips (20%).
Teachers who take children on trips less frequently find resourcing and paperwork more of
a barrier than the cost of trips. Of teachers who take a trip once every few years, over half
thought cost was a barrier to taking more trips, but 48% also said it took too much
organising, 50% were put off by paperwork and 44% said it was a burden of responsibility.
The costs of supply teachers to cover teachers during school periods was also expressed as
an area of concern and several teachers added comments that resourcing problems meant
any school visits had to be taken in their own holiday time.
Perceived Barrier 3
Concern about students and litigation or disciplinary action
Once concerns of cost and administration
are out of the way, teachers expressed
concern about children’s behaviour and
fear of disciplinary action or litigation if
things went wrong.
Four out of 10 (41%) teachers say
concerns about litigation prevent them from
organising more school trips. Another 17%
say fear of disciplinary action and 15% say
fear of accidents prevent school trips.
Linked with these concerns, 41% of
teachers say they are prevented from
doing more school trips because there is
so much paperwork involved.
Secondary school teachers are almost
twice as likely as primary school teachers
to say that concerns over litigation and/or
the amount of paperwork involved are
barriers to running more school trips
(53% compared to 28% in both cases).
Fear of litigation actively prevents some
teachers from taking pupils on school trips.
Among teachers who only take pupils on
trips once every few years, fear of litigation
is the single most common barrier, cited by
56% (compared to 26% of teachers who
take pupils on trips at least once a term).
This is in spite of only one in eight (12%) of
teachers personally knowing a teacher who
has been threatened by legal or
disciplinary action as a result of a school
trip. Among teachers who only take school
trips once every few years, only 8% know
someone threatened by legal or
disciplinary action. Among those who never
take school trips only 5% know someone
threatened by action.
Pupils’ behaviour can also be a barrier to
school trips for some secondary schools:
one in four (26%) secondary school
teachers say they don’t organise more
school trips because students are not
always well behaved (compared to only
11% of primary school teachers who give
this reason for not organising more trips).
Confidence outside the classroom
A perhaps less explored issue is that teaching children outside the classroom can
put new skills pressures on teachers.
Two thirds of teachers (64%) said they were as happy teaching children outside
school as they were in the classroom, but a third said they weren’t as confident.
Around 28% of all teachers agreed slightly that they weren’t as confident taking
children to learn outside the classroom and 7% strongly agreed that this was the
case.
In fact primary school teachers are most concerned about teaching outside the
classroom - 39% either slightly or strongly agreed they were less confident
teaching children outside school, compared to 33% of secondary school teachers.
- 13 -
Specialist skiing and learning for schools
with Equity School Ski
www.schoolski.co.uk
4. What can the
Government do to
encourage more
school trips?
The Teachers’ Perspective
60
40
20
Insurance/legal guidance would especially encourage
teachers who only run school trips once every few years:
42% of these teachers would run more trips if they had
clearer legal and insurance guidance (compared to 21% of
teachers taking trips every term).
1%
Close to one in three (33%) teachers would be encouraged
to run more school trips if they had clearer guidance on
their legal and insurance responsibilities. One in five
(21%) would be encouraged if they received training in
managing the risks associated with school trips.
80
2%
Almost two out of three (63%) teachers who never take
their pupils on school trips would be encouraged to do so if
the Government provided lists of accredited providers and
organisers.
100
5%
The need for simpler paperwork is especially acute at
secondary schools: 64% of secondary school teachers
would run more school trips if the paperwork was simpler
(compared to 48% of primary school teachers).
What can the Government do to
encourage more school trips?
20%
Simpler paperwork would especially encourage teachers
who only take school trips once every few years: 66% of
these teachers would be encouraged if the paperwork was
simpler (compared to 46% of teachers who take school
trips every term).
33%
Almost two out of three teachers (63%) believe the
Government could encourage school trips by minimising
the bureaucracy. More than half (56%) would be
encouraged to run more school trips if the paperwork was
simpler.
Meanwhile, only 9% of teachers say their school has
signed up to the ‘Learning Outside the Classroom
Manifesto’, with most (72%) unaware of whether their
school has signed up or not.
43%
Most (79%) teachers believe the Government could
encourage more school trips by providing adequate
funding. This is especially the case among primary school
teachers, 84% of whom feel the Government could
encourage more school trips by providing funding
(compared to 74% of secondary school teachers).
Despite the interest in training and guidance almost nine
out of ten teachers have never used the Government’s
“Out and About” guidance. Primary school teachers (14%)
and those who take trips once or twice a year (14%) are
most likely to have used this resource. The biggest uptake
of the guidance by region was London (20%), Wales
(16%), South West (14%), East (12%) and Midlands
(11%). But none of the teachers who said they never take
school trips had consulted it.
63%
Adequate funding and simpler paperwork would encourage
more teachers to organise more school trips, cited by 66%
and 56% of teachers respectively.
they received risk management training (compared to 15%
of primary teachers).
79%
Despite the huge effort that the Government has already
made, the message about what is being done still hasn’t
got through to many teachers.
0
Providing more funding
Minimising the bureaucracy
Secondary school teachers especially want insurance/legal
guidance and risk management training: 41% of secondary
school teachers would be encouraged by legal/insurance
guidance (compared to 24% of primary school teachers);
26% of secondary school teachers would be encouraged if
Offering well accredited
organisers and providers
Providing more guidance
- 15 -
Offering advice and
consultancy on school trips
Government does not need
to encourage more trips
Other
Government can’t do anything
to encourage more trips
Friendly football match at a
Kingswood UK Activity Centre
www.kingswood.co.uk
Helping parents to understand the educational value of
school trips (56%)
Being willing to attend school trips (46%)
Researching accredited providers (31%)
Researching the value of school trips (
Lobbying government (12%)
24%)
Around one in ten teachers felt they themselves couldn’t
influence how many school trips were taken and a further
one in ten said they did not think teachers needed to
encourage more school trips.
The teachers who never took any school trips were most
pessimistic - 17% said they couldn’t do anything
themselves to encourage school trips and a quarter (25%)
said they didn’t think it was their role to do so.
What can teachers do to encourage
more school trips?
100%
80%
1%
10%
11%
12%
20%
24%
40%
31%
60%
46%
The Teachers’ Perspective
In addition to more support from Government
and senior staff, more than half the teachers
surveyed felt teachers themselves could do
more to encourage school trips by:
56%
5. What can teachers
do to encourage more
school trips?
0%
Helping parents to understand
the value of school trips
Being willing to attend
school trips
Researching well accredited
providers
Researching the value of
school trips
- 17 -
Lobbying the government
Teachers can’t do anything
to encourage more trips
Teachers do not need to
encourage more trips
Other
About Education Travel Group
Education Travel Group is the UK's leading supplier of
educational group tours, school ski and educationally rich activity
centre breaks for schools and colleges. It looks after more than
250,000 children a year through its eleven companies which
encompass residential educational activity courses, children's
adventure holidays, worldwide tours and school ski programmes.
Exploring the Mission Maker ICT Module at a Kingswood UK Activity Centre
www.kingswood.co.uk
Education Travel Group understands the issues that
teachers face in planning and running school trips. It
supports schools and teachers through every part of the
process to ensure that as many children as possible get
to enjoy the benefits of learning outside the classroom.
Cost
Cost is always a sensitive issue for both teachers and
parents and that’s why Education Travel Group works hard
to make sure its prices are as competitive as possible.
As a large, well-established company it is able to get the
best possible prices from suppliers and pass these savings
onto its customers ensuring they receive unbeatable value
for money. It has payment plans allowing payments to be
made over a number of months and also offers a low initial
deposit so parents can ensure their child’s place on a trip.
Its prices are all inclusive so there are no hidden extras
which makes planning a trip a lot easier and in addition
there are often a variety of discounts available, including
early booking, loyalty and large groups.
Shorter duration tours and trips closer to home are
becoming increasingly popular. As a result Education
Travel Group has recently launched a number of special
short breaks and UK tours for those looking for even better
value for money. It is also working on ways to deliver
increased value programmes at less busy times to
encourage teachers to run trips during these periods.
Other initiatives include building all weather facilities at its
UK Activity Centres making them a year round destination.
Across all its companies Education Travel Group works in
partnership with teachers to tailor-make the right itinerary
for each group no matter what size or budget. It also
recognises the commitment that many teachers make by
taking trips in their own holiday time so to help it offers
concessionary places to teachers to enable them to bring
their family along.
Paperwork and Resourcing
Without doubt there is a lot of important paperwork to
complete before undertaking any school trip which is
why Education Travel group offers a highly personalised
service with an experienced team who are available to
help at all times. Its job is to make teachers’ lives a little
easier so it takes care of all the organisation leaving
teachers free to get on with their already busy school
schedules. It does this by doing the necessary research,
providing itineraries, identifying educational opportunities
and helping teachers have a successful visit. Education
Travel Group has also launched the Learning Index, a
framework prepared by educationalists linking its tours
and programmes to the National Curriculum.
As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting schools,
Education Travel Group is looking at introducing specific
programmes designed to help Educational Visit
Coordinators and teachers obtain the skills and confidence
to undertake trips. A risk assessment is a vital part of any
school trip so it offers inspection visits to enable teachers
to check their destination and accommodation, complete
their pre-planning documents and experience the
operation first-hand. Education Travel Group listens to
teachers’ feedback and has now introduced paperwork
and risk assessments that can be accessed online, a wider
range of promotional material and also helps organise
parents evenings too. All school trips need a good level of
supervision and its free place ratio is designed to ensure
exactly that. In all of its UK and many of its other
destinations it also has centre staff, resort representatives
and area managers to make sure every trip goes
according to plan.
Litigation and Disciplinary Action
As the research suggests, the fear of litigation is clearly far
higher than the actual reality, however the risks can be
significantly reduced by travelling with a well accredited
and audited provider. This is one of the main reasons why
teachers choose to book through Education Travel Group.
As a member of the School Travel Forum it adheres to a
rigorous code of practice and safety management
standards that are externally verified each year by Argent
Health & Safety, the UK’s leading Health & Safety
consultancy specialising in travel. Its safety management
procedures set a benchmark within the industry and staff
undertake regular Health & Safety training. In the event of
any issues arising on a trip Education Travel Group
appoints a Child Protection Officer to work with the school
to help resolve the situation. Its UK Centres are a founding
member of, and are regulated by, the British Activity
Holiday Association (BAHA) and its watersports operation
is run under the Adventure Activities Licensing Service
(AALS). Groups travelling with Education Travel Group are
protected through an ATOL licence and an ABTA approved
financial insurance policy. It also holds public liability
insurance cover of up to £20 million.
Education Travel Group has been a driving force in the
Government’s Learning Outside the Classroom Steering
Group. It strongly believes in the principle of allowing every
child to experience the benefits of a school trip and has
been promoting learning beyond the classroom for almost
two decades. It is already working with teachers to
overcome the perceived barriers to school travel and will
continue to do so to make school trips accessible to as
many children as possible.
- 19 -
Our Companies
Educational Travel
Kingswood - www.kingswood.co.uk - Tel: 01603 309300
Kingswood is the UK's leading provider of residential educational activity centres for schools and colleges. Catering for primary school,
secondary school and college groups, Kingswood study programmes position ICT, environmental field studies and key skill learning
alongside challenging adventure activities.
Kingswood's primary focus is the all-encompassing learning adventure for young people and its programme is constantly evolving to
reflect changes in the curriculum. The Kingswood programme is specifically tailored to particular Key Stages mixing cross-curricular
educational modules, with teachers able to tailor make their own trip, ensuring that students concentrate on specific areas of study.
Kingswood Centres
Staffordshire - West Midlands (aimed at 7-11 yr olds)
Bembridge - Isle of Wight (aimed at 7-17 yr olds)
NEW: Colomendy - North Wales (aimed at 11-17 yr olds)
Denbigh - North Wales (aimed at 7-11 yr olds)
NEW: Dukeshouse Wood - Northumberland (aimed at 7-17 yr olds)
Fulmer Grange - Buckinghamshire (aimed at 7-11 yr olds)
Overstrand Hall - Norfolk (aimed at 11-17 yr olds)
Peak Venture - Peak District (aimed at 7-15 yr olds)
West Runton - North Norfolk (aimed at 7-15 yr olds)
Chateau de Chantereine - Criel-sur-Mer, Northern France
(aimed at 7-17 yr olds)
STS School Travel Service - www.ststravel.co.uk - Tel: 0870 240 6828
STS (School Travel Service) is Britain's longest established school tour operator offering a wide variety of educationally inspiring tours to
14 European and 13 worldwide destinations by coach, train and air for school and college groups. STS also provides subject-specific
tours such as Battlefield, Language and even Concert Tours. As well as providing premium quality tours, STS owns Château du Baffy,
an impressive, historical building located in Normandy available exclusively to its groups.
Destinations: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, USA, Poland, Russia, Kenya, Japan, Peru, Malaysia...
What's New? New tours launched in February 2009 included Tanzania, New Zealand and a new American Civil War tour.
SkiPlan - www.skiplan.co.uk - Tel: 0871 222 6565
SkiPlan is a dedicated school ski specialist, boasting a wide choice of resorts, ranging from its primary destination in France to the USA.
SkiPlan conveniently offers a door-to-door coach service or flight departures from nine UK airports and also has the largest team of
regional travel advisors of all its competitors, thus providing a highly personalised service. Not only are the travel advisors available by
appointment for school visits, they are also available for parents' evening presentations ensuring absolute confidence in all concerned
parties. SkiPlan also manages eight ClubHotels exclusively for its groups, all of which can be found in great locations in France such as
Les Deux Alpes.
Destinations: France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Andorra, Bulgaria, Canada, America...
What's New? 2009 sees 8 new resorts in France, Italy, Bulgaria and USA.
Equity Student Travel - www.equitystudenttravel.co.uk - 01273 810 710
A specialist in group travel for higher and further education students, Equity Student Travel provides tailor-made
itineraries with educational content. The company has been in business since 1991 and is adept at providing itineraries with a wide
ranging subject matter from Architecture through to Hospitality and Catering. There are numerous destinations to choose from within
12 European countries and a further 12 worldwide countries. Groups can even opt for twin centre tours and also have a choice of
several regional departure points depending on whether they wish to travel by air, train or coach - all at extremely competitive prices. All
tours include b&b accommodation, return flight/train/coach/ferry travel, taxes and 24 hour emergency contact with Equity Student Travel.
Destinations: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, London, New York...and many more...
- 20 -
Equity School Travel - www.equityschooltravel.co.uk - 01273 648 248
Experts in creating educational visits for schools and colleges, Equity School Travel has been in operation since 1991.
The company brings classroom activity to life by providing study related courses as well as educational destination tours. All bookings
include accommodation and return travel as well as travel insurance and full itineraries. Day trips are also available to France and Belgium.
Destinations: France, Italy, Spain, Germany, USA, Japan...
What's New? Specialist study courses in Art & Design, Business Studies, Food for Thought, Foreign Correspondent, Geography,
History, Media & Film Studies, Modern Foreign Languages, Religious Studies. Young Explorers programme for primary schools focusing
on York, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Normandy and Opal coast. New destinations - Hungary, expanded USA programme.
Equity School Ski - www.schoolski.co.uk - 01273 622 111
Equity School Ski is a leading UK provider of school ski trips to a range of destinations around Europe and North
America. Equity School Ski provides groups with a unique SkiFAST programme ensuring first class ski tuition for all
levels. Groups also benefit from an educationally rich après ski programme, which promotes an understanding of language, culture and
PSHE. Equity School Ski offers a dedicated point of contact throughout each booking with unbeatable customer service and support.
An independently audited Safety Management System ensures the safety of groups at all times.
Destinations: France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Norway, Canada, America
What's New? Ski tours to Norway and a new Sloping Off programme which has been designed to offer unbeatable value for school ski
trips by coach.
UK Connection - www.ukconnection.co.uk - 01273 810 740
UK Connection is a market leader in student group travel providing bespoke itineraries to a wide variety of destinations. Innovation is
key and the company is constantly looking for new ways to improve their tours. The service is totally flexible with a choice of transport
options and accommodation choices from hostels to 4 star hotels. UK Connection was one of the first to introduce student conventions
and have been organising highly successful five-day study conventions in New York since 2000.
Destinations: New York, London, Berlin, Florence, Barcelona, Brussels, Paris...
What's New? Specialist rail brochure launched in January 2009.
Pavilion Tours - www.paviliontours.com - 0870 241 0425
Pavilion Tours is the specialist travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups, with a specific focus on adventure, eurosports,
performing arts and geography tours. Specialising in these core areas enables Pavilion to remain at the cutting edge of their
programmes. All tours include transportation, accommodation, tailored workshops and full itineraries and insurance.
Children & Family Holidays
Camp Beaumont - www.campbeaumont.co.uk - 01603 660 333
Camp Beaumont has six camps throughout the UK for children aged 7 to 17. The camps offer children adventure and new skills and a
chance to make friends and build relationships away from home. Adventure activities encourage children to take healthy risks and use
their initiative.
Destinations: Isle of Wight, North Norfolk, North Wales, Peak District, Northumberland and France as well as day camps in London
What’s New? Alpine Adventures - a brand new summer holiday for campers between the ages of 11-17, with a choice of two resorts set
in Le Corbier and Châtel in the French Alps. Beaumont Ski - a week of skiing and snowboarding in the French Alps in April.
Equity Ski - www.equityski.co.uk - 01273 622 111
Equity Ski offers all-inclusive ski holidays for families and groups, specialising in taking the hassle out of arranging a ski
trip, allowing skiers to get on with relaxing and enjoying their break! All Equity Ski holidays include return flights and
transfers, half-board accommodation, ski lift pass, equipment hire, and ski insurance.
Destinations: France, Italy & Austria
What's New? New ClubHotel Le Morgan in Risoul.
rocketski.com
RocketSki - www.rocketski.com - 01273 810 777
RocketSki provides great value tailor-made ski holidays to Europe - perfect for those who prefer more individual travel and want
flexibility. In contrast to most travel firms, holidaymakers do not need to book a conventional ski holiday comprising flights, transfers and
accommodation. Instead, RocketSki lets the holidaymakers choose just the elements that they need. They can also arrange lift passes,
equipment hire, ski lessons, ski carriage and ski insurance at great prices.
Destinations: France, Italy & Austria
What's New? New ClubHotel Le Morgan in Risoul.
- 21 -
Top Ten Trips
Day trip to Paris with Equity School Travel
www.equityschooltravel.co.uk
Most popular trips
(all ages)
Most popular secondary
school trips
UK
France
Italy
Spain
Austria
USA
Belgium
Germany
Greece
Netherlands
France
Italy
Spain
Austria
USA
Belgium
Germany
Greece
Netherlands
China
UK Activity Centres
London
Opal Coast
Paris
Normandy
Brittany
Disneyland® Resort Paris
Belgium
York
Edinburgh
France
Italy
Spain
Middle East
Germany
Russia
Belgium
China
Israel
Algeria
Most popular primary
school trips
Useful Links
Learning Outside the Classroom
www.lotc.org.uk
Signing up to Learning Outside the
Classroom
http://www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk/home
Education Travel Group
www.educationtravelgroup.com
Kingswood
www.kingswood.co.uk
STS
www.ststravel.co.uk
Top ten markets for
inbound educational visits
Equity School Ski
www.schoolski.co.uk
UK Connection
www.ukconnection.co.uk
Pavilion Tours
www.paviliontours.com
Further information
Education Travel Group,
Chief Executive Officer,
Paul Gilbert
Head Office: 01273 648 273
info@educationtravelgroup.com
SkiPlan
www.skiplan.co.uk
Equity Student Travel
www.equitystudenttravel.co.uk
Equity School Travel
www.equityschooltravel.co.uk
- 23 -
www.educationtravelgroup.com
Press and Media Enquiries
bgb communications: 0207 902 2990