SCHOOL TRIPS

Click to view the appropriate website:

The current Government (2011) policy is to reduce the paperwork and legal restrictions on school trips to encourage schools to undertake exciting, educationally valuable and risk reduced programs.

There are two main regulations:

1. For programs taking place in the UK you need Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC).

2. For programs overseas you need British Standard 8848 “The Provision of visits, fieldwork, expeditions and adventurous activities outside the UK”.

Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC)

School Trips In The UK:

The nationally recognised indicator of good quality educational provision within the UK or EU.

The LOtC Quality Badge provides for the first time a national award combining the essential elements of provision - learning and safety - into ONE easily recognisable and trusted accreditation scheme for ALL types of learning outside the classroom provider organisation catering to children and young people throughout the UK. The scheme is managed and developed by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.

Benefits of the LOtC Quality Badge for children and schools

The LOtC Quality Badge reduces the red tape associated with learning outside the classroom, making it easier for teachers and other education providers to incorporate LOtC into the everyday curriculum. This increases the likelihood of children having the opportunity to have wider educational experiences which directly benefit their educational attainment and social and emotional development

BS8848 British Standard

BSI8848 Summary

School Trips Overseas:

The British Standard for overseas expeditions and fieldwork
BS 8848: a specification for the provision of visits, fieldwork, expeditions, and adventurous activities outside the UK was first published in April 2007. This was later revised and republished to include a self-assessment checklist in January 2009. The RGS-IBG was among the organisations on the BSI technical committee that drafted the standard.

What is it for?
The new standard aims to reduce risk from injury or illness and provides those that comply with the standard with a way of being able to demonstrate hat they are following good practice to manage the venture safely.

BS 8848 specifies operational requirements for organizers of adventurous and educational activities abroad including university and academic fieldwork, gap year experiences, adventure holidays, charity challenges and research expeditions.

How to select a potential school group provider?

1. Would you select a pilot that has given themselves their own pilots test or one that has been independently tested? Providers can conform to BSI8848 by self validation. For more robust protection we recommend organisations that conform to BSI8848 by independent inspection. Alternatively have they been independently inspected by the Year Out Group? Year Out Group members require annual approval including financial, customer service as well as health and safety checks.

2. Will you be financially protected if they fail? Are they bonded?

3. Good quality school group providers will also enable Duke of Edinburgh Award Participation. Duke of Edinburgh (D of E) awarding organisation can include all or part of a D of E award within the school group field trip.

4. References: A reference from a school that you know is a good start. A reference from the in-country British Embassy or Consulate provides an insight into the providers experience in country. Also speak direct, to the providers locally based Leader.

5. Projects: If you are seeking a community project, can you create long term links with your host community? Does the post expedition briefing include participation assessment and feedback if required? Your time spent in research is seldom wasted.

GapFORCE Schools is a Duke of Edinburgh Award Centre, a Sport England Award Centre and independently inspected to BSI 8848. A member of the Expedition Providers Association, a member of the Youth Explorers Trust and Committee Member of the Year Out Group.

To discuss creating a tailor-made professionally run group trip call James on 0207 384 3028 or email: schools@gapforce.org