EVC Summer 2026_magazine_AWdigital - Flipbook - Page 30
MEET THE
EVC OF
THE YEAR!
Marie Towns from St Edmund’s College
and Prep School in Hertfordshire has been
named EVC of the Year 2025, chosen from
an impressive field of entrants from the
UK and overseas
M
arie was nominated by her colleagues Emma Harvey
and Nick Lee for combining a genuine passion for
educational visits with a rigorous approach to training,
compliance and safety.
The judges agreed that Marie was an outstanding
candidate. “It’s clear from the evidence provided that her
impact stretches far beyond the organisational aspects
of the EVC role. She leads by example, setting high
standards for safety, inclusion and outcomes.”
The panel was also impressed by her
commitment to developing herself
and her team, which is important
for the future of educational visits
at St Edmund’s College and
more widely.
Over her nine years as EVC, Marie has developed an
ambitious educational visits programme, ranging from
cricket tournaments and French exchanges to exploring
Costa Rica and visiting schools in India. The programme
offers life-changing adventures that are meticulously
planned so that every student can step safely out of their
comfort zone.
Inclusivity is important to Marie, and she works closely
with the school’s SENDCo to ensure that every pupil can
take part. She finds a balance between affordability and
aspiration, and has streamlined payment systems to ease
some of the financial challenges for families.
But it is not just the students that benefit. Marie runs a
programme of training sessions for staff and provides
one-to-one coaching, creating a supportive culture for
“Marie’s work has had a profound and
lasting impact on pupils at St Edmund’s.
Through her leadership, students
experience exceptional learning outside
the classroom, gaining confidence,
independence and global awareness that
cannot be replicated within school walls”
– Emma Harvey
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