EVC Summer 2026_magazine_AWdigital - Flipbook - Page 43
school trip survey
Insights from the
School Trips Survey
A look at the findings from the School Trips & Learning Outside the Classroom Survey 2025,
which was carried out by School Travel Organiser magazine
The team gathered responses from 443 teachers,
EVCs and school staff across a wide range of settings.
The School Trips & Learning Outside the Classroom
Survey highlights just how embedded educational
visits remain in school life. All respondents said their
school runs local trips, while 86% said they organise
residential visits and 62% run overseas trips. When it
comes to residentials, schools most commonly travel
in spring (70%) and summer (64%) although autumn
visits are also popular (51%).
Planning time varies depending on the complexity
of the visit. While 70% of local trips are planned
three months or less in advance, nearly 60% of
UK residentials are planned more than six months
ahead, and over half of overseas trips are planned
at least a year in advance. Distance is not a barrier
for many residentials, with 26% of schools willing
to travel more than 200 miles within the UK for the
right experience.
CROSS-CURRICULAR TRIPS AND
POPULAR TYPES OF VISIT
Curriculum links continue to be central to visit
planning. Geography tops the list, with 83% of
schools running trips linked to the subject, followed
by history (66%) and PE (also 66%). Art, English and
science are each supported by visits in over half of
schools, reflecting the increasingly cross-curricular
nature of trips.
THE EVC MAGAZINE – SUMMER 2026
In terms of visit types, residential experiences were
the most popular overall (51%), followed by adventure
and activity centres (41%) and theatre visits (36%).
Historic venues, museums and galleries also remain
firm favourites. While added educational value is
welcome, only 29% of respondents said workshops
were essential, with the majority (52%) viewing them
as beneficial but not mandatory.
TRUST AND QUALITY ARE CRUCIAL
FOR TEACHERS AND EVCS
The survey also highlights the importance of trust
and quality assurance. Ninety-seven per cent of
schools communicate with providers primarily by
email, and 100% said it is important to know the
source of information they use. Notably, 85% said
they do not trust AI-generated answers without a
clear source, reinforcing the value of reliable,
sector-specific guidance.
Recognition continues to influence decision-making,
with 87% of respondents saying awards encourage
them to use a provider, and over 90% aware of the
LOtC Quality Badge.
You can see the full results of the survey at
www.schooltravelorganiser.com/survey
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