As 2017 comes to an end, we look back at some of the highlights we’ve shared and experienced this year at School Travel Organiser.
The year has been full of inspiration and ideas for school travel and learning outside the classroom. There are too many to mention but here, we share just some of our key moments of 2017:
1.School Travel Organiser’s new look and new dedicated Primary and Secondary editions
Taking on board feedback, we made the decision to launch Primary and Secondary editions from September, meaning more tailored content and six editions of each throughout the year. Publishing the dedicated editions has allowed us to share even more teacher tips, case studies and celebrate the great things happening across the sector. If you want to get involved in 2018, or just tell us what you love best about the magazine, email us: editorial@schooltravelorganiser.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Pictured: L-R Fiona Bruce, Beth McKenzie and Alex Langley from Upland Primary with their My Best School Trip Award, and Ian Wood.
2.‘My Best School Trip’ Award
With so many quality entries to go through from teachers, the competition this year was tough. The judging panel, which consisted of STO editor Keeley Rodgers, publisher Rob Yandell, CLOtC’s chief executive Elaine Skates, Gill Harvey, CEO of the School Travel Forum, and Peter Carne, OBE, Learning Away National Adviser, met in London during the summer. After much deliberation the winner of the ‘My Best School Trip’ Award was decided – congratulations again to Alex Langley and the team at Bexleyheath school for their Year 5 trip to the Outward Bound Centre in Cumbria.
Pictured: Entertainment at the drinks reception of the School Travel Awards from The London Bridge Experience.
3.School Travel Awards ceremony
The biggest and most anticipated day of the year arrived on Thursday, 9th November, 2017 and what a day it was! There were a total of 17 accolades handed out to teachers, attractions and school travel companies at a glittering ceremony, organised by School Travel Organiser, held at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London.
One of our highlights from the awards was the zombie invasion of the drink reception, sponsored by The London Bridge Experience & London Tombs. Were you there? Find your image in our online galleries here. http://www.schooltravelorganiser.com/awards/photos
TV presenter and newsreader, Fiona Bruce co-presented the awards once again this year and shared with us some of her most memorable school experiences and spoke with such passion about the school travel industry.
Next year’s awards will launch in February with the ceremony returning to the Royal Garden in London on Friday, 16th November, 2018. Keep an eye on our website for details about how to get involved. If you’re a company interested in becoming an official Awards Partner, contact Ivana Perkins on 01908 613323 or email ivana.p@yandellmedia.com.
Pictured: L-R Fiona Bruce, Jacqui Hargreaves with her School Trip Champion Award, and Paul Bevan from Study & Sport Experiences.
4.School Trip Champion
“It was like being at the Oscars”, commented Jacqui Hargreaves, this year’s School Trip Champion, after the awards ceremony in London. Jacqui, head of food and technology at Vandyke Upper School in Leighton Buzzard, was praised for her commitment and dedication to organising hundreds of schools trips, mostly in her own time. She was delighted to win the award and our congratulations again to her and the finalists. Jacqui has organized more than 150 school trips in the past 35 years, all in her own time.
Pictured: CLOtC Conference.
5. Events, including the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) Conference
The team at School Travel Organiser has thoroughly enjoyed 2017 and has taken part in a number of school events and activities. It was one of the sponsors of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom Conference, held at Ingestre Hall in Staffordshire on Thursday, 16th November.
School Travel Organiser editor Keeley Rodgers said: “We were delighted to have been involved again in another successful CLOtC conference, this time held at the stunning Ingestre Hall. The speakers were inspirational and each provided valuable comment and advice on a range of topics. We thoroughly enjoyed the variety of workshops on offer this year and the day provided a great opportunity for networking with both teachers and providers of LOtC.”
School Travel Organiser also sponsored the Advocate Award 2017 at the LOtC awards ceremony, which followed the conference at Ingestre Hall. Congratulations to Belinda Dixon of the British Exploring Society who won the award, and to all the other winners.
You can find out more by visiting the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom’s website.
Pictured: Kirk Ella St Andrew’s Community Primary School wih Teacher Ted.
Finally, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed all your pictures sent in this year with our mascot, Teacher Ted. He was photographed all over the country in the run-up to the School Travel Awards, then all the winners were given a Teacher Ted at the ceremony and have continued sharing their pictures on social media. Thanks to everyone who has taken part, and remember to tag us in your pictures @SchoolTravelOrg and on Facebook ‘School Travel Organiser’.
What’s been your highlight of the year? Let us know by emailing us at editorial@schooltravelorganiser.com.
