You’re busy – so why enter the ‘My Best School Trip’ Award, and what are our judges looking for? There are benefits and positives that go beyond the £2,000 prize money.
We know that the prize money is the main motivating factor when schools enter the ‘My Best School Trip’ Award. Having £2,000 to spend on a future visit definitely comes in handy. But EVCs and teachers have also regularly told us how much they enjoyed and benefited from the process of entering, which includes the teachers and pupils.
The award is presented at the annual School Travel Awards and this year’s ceremony will take place on Friday 21st November at the five-star Royal Lancaster Hotel, London. ‘My Best School Trip’ finalists will be invited as guests of School Travel Organiser.
Those previously involved with this special category have been unequivocal about how positive the experience of taking part had been.
Grendon CE Primary School in Wellingborough won in 2022 for their trip to Cornwall. Headteacher, John Wayland said the impact of the award was felt across the school: “The award created a real buzz of excitement and has encouraged staff to continue providing exciting and rewarding enrichment experiences for our pupils and find new ways to innovate.”
When asked what he took away from being involved in the School Travel Awards, Ian Mitchell of Kingswood House School in Surrey told us: “I’d encourage other teachers to get involved in the future and enter the ‘My Best School Trip’ Award especially.
Kingswood House won for their ‘Making of Modern Britain’ trip in 2019. Ian continued: “As much as it was an award for that particular trip, it felt like a real acknowledgement for our outdoor education programme. It has encouraged other members of staff to plan ambitious trips. I think everyone felt that the award was validation of everything that we do at the school in terms of practical outdoor learning.”
If you want to find out more, the best thing to do is download the Entry Pack which outlines what information we need and how the award will be judged.
Go to schooltravelorganiser.com/bestschooltrip and fill out the short download form.
We will ask more about how you planned the trip, what you did and the learning objectives.
Deadline: entries must be received by Sunday 1st June 2025 at the latest.
Need help? We’re happy to answer any queries. Just telephone the School Travel Organiser editorial team on 01908 613323 or email editorial@schooltravelorganiser.com.
“Winning the ‘My Best School Trip’ Award was a proud moment for our school community,” said Rachel Underwood from Langdale CE Primary School in Cumbria.
“To have our whole staff team attending the awards ceremony and celebrating and sharing the success together was incredibly important to me as a headteacher.”
Jon Clarke from Walsall Academy in Bloxwich told us: “Being crowned ‘My Best School Trip’ Award winners for our Outward Bound Trust residential was the icing on the cake for us and our commitment to learning outside the classroom. I’d recommend others to enter - it’s a brilliant accolade to be involved with!”
Jonathan Whitwell of previous winner, Moorside Primary School in Lancaster told us: “The government put far too much emphasis on testing and getting children to a certain point academically. But that’s not what childhood is about; it’s about new experiences, and becoming a confident adult that can take risks, who is resilient and can manage new situations.
“And the best way to do that in primary school is to have children out on educational visits, pushing the comfort zone, trying new things, so that they can find the thing that they’re good at.”
What has impressed our judges in the past?
“Amongst other things, the trip was cross-curricular, specific goals were set and measured, the development of relationships played a part in the design of the trip. Plus, topics were studied in ways that could not have been replicated inside the classroom.”
“This was a trip that could not have been replicated in the classroom. It was cross curricular and gave pupils a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“The trip linked back to previous lessons at school and was followed up afterwards in history, maths and English classes. Pupils were also encouraged to lead their own learning at times.”
A real variety of winning schools and trips
Don’t think that your school or trip would not fit the profile. Winners and finalists have been across the Key Stages, starting from KS1, and done everything from day trips and UK-based residentials, to experiences into Europe and around the world.
What have schools done with their prize money?
The impact of the award has helped schools arrange memorable experiences for their learners. Some have taken pupils to the theatre or the whole school for a fun day at a theme park. Others chose go-karting, the Living Rainforest, a farm adventure and an expedition in the Lake District. What would you do?
A special thank you to our 2025 Awards Partners…
Useful links:
- ‘My Best School Trip’ Award
- School Travel Awards
And always stay up to date with new content including updates about the School Travel Awards by subscribing to our free newsletter at schooltravelorganiser.com/newsletter.
