Latest News
The links provided in the statements and press releases below are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the STF of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organisation or individual. The STF bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
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What to consider when planning an overseas educational visit (December 2021)
We have outlined the key points for group leaders and parents and where to access further information
Newly released Department for Educaton's Schools COVID-19 operational guidance (July 2021)
Read a statement from Gill Harvey, our chief executive Click Here
Press release: Legal challenge launched against Department for Education travel advice (June 2021)
Covid and re-starting educational trips (Feb 2021)
Read our statement and call for action to support the safe re-starting of educational visits Click here to view
Roadmap to Re-starting Overnight Educational Visits Submitted to Department for Education - Press Release 10th Feb 2021
Read our press release outlining the Roadmap for re-starting educational visits Click here to view
CLOtC Consortium of Associations - Statement for Government to Action
Please see below link to statement from CLOtC & Cconsortium of Associations regarding what we are asking the government to action.
CLOtC Consortium of Associations - Statement for Government to Action
STF - LOtC - OEAP Joint Statement
Linked below is a joint statement from the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, the Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel and the School Travel Forum regarding costs incurred through cancelled educational visits and tours. We, along with the OEAP and CLOtC, will be circulating this message via our social media channels and to partner organisations.
5 steps to get the most from your next educational visit
School tours and visits have many benefits - from making learning relevant to helping students develop their confidence and independence. Our free guide will help ensure teachers and students to get the most from the experience.
School Travel Forum makes Abta membership compulsory for members
At the School Travel Forum, we are making membership of Abta a requirement for our members.
STF members range from the UK’s largest educational travel providers to smaller specialist operators, and are recognised for providing high quality experiences for student and youth travellers – whether it be a cultural, ski or sports trip.
HELPING TEACHERS PLAN SCHOOL TRIPS
The School Travel Forum and its accredited members can help teachers plan safer, more enriching educational trips.
Booking school trips through members of the School Travel Forum, whether domestic or overseas, will ensure trips are organised by professionals, and according to the highest standards governing transport, accommodation and excursions so that parents can be assured of their child’s safety.
This leads to more Learning Outside the Classroom opportunities as schools and parents can be more confident that school trips are safe; leading to better educational experiences, which are vital to the development and academic achievement of students.
There is no doubt that teachers understand the value of school trips but they need more support to remove the legal and administrative barriers so that they can instead focus solely on their students’ educational needs and development outside the classroom.
By organising school trips without the help of specialist tour operators, teachers face many time consuming organisational and regulatory challenges required to safely organise educational excursions.
That’s where The School Travel Forum and its accredited educational tour operators can help. Our members work with schools and teachers to plan trips which meet the expectations of parents and enable teachers to easily achieve the high health and safety standards governing residential and overseas school trips.
All Assured Members of the STF are required to adhere to a rigorous Code of Practice and Safety Management Standards and be audited each year by Argent Health & Safety, the UK’s leading Health and Safety Consultancy specialising in Travel, to ensure continuing compliance.
Due to these high compliance standards all trips organised through our members will instantly meet local authority guidelines and provide teachers with full time support at home or abroad to resolve any unexpected booking issues or emergencies.
Book your trip now through one of our Assured Members