Today’s exactly 200 years since the great Charles John Huffam Dickens was born.

Dickens was the most popular English writer of the Victorian era, responsible for some of English literature’s most iconic novels and characters.

Tributes and events of all kinds are marking the occasion today but there is much more Dickens celebrating still to come. There is still time to visit the leading Dickens exhibition in town at the Museum of London, and there is a new exhibition coming soon at the Royal Academy of Music (opening on 2 May) that will explore the novelist’s relationship with music.

For more inspiration on Dickens in London you can view our website here

We are delighted to be the first school operator to be approved by the YHA to offer funding for school trips under the Breaks4Kids, YHA Initiative.

Now, through the YHA we can genuinely make a difference to the education of some of England’s most deprived kids! If you as a teacher know of pupils who may have missed out on a school trip purely because of the costs, then please read on..

Break4kids is a charitable fund, founded and supported by the YHA to help disadvantaged kids to join their classmates on trips and activities. Our partnership with the YHA means we can hopefully reach more schools in order to make them aware of the funding that is available to them.

As you know school trips allow children to learn beyond the classroom, enabling children to expand their horizons, build their confidence and self esteem, as well as developing important communication skills and team building. We believe no child should miss out on that opportunity.

With Break4kids, children from low income households can apply for grants which will contribute up to 50% of the cost of their YHA accommodation and food. When organising your next school trip let us help you make it inclusive for the whole class, so no child is left behind! You can download a funding application form here or for more information contact tim@theschooltravelcompany.com

Secrets will be revealed… on an inspiring Harry Potter school trip.

Here at The School Travel Company, we, along with others the world over are very excited as ‘The Making of Harry Potter’ Warner Bros. Studio Tour is nearly upon us.

Yes, at last the chance for the first time you can take a school trip that goes behind the scenes and unveils the real magic of the Harry Potter film series.

Set to open in Spring 2012, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is a behind-the-scenes walking tour which immerses guest into the world of film making, featuring authentic sets, costumes and props created at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. The studio Tour will initially focus on the Harry Potter film Series which has made the studios its home for over 10 years.

Only limited dates for Harry Potter are available and we are delighted as a school trip specialist to have managed to secure some of these.

To find out more about this unmissable, inspiring school trip visit our Harry Potter page here

We hope so, and so does the employment minister as the government prepares to launch a consultation on the abolition of “large numbers” of health and safety rules following an independent review.
The employment minister said the moves would “root out needless bureaucracy”. It says it wants to have removed the first regulations from the statute book within a few months.
The government says there are currently about 200 health and safety regulations, but this will be reduced by more than half over the next three years.

Excessive health and safety has been blamed for the banning of low-risk activities, such as royal wedding street parties, and the cancellations of school trips.

To read the full article please click here

More great reviews from teachers about our school trips,

 “The trip was fantastic and all went really smoothly. The staff at the School Travel Company are consistently helpful and efficient.”  CH, Battlefields, Nov 2011

 “If you guys ever want to enter a competition for THE best school trip company then I’ll happily write you guys the best reference ever!”  FB, Paris 2011 (and July 2012…)

 “Excellent! Tim & Kelly were an absolute pleasure to deal with.  Endlessly helpful and easy-going with a real understanding of how schools work.  I would recommend The School Travel Company without hesitation and plan to book with them again soon.” JM, Amsterdam, Sept 2011

 “I have organised this trip for 10 years – your company was the most fun and efficient to work with – thank you.” KH, Paris, 2011

 “The office staff (Kelly) was friendly, efficient, and perfect at making arrangements. Very pleased with the trip.”  AS, Cardiff 2011

At The School Travel Company, we recognise the importance of green travel and accept that we have a responsibility not only to our clients and staff, but also to the people who live in the areas that our groups visit.

We are therefore committed to being a responsible tour operator and use the following five guidelines to help us:

Protect the environment – flora, fauna and landscapes
Respect local cultures – traditions, religions and built heritage
Benefit local communities – both economically and socially
Conserve natural resources – from office to destination
Minimise pollution – noise, waste and congestion

To find out more about our policy on responsible tourism please click here

Together we can make a difference.

We’re excited to announce the launch of Parc Asterix’s , new music experiences – For music and dance groups worldwide!

Parc Asterix are offering a fantastic opportunity for Brass bands, Orchestras and other music groups to perform at Parc Asterix and become a main attraction for an hour or two.Pupils will come together in front of multinational audience to make for an unforgettable school trip experience!

For more information visit Parc Asterix here or contact us today at the school travel company.

Whether you’re looking to organise a school trip abroad or in the UK?  As recommended by Rospa – we can help!

Rospa’s most recent article highlights how using a reputable and experienced tour operator who are members of STF and ABTA have a big advantage for school trip organisers.

The School Travel Company specialises in school trips and has over 2O years experience. We organise travel, hotels, visits and all the necessary details and rest assured we are members of the STF and ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents)!

School trip organisers using an STF Assured Member can be secure knowing that we understand and facilitate the needs of educational travel and that we manage safety effectively, offer fair terms and conditions, and offer the best financial security.

For more guidance on trips abroad visit the Rospa School Trips page here

This Guidance should be used in conjunction with LEA and other regulations, union documents and any other specialised advice from professional bodies.

After discussions with the School Travel Forum, MP, Bob Russell as tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament supporting Learning outside the classroom (Lotc) and the quality badge.
The council for Learning Outside the Classroom, believe that every young person (0-19yrs) should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development, whatever their age, ability or circumstances.
The Early Day Motion 2111 promotes this vital role and has been tabled to draw attention to the perceived barriers for schools organising trips which include fears over health and safety, lack of status of learning outside the classroom in Ofsted inspections and bureaucratic rules tying teachers to the classroom, and to the solutions to overcome them.
The motion also calls for Government to do more to promote the role of the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge (LOtC QB). The Quality Badge provides for the first time a national accreditation combining the essential elements of provision – learning and safety – into one easily recognisable and trusted Quality Badge for all types of LOtC provider organisations. The motion also calls for there to be a greater status of LOtC in Ofsted inspections.