Spanair collapses, stranding 20,000 people

31/01/2012 Spain's fourth-largest airline Spanair has collapsed, leaving more than 20,000 passengers stranded across Europe and Africa. Hundreds of flights were cancelled after the...

Latest update on ATOL reform consultation

31/01/2012 The House of Commons Transport Committee heard evidence from trade bodies and carriers as well as tour operators this morning about ATOL (Air Travel Organisers’...

New LOtC Mark for schools is launched today

26/01/2012   Since the launch of the LOtC Quality Badge in February 2009,  there have been a great number of enquiries from schools, nurseries and colleges wishing to apply...

Learning Outside the Classroom Newsletter

26/01/2012 ...

Public consultation on Air Passenger Rights

12/01/2012   The European Commission has launched a public consultation on Air Passenger Rights. Regulation (EC) 261/2004 set a minimum quality standard to protect...

Case opens debate on definition of 'package travel' again.

10/01/2012 In a recent case brought against Surrey-based Qwerty Travel, Lord Justice Tomlinson overturned a previous District Court ruling from February last year that Qwerty Travel...

Sea France Liquidation

09/01/2012 Attempts to save Sea France have failed after it was liquidated by a French court and told to cease activity. The Tribunal de Commerce decided Sea France's future...

Update - HSE continues support for school trips

05/01/2012   The HSE continues to support the benefits of school trips with the addition of case studies and statistics on the education pages of its web site...

Independent Schools Charity Status Guidance to be Re-written

04/01/2012 The Charity Commission has announced it has withdrawn all of its guidance on public benefit and fee-charging charities following a legal challenge from the Independent...

2011: safest year on record for air travel and for insurers, lowest claims for seven years.

04/01/2012 Fatal accident and passenger fatality rates were the lowest on record last year, according to Ascend (www.ascendworldwide.com) the aerospace experts...

Government set time table for H&S reform

21/12/2011 The Government have published the Lofstedt Review and a detailed response to the recommendations contained in the report including setting a date for the abolition of...

LOtC Newsletter December 2011

19/12/2011   ...

CALL for evidence: Air travel organisers’ licensing (ATOL) reform

19/12/2011 Transport Committee   Select Committee Announcement   15 December 2011 For Immediate Release:                                                 SCA...

New codes aim to eliminate hotel confusion

19/12/2011 A system of unique hotel identification codes is being launched to eliminate confusion when dealing with different properties. The aim is to minimise confusion in the...

Update on school funding plans

19/12/2011 Michael Gove announces details of education funding for 2012-13   Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced details on education funding for 2012-13 this week...

Update on Pupil Premium

19/12/2011 Pupil Premium funding will be increased to £600 per child   The Department for Education has announced this week that the funding for schools in England in 2012-13...

Department for Education publishes statistics on Education and Training for the UK

19/12/2011 The Department for Education published the Education and Training Statistics for the UK for 2011 last week, providing an integrated overview of data on education and...

Ryanair accused of 'fleecing' passengers with charges hike

13/12/2011 RYANAIR is raising its checked-in baggage charges by 25pc and increasing its penalty for reissuing boarding cards by 50pc to €60...

British Council Survey

13/12/2011 Research published this week has claimed that Britain's youngsters are not fully prepared to work in a global economy - putting the UK at risk of being left behind...

New Ash Cloud Detector Unveiled

08/12/2011 With funding by EasyJet, scientists have been testing new technology over Mount Etna, which they hope will help pilots detect ash cloud density...

ABTA launches Get Fit For Ski

06/12/2011 In advance of the forthcoming ski season ABTA has launched a new web page designed to help skiers get ready for the slopes. In addition to health & safety...

Rise in APD

30/11/2011 Air travel to get more expensive as Chancellor rejects airlines' bid to cut air passenger duty.   Travellers face hefty rises in the cost of air travel after...

American Airlines file for Chapter 11 protection

29/11/2011 American Airlines' parent company AMR Corporation has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an attempt to cut debt and reduce labour costs...

Education Bill becomes law and other news

22/11/2011 This week has seen the Government’s Education Bill become law implementing a significant number of proposals from the Schools White Paper...

CAA publishes 'information paper' on ATOL reforms

16/11/2011 The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published an Information Paper for industry about how proposed reforms to the ATOL scheme...

Head Teachers to strike

15/11/2011 Thousands of head teachers in England and Wales have voted in favour of strike action over changes to pensions. Members of the National Association of Head Teachers...

Ofsted launch consultation into initial teacher training

08/11/2011 Ofsted have launched a consultation on proposals to revise arrangements for the inspection of initial teacher training which will be introduced from September 2012...

Skiers and snowboarders turn to operators

01/11/2011 Skiers gravitate towards booking with tour operators despite the snowsports travel market dropping to its lowest figure since 2000-01 at 1.07m passengers for 2010-11...

Open Symposium on Children & Youth Travel in Germany

01/11/2011 Members may be interested in the following symposium which is to be held in Berlin on November 17th & 18th. See: http://www.reisenetz...

National Children's Bureau call for improving children’s life skills

01/11/2011 Dr Hilary Emery, Chief Executive of the National Children's Bureau (NCB), has used her address at the charity's annual general meeting to compel colleagues to combat...

Government Publish a Behaviour Checklist

25/10/2011 The Department of Education has this week published a behaviour checklist to help teachers maintain discipline in schools. The checklist entitled ‘Getting the simple...

Minimum criteria for 3-star hotels in Europe

25/10/2011   The ECC have put together a summary to show what a hotel has to provide to qualify for local 3-star status. http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecc/do...

Caernarfon coach company Silver Star Holidays in administration

13/10/2011 Administrators were called in by Caernarfon-based Silver Star Holidays on the 6th October with devastated directors blaming high fuel costs and the current economic...

Draft framework for school inspection announced

13/10/2011 A revision of Ofsted’s guidelines on inspections could make it tougher for schools to be rated ‘outstanding.’ Under new guidelines there is expected to be a closer...

New Labour Shadow Secretary for Education

12/10/2011 Stephen Twigg MP has been appointed Labour’s new Shadow Secretary of State for Education. The former schools minister was promoted from a junior foreign affairs brief...

Tory Conference Education Content

12/10/2011 Michael Gove delivers speech to party conference During this week’s Conservative Party Conference Michael Gove delivered a speech expressing his anger at the previous...

The STF responds to the Science & Technology Select Committee's consultation on field trips

22/09/2011 Update - Science and Technology Committee – Report on science field trips The Science and Technology Committee have published its final report into 'Practical...

LOtC Newsletter

22/09/2011 ...

Upcoming Learning Outside the Classroom Events

13/09/2011 LOtC TEACHER TASTER – West Midlands and Yorkshire & the Humber The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is delivering a learning outside the classroom Teacher...

House of Commons Written Answer re LOtC Quality Badge

12/09/2011 Following a meeting with the STF Simon Hart MP asked the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to promote the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality...

Government survey suggests more pupils switching to more traditional GCSE subjects

06/09/2011 Results from a survey published this week suggest that the number of pupils studying traditional GCSEs such as history, geography and languages is rising after years of...

Shadow Culture Minister highlights importance of ATOL

09/08/2011 Following the collapse of the holiday tour operator ‘Holidays 4 U’ Shadow Culture Minister Gloria De Piero MP has said that families should not pay the price for...

Early Day Motion in Parliment supporting Learning Outside the Classroom

03/08/2011 Following a meeting with the School Travel Forum, Bob Russell MP has tabled an Early Day Motion (Number 2111) in the Westminster Parliament supporting Learning...

Education Select Committee – English Baccalaureate

03/08/2011 The Education Select Committee has published the final report of its inquiry into the English Baccalaureate (EBac). The full report can be read here...

House of Commons Written Answer

26/07/2011 Following a meeting with Jonathan Evans MP he tabled the following question on behalf of the School Travel Forum. Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for...

Education Select Committee – comments positively on school trips for 16-19 age group

26/07/2011 The Education Select Committee has published the final report of its inquiry into 16-19 participation in education.  The full report can be read here...

Update - Cancelled Skiing Europe school trip investigated

26/07/2011 Following the continuing investigations into the collapse of Skiing Europe AITO is to temporarily suspend its 100% financial guarantee after discovering an ‘enormous...

Forthcoming Events from the LOtC...

21/07/2011 ...

New guidance for school trips plans to cut 'Red Tape'

04/07/2011 The Department for Education has published the attached guidance supporting school trips. The new 8 page document replaces existing guidance and the Government claim the...

Member News

30/06/2011                               It has been announced that longstanding STF member Hellene Travel has been acquired by Isis Education...

The TESS reports on the state of school trips in Scotland

23/06/2011 A recent TESS report suggests that cuts are impacting on school trips in Scotland, but sees some visits bucking the trend.

House of Commons answer on Local Authority Centres

23/06/2011 Adam Afriyie, Conservative MP for Windsor, received an answer to his written question asking what recent representations DfE has received from the outdoor learning sector...

BBC report on effect of Local Authority activity centres closing

23/06/2011 Children from poorer homes could be denied the chance to go on school trips to outdoor education centres because of spending cuts.

Government Natural Environment White Paper calls for more outdoor learning

23/06/2011 The Department for the Environment and Rural affairs has published its Natural Environment White Paper.  The paper outlines the Government's vision for the natural...

Radical Shake Up of Criminal Record Regime

07/06/2011 7/6/11 Charities criticize changes to Vetting and Barring measures The charity, Action for Children has warned that vetting and barring measures outlined within the...

Abolition of AALA

26/05/2011 House of Commons Written Answer Lord German received an answer to his written question asking when the Health and Safety Executive intends to begin a consultation on...

Michael Gove comments on educational reforms

26/05/2011 Education Secretary Michael Gove has written an article in the Times Education Supplement on the Government’s education reforms. The article can be read in full here...

Call for Ofsted to encourage school trips

26/05/2011 Writing in the publication Children and Young People Now John Freeman CBE, former Director of Children's Services, raises concerns that schools trips are becoming an...

LOtC Awards for 2011 - nomination reminder

20/05/2011     ...

Westminster Hall debate – Childhood Obesity

10/05/2011   During a Westminster Hall debate this week on child obesity, Simon Hart highlighted the health benefits for children of outdoor education as well as concerns about the...

DfE to review teacher induction regulations

10/05/2011 The Department for Education has launched an informal consultation on the induction arrangements for newly qualified teachers as part of its plans to update the current...

Boy falls to death from Zip Wire

26/04/2011 An 11 year old boy has fallen to his death from a newly installed zip wire in Greenwood Forest Park in Gwynedd, North Wales.  The police and HSE are investigating...

Teachers’ unions set for row with Government

21/04/2011 Ahead of the series of teachers’ unions’ conferences which will take place over the Easter period, the Guardian has this week reported on the series of differences...

ATL comments on school trips

19/04/2011 ATL, the third largest teaching union, comments on the current state of school trips.   Over-zealous schools ban British bulldog and conkers - ATL 18 April 2011...

LOtC West Midlands Network Event

19/04/2011 YHA Coalport and with The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust would like to invite all LOtC providers to attend a learning outside the classroom network event...

The STF response to the National Curriculum review

19/04/2011 Update The Department for Education’s National Curriculum Review consultation has now closed. The Review team will now consider the responses and submit...

ABTA Travel Law 2011 Seminar dates

19/04/2011 K&L Gates the legal partnership that Cynthia Barbor, the STF's legal advisor, belongs to is sponsoring the latest ABTA travel law seminar...

HSE publishes new farm visit guidelines

07/04/2011 HSE has published the revised Agriculture Information Sheet No 23 (rev2), which provides guidance for teachers and others taking children on farm visits...

Coroner calls for safety review of gap year adventures

05/04/2011 A coroner has asked the government to review international adventure holiday companies' safety procedures. It follows the death of a 17-year-old student from Manchester...

Ofsted Supports History Trips

18/03/2011 Earlier in the week Ofsted published a report on the teaching of History in English School. The full report can be read here. The report finds that the history curriculum...

The STF Engage the Whitehouse Consultancy

10/03/2011 The School Travel Forum has engaged the services of The Whitehouse Consultancy, a leading specialists in public and parliamentary affairs...

Key Travel Aquires Ben Lawries Travel

04/03/2011 Schools Travel Forum member, Ben Lawries Travel in Edinburgh, has been acquired by Key Travel, the UK’s largest travel company specialising in the non-profit and academic...

DfE Respond to Common Sense, Common Safety

03/03/2011 The Department for Education has published it’s response to Lord Young’s report.  In it they announce details of consultations they are setting up.   http://www...

LOtC at the Education Show

24/02/2011 The Education Show is the UK’s largest educational resources event. All levels of educator will benefit from seeing over 450 exhibitors with resources covering the...

Benefits of Outdoor Adventure

24/02/2011     Randall Williams, Chair of the English Outdoor Council and long-standing supporter of LOtC, argues that for too many young people...

Lord Young's Report Update

15/02/2011 Despite the resignation of Lord Young, the government says it will stand by the recommendations made in his review of health and safety policy...

LOtC Workshops

11/02/2011 The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom will be conducting local workshops for Quality Badge applicants until March 2011. There is a phased rollout and as each...

Field Trips

11/02/2011 Increasing the number of school field trips could help improve children's understanding and knowledge, according to a group promoting science education...

National & Regional winners of the LOtC Awards Revealed

10/12/2010   Schools from across the country converged in Nottingham this week to learn whether they had won recognition in the Learning Outside the Classroom Awards for Excellence...

Response From the New House of Commons Education Committee on LOtC

28/10/2010   The new select committee established under the new governments has reported on the responses to the demands made by the outgoing committee prior to the General...

Recommendation to Abolish the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA)

26/10/2010 In his report published on 15 October, Lord Young of Graffham, recommended that the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) be abolished and the existing...

Terms of Reference for the Review of the Vetting & Barring and criminal records regime announced

25/10/2010 Following her announcement in June, the Home Secretary, Theresa May, has today, 22 October 2010, issued a statement to the House of Commons which confirms the terms of...

Lord Young's Report

19/10/2010 The well publicised report “Common Sense Common Safety” by Lord Young has now been published. The report centres on the effect easier access to compensation litigation...

Lord Young’s Attack on ‘Elf & Safety’ and Ambulance Chasing

11/10/2010 Lord Young’s Attack on ‘Elf & Safety’ and Ambulance Chasing In his speech at the Conservative Party’s conference Lord Young has indicated that his report will deal...

English Outdoor Council

01/02/2010 Time for change in Outdoor Learning.   Hard evidence on the value of the outdoors and a challenge to deliver fair access for all.   Click on the link below to read more.....

LOtC Newsletter August 2010

01/02/2010 Learning Outside the Classroom Newsletter August 2010 Click here

Outdoor Advisors confirm support for Quality Badges and cuts paperwork

01/02/2010 In 2009 the scheme of Quality Badges for LOTC providers launched. The Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge provides for the first time a national...

House of Commons Select Committee report demands more support for school trips.

01/02/2010 The report says children are entitled to experiences outside the classroom Children in England are spending too much time in the classroom, according to a report by MPs...