What is the School Travel Forum?

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The School Travel Forum (STF) is a Trade Association founded in 2002 to promote good practice and safety in school travel.

In late 2008 it was appointed by the Learning Outside of the Classroom (LOtC) Interim Council to act as the awarding body for the study,culture and sports sector of the LOtC Quality Badge Scheme.

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Who are we?

STF is a not-for-profit limited company.  It is run by a democratically elected committee from amongst its Assured Members.   Assured members are from all sizes of companies and represent the majority of commercially organised educational visits.   Our website (www.schooltravelforum.com) shows those members which have achieved ‘Assured Member’ status.

The administrative base is in Ross-on-Wye, where we have our own permanent office, allowing members to contact us directly whenever they wish.

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Who can apply for a LOtC Quality Badge?

UK Tour Operators offering international packages including accommodation, transport, sports, activities and excursions. These may include hotels or hostels and are usually undertaken for cultural, study, or sporting objectives including ski trips and language exchange visits.

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The STF membership does not cover visits that are exclusively outdoor and adventurous activities or expeditions.   However, where such activities are included as a minor part in a wider package, the STF scheme ensures such activities are covered.

*Organisations offering only day visits within the UK will not need to be badged through this route unless the activities offered are more hazardous.

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The STF remit normally does not cover visits that are exclusively outdoor and adventurous activities or expeditions.   However, where such activities are included as a minor part in a wider package, the STF scheme ensures such activities are covered.

*Organisations offering only day visits within the UK will not need to be badged through this route unless the activities offered are more hazardous.

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Who is eligible for STF membership?

We invite applications for membership from tour operators with a UK base whose travel-related business is to promote and sell a programme of inclusive School or College Tour packages, as defined and covered by the UK Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (‘the PTRs’)  can join as a Non-Assured member, provided the legally correct financial protection for clients is in place.   There are significant discounts on membership fees for new applicants in their first and second years. Non-Assured members get access to the STF’s industry leading risk management process, the members’ area of our web site and are included in newsletters and information updates.

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To become an Assured member, organisations will need to complete the STF auditing scheme and must do so within two years of joining.  There are support processes in place to help new members successfully prepare for their initial audit.  Assured Members have the right to use the STF logo, appear on the STF website and claim membership of the STF.  In addition, Approved status automatically qualifies companies for the LOtC Quality Badge.

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Please note, it is a requirement of the STF code to

 •             Hold a principal (tour operator) ABTA membership and /or an ABTOT membership

•              Be bonded if operating as sole traders, insolvency insurance is not acceptable, and…

•              Hold an ATOL, in their own company name, if offering air packages; split contracts or ATOL agency arrangements are not

               acceptable

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What is required?

Assured Membership and the Quality Badge award requires an external audit to confirm that you conform to our Code of Practice and Safety Management Standards.  This requires you to be visited each year by our approved auditors.

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Reduced rates for new applicants

The subscription fee is based on annual turnover, as follows, however, on first joining the STF as a non-assured member you only pay 40% of the membership fee for the first 12 months and if still non-assured at the start of the 2nd year of membership pay 70% for that 2nd year.   Once Assured status is gained then the remainder of the membership fee would become due.

This concession is granted with the proviso that assured status must be attained within 2 years of joining.

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Band             Turnover                                     Full fee                              Yr 1 concession fee (40%)              Yr 2 concession fee (70%)

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Band a          Less than £1 million                   £ 1,269 + VAT                   £ 507.60 + VAT                                  £ 888.30 + VAT

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Band b          Greater than £1m - £2.5m        £ 2,278 + VAT                   £ 911.20 + VAT                                  £ 1594.60 + VAT

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Band c          Greater than £2.5m - £10m       £ 3,756 + VAT                   £ 1502.40 + VAT                                £ 2629.20 + VAT

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Band d          Greater than £10m - 30m          £ 4,919 + VAT                   £ 1967.60 + VAT                                £ 3443.30 + VAT

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Band e          Greater than 30m                      £6,000 + VAT                    £ 2400.00                                          £ 4200.00 + VAT