School trips — from day visits to local museums to week-long residential expeditions — are a regular part of secondary school life in the UK. They extend classroom learning, develop independence, and often become some of the moments pupils remember most vividly. Here is what parents need to know before signing the permission slip.
What types of school trips do secondary schools run?
Secondary school trips fall into a few broad categories:
| Trip type | Typical length | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Local curriculum visit | Half-day or full day | Museum, gallery, science centre, theatre |
| Residential within the UK | 2–5 nights | Geography fieldwork, languages immersion, outdoor education |
| Overseas educational tour | 4–10 days | European language trips, sports tours, history tours |
| Duke of Edinburgh expeditions | 1–4 nights | Wild camping in upland areas |
| Enrichment activities | Variable | Concert visits, sports fixtures, university open days |
Most of these are curriculum-linked — meaning they extend or assess specific taught content. Overseas tours and enrichment activities are more discretionary but widely offered.
Do parents have to give permission for every trip?
Yes. Schools must obtain parental consent for any trip that takes pupils off site. For routine trips that are a predictable part of the curriculum (such as an annual outdoor education day or a geography fieldwork session), schools can seek blanket consent at the start of the year. For all other trips, including any residential or overseas visit, individual written consent is required.
The permission slip or online consent form will typically include:
- Details of the trip (date, destination, activities)
- The educational purpose
- Any costs and payment schedule
- Medical information requests
- An emergency contact update
Read the information carefully before signing — particularly the sections about medical needs, which the school needs accurate records of.
Who is responsible for safety on school trips?
The school carries a duty of care for all pupils on a trip. Before any visit, the school must:
- Complete a risk assessment covering transport, the destination, activities and supervision ratios.
- Appoint a named Educational Visits Co-ordinator (EVC) — a staff member trained in educational visit planning.
- Ensure an appropriate adult-to-pupil ratio. For secondary-age pupils this is generally one adult per fifteen students for low-risk day trips; higher ratios for adventure activities or water-based activities.
- Check that all activities providers hold the relevant safety accreditation (such as AALA — Activity Licence for adventure activities).
- Inform parents of the itinerary and emergency contact procedure.
Schools do not need to share the full risk assessment with parents, but parents can request it. If you have specific concerns about an activity (for example, if your child cannot swim and the trip involves water), raise them before the trip, not on the morning of departure.
Do schools have to make trips affordable for all pupils?
Schools cannot profit from trips, and they must not make a trip dependent on "voluntary" contributions in such a way that pupils who cannot pay are excluded. For curriculum-essential trips — those where the learning cannot reasonably take place in school — the school must either fund the trip from its budget or ensure funding is available for pupils who cannot afford it.
In practice, some schools use Pupil Premium funding to subsidise costs for eligible pupils. If cost is a barrier, speak to the school's finance office or the head of year in confidence — most schools have a discretionary fund that is rarely publicised but is available.
For overseas and enrichment trips, these are not curriculum-essential, and the school can charge the full cost. However, schools are encouraged to offer instalment plans and to signal availability well in advance so parents can budget.
Can a school exclude a pupil from a trip for behaviour reasons?
Yes. Schools can decline to take a pupil on a non-curriculum-essential trip on behavioural grounds, with prior warning. Best practice is that the pupil and parents are informed in writing, with a clear explanation of the behaviour that is the concern and the opportunity to address it before the decision is finalised.
For curriculum-essential visits (where the trip is a required part of assessment, such as a geography fieldwork day), exclusion raises more complex issues around equal access to the curriculum. If you are in this situation, seek clarity from the school in writing.
What should a pupil take on a residential trip?
Schools provide a kit list, which should be followed carefully. Common items that are forgotten:
- Prescribed medication, in the original packaging, with written consent for staff to administer it
- Enough cash or a loaded payment card for spending money (the letter will specify a suggested amount)
- A copy of the school's emergency contact number saved in the pupil's phone
- Appropriate clothing for the weather — particularly for outdoor activities
One practical note: mark clothing and belongings with your child's name before a residential. Lost property on trips is very common and very hard to reunite with its owner.
Frequently asked questions
Can my child opt out of a school trip?
For curriculum-essential visits — particularly those involving assessed fieldwork — opting out can affect a pupil's grade or coursework mark. The school should explain this clearly in the trip information. For non-essential enrichment trips, a pupil can decline, and the school is responsible for providing supervised work in school on that day.
Are teachers paid extra to lead residential trips?
Teachers do not receive additional pay for leading school trips, though overnight trips count towards working time under their contract. Leading trips is part of a teacher's professional duties; however, it involves significant voluntary commitment above and beyond the normal school day, and many staff give up personal time for it.
What if my child has a medical condition — can they still go?
In most cases, yes. The school should have a conversation with you before the trip to agree a plan for managing your child's condition away from home. This might involve training a member of staff in how to use medication, adjusting the itinerary, or arranging for a parent to accompany the group. Schools are obligated to make reasonable adjustments for pupils with medical conditions or disabilities.
How far in advance do schools give notice of trips?
For day trips: typically two to four weeks. For residential UK trips: often a term to two terms. For overseas trips: commonly six months to a year, to allow for bookings and payment plans. If the school gives very short notice of a significant cost, it is reasonable to ask why and whether a longer instalment period is possible.
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