You’re busy – so why enter the ‘My Best School Trip’ Award, and what are our judges looking for? There are benefits and positives that go beyond the £2,500 prize money.
We know you are busier than ever so it’s only right to ask whether entering an award is worth your time. According to past winners and finalists of the ‘My Best School Trip’ Award, the answer is a resounding yes – and for reasons that go far beyond the £2,500 prize money on offer.
The award is presented at the annual School Travel Awards and ‘My Best School Trip’ finalists are always invited as guests of School Travel Organiser. Entries are now open for the 2026 award - schools can download an entry pack and have until Sunday 31st May to submit their entries. The winning school will be announced at the School Travel Awards ceremony held in London on Friday 20th November.
For many schools, the financial reward is a strong incentive. Winning prize money has helped fund future visits ranging from theatre trips and outdoor adventures to whole‑school enrichment days. Yet teachers consistently report that the process of entering, reflecting on and celebrating a successful trip has benefits in its own right.
St Woolos Primary School in Newport, Wales, won the award in 2025 for their Year 5 residential to Lower Treginnis Farm. Headteacher Rhian Milton told us how excited the children, staff and community were to hear they had won the award. She spoke of the long-lasting legacy of the residential and expanding partnership with Farms for City Children (which runs Lower Treginnis Farm).
Rhian said: “We feel so proud to have won the award – what an incredible achievement for our school and also for Treginnis Farm. The School Travel Awards ceremony was fabulous – a real celebration. For us, it’s about partnership working and continuing to let young people experience the most amazing residential opportunities and making real purposeful, authentic experiences come to life.
Grendon CE Primary School in Wellingborough won in 2022 for their trip to Cornwall. Headteacher, John Wayland said the impact of the award was felt across the school: “The award created a real buzz of excitement and has encouraged staff to continue providing exciting and rewarding enrichment experiences for our pupils and find new ways to innovate.”
When asked what he took away from being involved in the School Travel Awards, Ian Mitchell of Kingswood House School in Surrey told us: “I’d encourage other teachers to get involved in the future and enter the ‘My Best School Trip’ Award especially.
Kingswood House won for their ‘Making of Modern Britain’ trip in 2019. Ian continued: “As much as it was an award for that particular trip, it felt like a real acknowledgement for our outdoor education programme. It has encouraged other members of staff to plan ambitious trips. I think everyone felt that the award was validation of everything that we do at the school in terms of practical outdoor learning.”
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“Winning the ‘My Best School Trip’ Award was a proud moment for our school community,” said Rachel Underwood from Langdale CE Primary School in Cumbria.
“To have our whole staff team attending the awards ceremony and celebrating and sharing the success together was incredibly important to me as a headteacher.”
Jon Clarke from Walsall Academy in Bloxwich told us: “Being crowned ‘My Best School Trip’ Award winners for our Outward Bound Trust residential was the icing on the cake for us and our commitment to learning outside the classroom. I’d recommend others to enter - it’s a brilliant accolade to be involved with!”
Jonathan Whitwell of previous winner, Moorside Primary School in Lancaster told us: “The government put far too much emphasis on testing and getting children to a certain point academically. But that’s not what childhood is about; it’s about new experiences, and becoming a confident adult that can take risks, who is resilient and can manage new situations.
“And the best way to do that in primary school is to have children out on educational visits, pushing the comfort zone, trying new things, so that they can find the thing that they’re good at.”
What has impressed our judges in the past?
“Amongst other things, the trip was cross-curricular, specific goals were set and measured, the development of relationships played a part in the design of the trip. Plus, topics were studied in ways that could not have been replicated inside the classroom.”
“This was a trip that could not have been replicated in the classroom. It was cross curricular and gave pupils a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“The trip linked back to previous lessons at school and was followed up afterwards in history, maths and English classes. Pupils were also encouraged to lead their own learning at times.”
“This entry demonstrated clear learning objectives and strong curriculum links. Crucially, the learning was embedded once pupils returned to school. The residential was part of a long‑term programme, and its impact was thoughtfully evaluated.”
A real variety of winning schools and trips
Don’t think that your school or trip would not fit the profile. Winners and finalists have been across the Key Stages, starting from KS1, and done everything from day trips and UK-based residentials, to experiences into Europe and around the world.
What have schools done with their prize money?
The impact of the award has helped schools arrange memorable experiences for their learners. Some have taken pupils to the theatre or the whole school for a fun day at a theme park. Others chose go-karting, the Living Rainforest, a farm adventure and an expedition in the Lake District. What would you do?
A special thank you to our 2026 Awards Partners…
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