'My Best School Trip' Award: judges praise winning school for impact

St Woolos Primary School in Newport, Wales, won £2,000 prize money, for their Year 5 residential to Lower Treginnis Farm, run by Farms for City Children. They were announced as the winning school of the award at the 2025 School Travel Awards ceremony which took place in November. 

The purpose of the week-long stay on the farm was to improve the children’s understanding of food and the impact that food and the outdoors has on our health and wellbeing. 

“Importantly, inclusion was central to their planning, so no-one was excluded due to cost thanks to creative fundraising in advance.”

Anne Hunt, CEO of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) and ‘My Best School Trip’ Award judge

St Woolos headteacher Rhian Milton said: “Our main reason for seeking this kind of residential experience was to improve the children’s understanding of food and the impact that food and the outdoors can have on our health and well-being.

“We also wanted a learning experience that we were able to bring the learning back to school and it have a long lasting impact and be a huge part of the St Woolos curriculum.”

Judges highlighted the positive impact of the visit

The judging panel of experts, assessed the school’s entry, alongside four other finalists, to decide upon a winner. 

Peter Carne, OBE, Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto Champion, was one of the judges.

Of the St Woolos trip, he said: “This really was a fantastic entry, detailing everything I would hope to see in a ‘brilliant residential’. It demonstrated so clearly learning objectives and links to the curriculum, and most importantly the learning was firmly embedded once back at school.

“The residential was not seen as a single experience, but as a key part of a long term programme. Pleasingly, its impact was thoughtfully evaluated through reflections and observations. I also loved the pupils’ interviews, which were full of so many insightful comments.”

Another judge, Gill Harvey, external affairs and membership director for School Travel Forum, added: “We sometimes forget about the teachers on school visits but this year it was so encouraging to see the positive impact the visits had on the teachers.

“The experience was valuable not only because it allowed them to observe their pupils’ growth and development, but also due to the strengthening of relationships with their pupils and colleagues.”

Anne Hunt, chief executive officer of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, was also a judge. She said that choosing a winner was difficult because all the finalist’s entries clearly evidenced the power of learning beyond the classroom.

She said: “However, it was clear that St Woolos had worked closely with Farms for City Children’s Lower Treginnis Farm, an LOtC Quality Badge holder, to design and deliver an immersive learning residential that supported all four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales, and the needs of their learners too.

“The positive impact on pupils learning, wellbeing, and health didn’t end when they left the farm, rather it acted as a catalyst for sustained learning and change back at school, with pupils now leading food and wellbeing initiatives across the whole community. Importantly, inclusion was central to their planning, so no-one was excluded due to cost thanks to creative fundraising in advance.

“Well done St Woolos and Lower Treginnis Farm for working together to create experiences that are making a lasting difference.’’