The only woman to simultaneously hold Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic track titles will host the 2026 ceremony, which celebrates outstanding school trip experiences and the people and providers who make them happen - with £5k prize money available for schools.
Launched in 2016 by School Travel Organiser magazine, the annual School Travel Awards recognise and celebrate the attractions, providers and people creating and supporting inspiring school trips.
The winners are determined through nominations and voting from EVCs, teachers and school staff, and categories include Best Museum Visit, Best Education Workshops, Best Residential Experience, and Best School Tour Operator.
Plus, there is £5,000 in prize money up for grabs for schools through the ‘My Best School Trip’ Award and School Trip Champion Award.
Introducing this year’s awards host
Sally Gunnell began her athletics career as a pentathlete and long jumper with Essex Ladies’ Club but her power made her a strong junior sprinter, leading her to focus on the 100m hurdles. After winning Gold at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, she was encouraged to explore longer distances.
In 1989, she won the European Cup 400m flat race in Gateshead, and by 1990, she had returned to hurdling, taking the Commonwealth 400m hurdles title in Auckland and establishing the event as her ideal discipline.
At the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, she narrowly missed Gold after a brief lapse in concentration, taking Silver. She rebounded at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, powering through the final 150 metres to claim Olympic Gold.
Determined to improve, she overhauled her training and preparation ahead of the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart. Arriving with a heavy cold, she concealed her illness, progressed through qualifying, and despite considering withdrawal, chose to race. Her decision paid off.
She won Gold and set a new World Record at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart despite illness and remains remains the only woman to have held Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic track titles simultaneously and is celebrated as a British sporting icon.
Sally Gunnell’s broadcasting and media career
After retiring from athletics, Sally became part of the BBC Sport team and was a regular fixture on athletics programmes throughout the noughties, interviewing athletes on the finish line and bringing the trackside atmosphere into millions of living rooms across the UK.
She has appeared in numerous TV shows including A Question of Sport and Total Wipeout. She is a regular on TV breakfast news sofas and conducts hundreds of radio interviews each year.
Today, Sally is a sought-after speaker, and her main mission is to promote health and wellbeing for everybody in the UK. She is a passionate supporter of initiatives that encourage families to be more active.
Book your place at the 2026 School Travel Awards ceremony
The lunch and ceremony is when the winners are announced and guests can enjoy networking and celebrating alongside teachers, LOtC practitioners and school trip providers.
Tickets and private tables can be booked online, which include a drinks reception followed by lunch with wine, and the ceremony itself.
An Early Bird discount is currently available for table bookings.
To go to the School Travel Awards home page click here.
A special thank you to our 2026 Awards Partners…
