This award shines a spotlight on teachers and EVCs for the important role they play in organising trips that help their school and pupils benefit from learning outside the classroom.

The School Trip Champion Award highlights the work and effort put in by real unsung heroes, and recognises those who go the extra mile.

The winner is able to spend £1,500 on a future educational visit for their school.

Your 2023 winner is… 

Karen Tidmarsh - Winchmore School, Enfield, London

2023 School Trip Champion Karen Tidmarsh

Karen Tidmarsh of Winchmore School, Enfield, receives her trophy at the 2023 School Travel Awards ceremony. She’s pictured with Maria Whiteman from awards partner Next Generation Travel Group and presenter Katharine Merry.

After decades of teaching geography and PE and then becoming head of year, Karen retired from teaching in 2021 and was appointed school travel coordinator at Winchmore – a post created by the headteacher who simply didn’t want to lose her expertise.

In recent years, there has been a focus on re-engaging students with the outside world and ensuring they experience ‘life beyond the M25’. In her first year in the post, Karen has managed to get more than half of the school community out on either a day or residential visit, and recently returned from a back-to-back ski trip involving over 70 students for the first time since the pandemic.

Karen told us: “Learning outside the classroom has always been my passion and bringing the page to life for students.”

Congratulations to our other 2023 School Trip Champion finalists who were: 

  • Selwyn Boothe - Gunnersbury Catholic School, Brentford, Middlesex

  • Jo Hilson - Thomas Gainsborough School, Subury, Suffolk

  • Michele Vidler - Potters Gate CofE Primary School, Farnham, Surrey

2023 School Trip Champion winner and finalists

(L-R) Maria Whiteman from awards partner Next Generation Travel Group with 2023 School Trip Champion finalists Selwyn Boothe, Karen Tidmarsh (winner), Jo Hilson, Michele Vidler and awards co-host Katharine Merry.

Find out more about the 2023 winner and finalists in our special feature here.

Karen was announced as the 2023 School Trip Champion at the School Travel Awards ceremony which took place on Tuesday 6th June at the Royal Lancaster Hotel London. 

Find out how the ceremony went, along with all the winners, here.

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For more information about the School Travel Awards click to schooltravelorganiser.com/awards.

If you need to speak to a member of the School Travel Organiser team about this Award or anything relating to the School Travel Awards email awards@schooltravelorganiser.com.