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Secondary School Trips

Secondary school trips are a golden opportunity to inspire curiosity and stronger relationships among teenage groups beyond the four walls of their usual classroom. 

These trips build interpersonal skills by encouraging young people to step outside of their comfort zone, meet interesting people, try new things and understand more about the world we live in. The connections made on secondary school trips – whether personal relationships or cultural understanding – often last for far longer than the time actually spent away.

We also know that organising a school trip for an entire class or more can be quite a challenge. Having worked with thousands of schools over the years, NST rely on this experience to support schools before, during and after their tour – and take the hassle out of the teacher's hands.

Get in touch today to find out how we could help you. 

Learn more about our secondary school trip destinations

Barcelona

Barcelona

School trips to Barcelona offer a diverse experience to students of all ages and subjects -from the modernist architecture of Gaudi and surreal art on show at the Museu Picasso.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to Barcelona here

Bay of Naples

Bay of Naples

The Bay of Naples is an awe-inspiring destination for school groups of all ages. Steeped in history, the region is also one of Italy’s most spectacular and home to picturesque ancient villas and the country’s largest vintage clothes market.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to the Bay of Naples here

Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is quickly becoming an exciting city to visit - and with more and more exhibitions and cultural visits opening, it's a destination that's suitable for all ages. 

Learn more about our secondary school trips to Belfast here

Berlin

Berlin

We pride ourselves on designing Berlin school trips that ensure young people get the absolute most out of their visit and that make life easier for teachers.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to Berlin here

Derry

Derry

Explore a variety of topics from historical, cultural and religious perspectives such as The Apprentice Boys of Derry, religious affiliation, cultural identity, ecumenism and cultural responses to “The Troubles”.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to Derry here​

Iceland

Iceland

School trips to Iceland offer a wonderfully unique experience for student to bear witness to rare phenomena.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to Iceland here

Krakow

Krakow

Krakow is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Poland, and a fantastic school trip destination for any class.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to Krakow here

Lake Garda

Lake Garda

The picturesque setting of Lake Garda is surrounded by plenty of quaint villages and rustic towns making it a top destination for schools looking to guarantee appreciate audiences for a music school trip or tour.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to Lake Garda here

London

London

A cultural capital by anyone’s estimation, London is one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan cities on the planet.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to London here

Munich

Munich

Located near the foot of the German Alps, Munich is a city packed with culture, technology, sprawling parks and monumental squares. The range of educational activities on offer makes the Bavarian capital a choice destination for a variety of subject-linked school trips.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to Munich here

Paris

Paris

Paris’ reputation as a global centre of culture is much deserved, and a school trip to Paris is a fantastic option for a number of reasons.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to Paris here

Rome

Rome

Incredibly rich in architecture, culture and history, the Italian capital really is a magnificent destination for school trips of all ages and sizes.

Learn more about our secondary school trips to Rome here

Planning your first school trip?

If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process...

  • Choosing your destination
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
  • Promoting your tour in school
  • Confirming your booking
  • Tailor-make your tour
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
  • Quick reference timeline
  • Pre-tour checklist

Additional support, resources & information

Tour planning service

Tour planning service

With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you: 

  • Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly 
  • Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings 
  • Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals 

 

You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.

Free school trip promotion pack

Free school trip promotion pack

We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of: 

  • Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete A3 posters to promote your trip around school 
  • PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs 
  • Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip 

Risk assessment support including preview visits

Risk assessment support including preview visit

Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour.

Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.

Planning first school trip

Planning first school trip

Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process. 

If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way. 

Our helpful guide covers the following: 

  • Choosing your destination 
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head 
  • Promoting your tour in school 
  • Confirming your booking 
  • Tailor-make your tour 
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment) 
  • Quick reference timeline 
  • Pre-tour checklist 

 

View our essential guide to a successful school trip here

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track. 

With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.

Watch our short Locate My Trip video here

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you. 

With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too. 

What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go. 

Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here

Free classroom resources

Free classroom resources

We've created a range of free geography resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom!

Take a look at our downloadable posters here

Speak to one of our secondary school travel experts

Our team of secondary school travel experts have unrivalled destination knowledge and experience so they can help to bring your tour ideas to life and might even suggest options you hadn’t already thought of too! So get in touch today and we'll help to create a bespoke, budget-friendly tour itinerary to meet your specific learning requirements.

Why choose NST...

Here's why hundreds of teachers choose NST each year...

  • Unrivalled knowledge

Your dedicated tour co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.

  • Making it easier for you

With our online school trip organiser, travel app, free classroom posters to support in-school promotion.

  • FREE group leader inspection visits

We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning. 

  • Value for money

We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.

 

  • More than 20 years’ experience

With over 20 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.

  • Risk assessment guidance

Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip. 

  • Peace of mind

Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.

  • Offsetting carbon emissions

For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions. 

Looking for protection on your next school trip? 

Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.

Financial protection from the moment you book

NST are fully bonded & licensed:

  • ABTA
  • ATOL
  • IATA
  • Commission for Aviation Regulation

 

Managing safety on school trips

For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:

  • 24-hour emergency cover
  • Audited accommodation & transport
  • Excursions & school visit assessment
  • Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning

Package Travel Regulations 2018

Don't forget - if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial. 

We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured

For groups travelling from Northern Ireland... the Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.

Learn more here