With over £380 million being spent with member companies for study, ski and sports trips in 2012 and with no sign of that trend reversing, Ian Pearson of the School Travel Forum asks why are they so popular and how can schools make the most educationally from them?

Learning outside the classroom has become widely recognised as a beneficial part of a balanced and effective curriculum, and there’s new evidence supporting the value of this and residential trips

The finalists for the Educational Journey of the Year Award cover numerous areas, from community project work and treks to sports tours and scientific research expeditions. One common thread connects them all; each journey has inspired, challenged and encouraged the young people involved

School trips are one of the things school children look forward to during their school life and the experiences and memories from them are extremely durable. A school trip with its natural dynamic environment provides a learning venue that matches their natural inclination to know more about things, engages even those with short attention spans and puts the learning subject in context.

Brendan Jones, co-founder and former Chairman of the School Travel Forum UK shares his views on the new government guidelines on health and safety for educational trips

Lucia Crothall, education marketing manager, English Heritage, looks at ways to make school trips as easy as possible for those who organise them and as beneficial as possible for all involved