5 takeaways from our school travel forums

At Equity, we know that a strong, mutual understanding between party leaders and tour operators is essential for creating meaningful learning experiences for students. That’s why every term we bring teachers together to share their thoughts and feelings on the school travel sector and help us to run the best trips ever.

These teachers have a lot of experience running trips, with some running multiple trips every year. Here, we share their tips and insights for teachers who are thinking about running their first overseas trip:

Coach trips are easier

A tour or ski trip to Europe is a great experience for students, and you’ll have several transport options available to you. If you are new to running overseas trips, coach travel has many benefits, like additional storage and space, no weight limits on bags, the option to stop en route, and even a chance to play a quiz with your students. As an added bonus, you will also have use of your coach throughout your trip!

In-location reps add value

For many teachers, reps can have a big impact on a trip, and they’re particularly useful for new group leaders organising their first outing, especially on ski trips helping to organise ski fit and lift passes.

Having a rep support teachers in resort can ensure that the trip runs smoothly and that the group get as much out of the trip as they can. The rep will also have some local knowledge that may add to your travel experience.

Accessories as identifiers

Providing your students with identifiable accessories (like hoodies, hats, or bibs) can help keep your group together in a crowded location or out on the slopes. Tour providers like Equity, will be able to offer advice on what would work well for your school trip, and they may even be able to provide you with branded items for your students.

Google Forms

From initial interest in the trip, to additional requirements such as contact details, dietary requirements, allergies, and medical requirements, collecting the necessary information from your students is a key part of any trip. Some of the teachers from our forum recommended using Google Forms to simplify this process. Using it as a shared platform where teachers and parents can collaborate in real-time, you can collate all of the information in one place and access it at all times.

Plan ahead for securing first deposits

When beginning the booking process for any trip, securing the first deposits from parents is typically the trickiest. We know teachers have to find the right balance between giving parents sufficient time to raise the funds and sending the deposits to the provider on time. To help with this, the teachers in our forum suggested setting the deposit deadline in the first week of the next month, falling just after most parents will be paid.

Better learning for all

Overall, these teacher forums were a brilliant learning experience for everyone involved, and we hope other teachers who are considering organising their first school trip will find them invaluable too. Running these teacher forums every term also means that we at Equity can continue to provide unforgettable educational experiences for schools across the country, but don’t just take our word for it:

“The support we have always received from Equity has been fantastic. The staff are always available and willing to help, and the reassurance of working with a well-established company, with a proven reputation for school travel, is also extremely important to me. I know that Equity will have all the answers to questions parents ask, even if I don’t, and I know they will always prioritise the safety of our students above everything else.“

The Magna Carta School, travelled with Equity to Paris, Lake Garda, Venice, Edinburgh, and Sicily

If you’re starting the new 2022-2023 school year, and you’re looking to take your students away on a trip, Equity will be happy to help. You can find our adverts across the planmyschooltrip site, or you can call us on 01273 648248.