Big Debate: School Trips in the Holidays? 80% say yes!

27 Apr 2026, 12:37
by Rachel Lewis

We asked teachers across the UK whether it's ok for schools to run trips during holidays or weekends. Almost 80% said they can be acceptable—but only under certain conditions. Here’s what they told us...

35% say short trips can work

Around a third of teachers said trips are acceptable, if they are limited in length.

Short trips—such as those extending into a weekend or slightly overlapping a holiday—were generally seen as manageable. Longer trips during breaks were viewed less favourably.

The key issue here is balance: supporting valuable experiences without placing too much on teachers’ time.

Recognition also mattered. Teachers in this group often said that:

additional time should be acknowledged
compensation (financial or time off in lieu) should be considered

However, some noted that this could increase costs and make trips harder to run.

There was also a clear message that these arrangements should not become routine expectations:

“It’s not fair to assume that staff will be willing to take students in their own time.”

Even short trips, they noted, can add to workload pressure over time.

44% say yes: but with conditions

Almost half of respondents said trips outside term time are acceptable, though often for practical rather than personal reasons.

Cost was a major factor. Running trips during term time can require supply cover or timetable changes, which are expensive and difficult to manage.

Timetabling constraints also play a role. Trips during term time can disrupt learning, while running them during holidays or weekends avoids this. Some trips—especially overseas or longer residential visits—may only be possible outside term time.

Even so, teachers emphasised important conditions:

participation should be voluntary
decisions should reflect staff availability
arrangements should suit individuals, not become standard expectations

19% say no: workload is already high

Nearly one in five teachers felt trips outside term time are not acceptable.

Their main concern is workload. Many already work well beyond contracted hours during term time—often 50 to 60 hours a week. Holidays are seen as essential time for rest, planning and recovery, for both staff and students.

“Children need the downtime at home with family after a trip to process it and recover—teachers the same.”

Teachers also emphasised that trips are not a break. Residential and overseas visits require constant supervision and carry significant responsibility, often meaning staff are effectively on duty 24 hours a day. This is on top of the time spent planning and organising.

Some suggested ways to reduce pressure, such as:

sharing trips across departments - see how The Market Weighton School combined subjects
involving additional staff to support planning and supervision

Concerns about compensation were also common. Many said these trips are unpaid and rarely include time off in lieu—something they feel would not be expected in other professions.

A consistent theme: appreciate rather than expect

There is no single agreed approach. Teachers clearly value school trips and recognise their benefits for students. But they also highlight the limits—particularly around workload, time, cost and the school calendar.

Where trips do take place outside term time, teachers said three things are essential:

clear communication
voluntary participation
appropriate recognition

Goodwill plays a crucial role in making trips happen. Many teachers are willing to give their time because they see the value for students—but there is a strong feeling that this should never be assumed or expected.