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Risk assessment information for your school trip

The safety and wellbeing of your group on our school trips is always our top priority and we never compromise on it. Our tried and tested safety management systems are backed up by rigorous internal and external auditing which is why teachers and parents trust us to look after the needs of 32,000 travellers each year. 

Use the resources on this page to help plan your school trip and to inform the school trip risk assessment for your group. If you need any further information, please do get in touch

 

Our safety management system

Voyager School Travel is an Assured Member of the School Travel Forum (STF) and has been awarded the prestigious Learning outside the Classroom Quality Badge (LOtC). This means that you can book your trip with confidence and reduce the amount of risk assessment paperwork you need to complete.  The Outdoor Education Advisors Panel (OEAP) national guidance states 'when the provider holds the LOtC Quality Badge there is normally no need to seek further assurances from the provider about the safety of provision'. 

As a School Travel Forum member and holder of the LOtC Quality Badge you can be secure in the knowledge that we:

  • Understand and facilitate the needs of educational travel
  • Have effective Safety Management Systems in place, specifically focused on travelling with young students
  • Offer fair terms and conditions and the best financial security

A summary of our health, safety and safeguarding standards are contained in the Safety Management System. The information contained in the Safety Management System will be useful to you when you are writing a school trip risk assessment for your specific group. 

Safety Management System - Voyager School Travel Download (170 KB)
OEAP National Guidance - Choosing A School Travel Provider Download (139 KB)

Download our safety certificates

Voyager School Travel holds the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge which demonstrates that our quality and safety systems have been externally accredited.

Voyager School Travel has also been awarded the Adventure mark, a non-statutory safety scheme devised by the Adventure Activity Industry Advisory Committee (AAIAC) for providers of adventurous activities whose safety management and related delivery systems have been inspected and found to comply with standards of good practice in the adventure activity industry.

Click on the certificates of compliance below.

Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge Download (160 KB)
Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge – Arbolar Centre Download (250 KB)
Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge – Bea Beach Centre Download (249 KB)
Adventuremark certificate – Arbolar Centre Download (1.5 MB)
Adventuremark certificate – Bea Beach Centre Download (1.5 MB)
School Travel Forum – compliance certificate Download (352 KB)

School trip activity risk assessment samples

We provide risk assessments for all the activities instructed by our own staff, which include information regarding our operating procedures and safeguarding policies. This information will help inform the personalised risk assessments you need to prepare for your group.

For tours, we can provide generic city risk assessments, supplemented with specific information about a destination, such as disabled access. We take all reasonable steps to obtain evidence from excursion providers that their service is suitable for school groups and that they have properly evaluated the health and safety aspects of the activity. We will provide this information to the trip organiser so that they can make informed decisions about the suitability of the activity for their specific group.

We also offer financial support for school trip leaders to take inspection visits and undertake their own risk assessments (see Inspection Visits section below).

City day trip – Generic risk assessment Download (125 KB)
Château de la Baudonnière risk assessments Download (9.8 MB)
La Grand'Ferme site risk assessment Download (146 KB)

Safeguarding

We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people to help keep them safe. We are committed to practise in a way that protects children from the risk of harm or abuse and follow all current and relevant UK legislation and guidance.

All staff members, activity leaders and coach drivers who come into contact with children undergo a DBS and/or equivalent Police check under the Safeguarding Vulnerable groups Act 2006.

Our Safeguarding Policy Download (565 KB)

Allergies and Food Intolerances

We take the safety of those with food allergies and intolerances very seriously. We work closely with party leaders to ensure that all dietary requirements are identified and managed on our trips.

Allergies and Food Intolerances Download (430 KB)

Insurance documents

Unless specified otherwise, all our school trips include comprehensive travel insurance. Find the full policy below and read a summary of the ways you're covered on our school travel insurance page.

All sports and activity programmes have an appropriate operating licence, conform to Voyager School Travel’s Code of Practice and have suitable levels of Public Liability Insurance.

Endsleigh Insurance Product Information Document Download (103 KB)
Endsleigh Insurance Policy Document Download (228 KB)
Endsleigh Statement of Insurance Document Download (132 KB)
Public Liability Insurance Download (764 KB)

ABTA & ATOL bonding

Voyager School Travel is a full member of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and is licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority under the Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL). 

All monies paid to Voyager School Travel are protected by either ABTOT or ATOL. ABTOT provides protection for school trips by rail, ferry or coach while ATOL provides protection for school trips which include a flight.

Read our blog for more clarity on the financial protection ensured by ABTA and ATOL membership.

Transport arrangements for your school trip

Wherever possible, school groups will travel with our own coach company, Pegasus Coaches. By operating our own coach company we can guarantee a high standard of quality and care for our school groups. We provide a generic risk assessment for school groups travelling on our coaches which can be accessed below. 

All coaches contracted by Voyager, comply with all relevant UK and European legislation, including those laws concerning seatbelts on coaches and drivers hours. Coach operators used more than 5 times in a year will have an ‘in situ’ audit once every 3 years. Tour itineraries are agreed with the coach company to ensure the requirements of EU Drivers’ Hours legislation is adhered to. 

All air, rail and sea transportation complies with regulations set down by the appropriate Maritime and Coastguard agency, Civil Aviation Authority or equivalent regulatory body.

Pegasus Coaches generic risk assessment Pegasus Coaches generic risk assessment(313 KB)

School group accommodation

Wherever possible your group will be staying at one of our residential school trip centres, or at a partner centre, where we can maintain the highest standard of accommodation and care for your group.

In the case that your group is not staying at one of our residential centres, a qualified member of the Voyager School Travel leadership team will have selected and audited your accommodation to ensure it conforms to all local and European legislation, as well as meeting Voyager School Travel’s published Health & Safety requirements.

Inspection visits for teachers

We understand that you may want to scope out your school trip for yourself before taking your students, so we welcome teachers to visit our own centres in France, Spain and Germany in order for any pre-planning and risk assessments to be completed. We can assist with the planning and costs for visits to other destinations too. Get in touch today to enquire about inspection visits for your chosen school trip.

Modern slavery statement

We are committed to make sure that modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour or similar human rights abuses are not taking place within our business and will not knowingly support or deal any business that engages in such practices.

We require our third party agents to be alert to the risks that modern slavery presents and to confirm that they share our commitment to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place anywhere within their organisation or supply chain.

Chateau inspection visit

Book an inspection visit

Join us on a subsidised visit to see our educational programmes in action at our centres.

Enquire now

How Voyager School Travel delivers the best service

You are in specialist hands

Our team use their teaching, language & destination experience to organise educational trips that are not only enriching but hassle-free. Read more →

Safety assured, bonded & accredited

As a member of the School Travel Forum & protected through ABTA & ATOL you can be sure of our high standards. Read more →

Trusted by teachers

Schools trust Voyager School Travel to organise the educational trips for over 32,000 passengers a year. Read more →

We deliver the educational elements

Signature educational experiences with our own language & activity instructors allow teachers to enjoy the trip too. Read more →

Stay at our own residential centres

Groups staying at our own residential centres in France will benefit from high quality learning, safety & service. Read more →

Our own overseas teams

Peace of mind knowing our French managers, instructors, coach drivers & support team will look after your every need. Read more →

For teachers who are serious about the educational outcomes of their school trip.

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