What we learned: UK school trips can boost wellbeing and attention — but rising costs still stops too many pupils from accessing trips.

We commissioned a nationwide study that suggests school trips can make a big difference: on average, pupils’ wellbeing and engagement rose by around 60%, and attention levels were up by 80%, compared with a typical classroom day.

We’re sharing the findings as we mark year four of our Great British School Trip initiative. The research was led by behavioural scientist Dr Martha Newson and includes an experiment alongside surveys with teachers and parents. For us, it helps put numbers behind what educators often tell us — that getting children into a different learning environment can improve focus, confidence and social connection.

When learning happened on a trip rather than in the classroom, pupils told us they felt more curious (+75%), excited (+71%), and that they were making lasting memories (+70%). They also reported higher interest (+66%), inspiration (+62%), happiness (+60%) and self-esteem (+40%). 77% of children described a school trip as their “best school day ever”.

At the same time, the research shows how often pupils still miss out. Parents told us that around two-fifths of UK children have either missed a trip entirely, or nearly missed out, because of financial constraints. Cost was the biggest barrier for 82% of teachers when it comes to schools, and for 77% of teachers when it comes to parents. And 81% of parents told us school trips are vital to their child’s wellbeing.

To help schools turn these insights into action, we’ve created a School Experience Index (SE Index) that brings wellbeing and engagement together into a single score. The idea is to give schools a simple way to compare a regular day with a trip day and plan the kinds of experiences that deliver the biggest learning and wellbeing gains.

Dr Newson said: “By measuring how the same kids felt and behaved on a normal school day versus a school trip day, we found a consistent uplift in curiosity and social connection on trip days, factors closely linked to engagement and learning.”

Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai Motor & Genesis UK, said the programme is designed to “give children access to truly memorable learning beyond the classroom” and that the new index provides “rigorous, science-backed data” teachers can use when planning trips.

Since 2022, we’ve invested more than £3 million in bursaries, helping fund school trips for over 200,000 pupils.

The bursary is still open for this academic year. Apply here.

Photo credit Kieran Cleeves/PA Media Assignments