FAQs

Why have a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge?

As part of the ‘Out & About’ package to get more young people out of the classroom, the DfE launched a LOtC Quality Badge to enable schools to identify easily organisations and settings that provide quality learning outside the classroom experiences. Whether schools undertake field studies, adventurous activities, or plan excursions to museums, theatres or farms, the badge will be a benchmark for good practice - recognising those organisations that offer high-quality teaching and learning experiences and manage risk effectively.

The LOtC Quality Badge is a great benefit to schools, helping them overcome some of the barriers preventing them from providing out of classroom experiences for their pupils, by simplifying the task of planning and running activities when they choose to use an external provider. Using badged organisations enables teachers and other leaders to plan high quality learning outside the classroom visits more effectively, while also helping to cut down on the paperwork involved in risk management planning. The LOtC Quality Badge ultimately improves the quality of learning outside the classroom and allows more schools to provide exciting and challenging experiences for all young people. For information about Learning Outside the Classroom and the LOtC Quality Badge, please visit http://www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk/home

Why do I need the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge?

The Department for Education and its National Advisory and Manifesto partners have developed a brand new LOtC Quality Badge for learning outside the classroom providers. The badge gives a national benchmark for the provision of educational visits and recognises organisations delivering high quality teaching and learning experiences and managing risk effectively.

The LOtC Quality Badge provides a framework for working in partnership with schools, youth groups and local authorities and aims to reduce red tape, making holders a more attractive prospect for those organising educational visits. The badge also enables organisations to improve their practice so that they are confident of giving meaningful and inspirational experiences for young people.

The LOtC Quality Badge is available to all organisations providing learning outside the classroom experiences. There are two routes to the Quality Badge. Route 1 is for those organisations whose activities are considered relatively low-risk, such as environmental centres, visitor attractions, art galleries, museums and places of worship. Route 2 is for those organisations whose activities require a degree of technical knowledge and experience that are beyond the lay person – such as canoeing and rock climbing. For more information, please visit: http://www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk/home