SCHOOL TRIPS, ACTIVITIES AND EXPEDITIONS
​KEY INFORMATION FOR PARENTS / CARERS AND PUPILS/ STUDENTS 

Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust firmly believes in education outside of the classroom and our schools offer our pupils and students a wide range of trips, visits and expeditions throughout the academic year. This could be anything from an educational visit to the Eden Project to an exhilarating trip to the USA.
Pupils and students are encouraged to take part in extra-curricular activities as it allows them to enhance their learning through developing social, leadership, and teamwork skills.
All school trips and activities are organised in accordance with Devon County Council guidelines and all academies in the Trust follow the Trust’s Outdoor Education, Visits and Off-Site Activities Policy. You can view this policy on the Trust’s website by clicking here.

To ensure all trips and visits are a success we have outlined below the expectations that should be met by parents and carers.

• All correspondence for trips will be sent to parents via SchoolGateway. Parental consent for all trips must be given via their child’s online SchoolGateway account, therefore it is essential that all parents activate and regularly check their child’s SchoolGateway account and ensure that the college have the correct email address for you on record. You can login to SchoolGateway by clicking here or via the app, available on Android and iOs. 
• It is parents' responsibility to ensure that all records are up to date for your child in the event of a medical emergency. Please use SIMS Parent to ensure that we have the correct medical details and dietary information for your child as well as emergency contact numbers. Provided your account has been activated by you, you can login to SIMS Parent by clicking here or via the app, available on Android and iOs. 
• If your child needs to take medication during the visit or on a residential trip you must complete a Medicines Administration Form which you can download here. This form should be returned to the School Office/ Curriculum Support Office at least one week prior to the trip departure date.
• Payment for trips should be made via your child’s online SchoolGateway account at the stipulated time set out in the initial correspondence provided. Please be advised that pupils/ students will be taken off a trip if full payment has not been received prior to departure.
• Please note, the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust schools no longer accept cash or cheque payments, however we are able to print a PayPoint voucher for use in a store that displays the PayPoint symbol. Your child should collect this voucher from the School Office/ Curriculum Support Office.
• Where we request a Voluntary Contribution for the cost of an activity or trip, we may need to cancel the activity or trip if the voluntary contributions don’t meet the cost, but we will let you know if this is the case.
• You can read our Charging and Remissions Policy on the Trust’s website by clicking here.
• We advise parents / carers to ensure their child is enthused and motivated by their chosen trip or activity, especially where there is a considerable financial commitment. Once parents have made payments we cannot guarantee any refund if your child changes their mind, especially where the school or college has already made payments to suppliers that cannot be refunded.
• If your child is in receipt of Free School Meals, you may be able to use this to support the cost of the trip. Any board and lodging element of a residential trip will be covered by the school if your child is in receipt of Free School Meals.  Your request for a Free School Meal subsidy must be in writing - please email your request to the School Officer/ Curriulum Support Office in the first instance.
• All pupils and students must adhere to the individual school/ college Code of Conduct and behave in an acceptable manner at all times whilst on a trip, visit or activity, as we would expect while they are in school. Behaving in a persistently or grossly unacceptable manner may result in the child concerned being returned home at the expense of the parents. This decision is at the discretion of the trip leader in consultation with one of the school’s senior leaders. The school’s decision will be final.
• Parents are required to accept responsibility for any damage or costs incurred by their child’s misconduct and any claims made by a third party against a student or the school as a result of these actions must be met by the parent

Pupil & Student Expectations​

To ensure everyone taking part in the trip has a safe, enjoyable and positive experience it is necessary for pupils/ students to fully understand their responsibilities. 

• Pupils/ Students remain under the jurisdiction of the school/ college during any trip or visit, adhering to the school Code of Conduct at all times. The Code of Conduct / Behaviour Policy can be found on your child's school website.
• Pupils / Students are expected to behave in a sensible, responsible and courteous manner at all times, to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all members of the group and for members of the public
• Pupils / Students must follow all instructions of the trip leader and other staff members at all times
• Pupils/ Students should never deliberately put themselves at any unnecessary risk
• Pupils/ Students must inform a member of staff of any safety concerns
• Any damage incurred by students will be the financial responsibility of parents. 

Volunteers and Parent Helpers

We welcome Parent Helpers on trips where necessary. If you would like to volunteer, please contact your child's school directly.
You can view our policies relating to Volunteers in School on our Policies and Documents page. 

Updated May 2020