We know that foreign travel seems a distant prospect for many schools at the moment. However, the Government will soon announce that it is opening applications for grants for pupil travel across the globe as part of its Turing scheme. The application window is to be very small but will deal with applications for the whole of next academic year (21 -22). Schools which may think that a visit in Summer of 2022 is a possibility would be advised to apply at this deadline. The International Office can offer support and may be able to draw up a local authority wide bid to reduce burden on school form filling.

The premise of the programme is as follows :

Eligible visits are school visits to partner schools anywhere in the world (except British Overseas Territories) where pupils work together on joint projects. These projects can be language, humanities or science based. They can involve drama, sport, music or be centred around pupil health and well-being. This list is not exhaustive. The key is that the visit allows our young people to engage with and work alongside their peers. The visits should not be tourist/cultural visits only, attendance at music festival or sports competitions or attendance at multinational conferences.

Both primary and secondary pupils can take part in these visits.

Visits must last for a minimum of 3 days in the partner country.

Funding is available for pupils and staff to stay in residential accommodation.

Additional funding can be requested for pupils with additional needs or for pupils from particularly disadvantaged backgrounds.

Grants will be calculated on a per head basis on the following lines

• £315 per pupil to cover costs of schools administration, supply cover etc
• Travel grant ranging from £250 to £1360 ( for destination of over 12000km away)
• Accommodation and food grant of £54 per day

I know how valuable this grant will be to many of our families as it would enable some of our learners to access opportunities which may be unavailable to them because of family circumstances. Please not that there is no funding for overseas schools to visit the UK as part of this scheme.

For further information see https://www.turing-scheme.org.uk/funding-opportunities/schools-funding/#parentHorizontalTab4

If you would like to apply at this deadline, please contact brian.stobie@durham.gov.uk for further information and support.