LOtC Quality Badge
LOtC Quality Badge
The LOtC Quality Badge is the only national award assessing both the quality of risk management and educational provision across all types of learning outside the classroom providers including museums and castles, botanical gardens and city farms, theme parks and zoos, field study and adventure centres, and expeditions and study cultural tours abroad. It is recognised by the Department of Education and Welsh Government, and therefore by schools as an indication of quality.
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) oversee the certification of the LOtC Quality Badge but due to the wide-range of LOtC opportunities the Badge covers it is assessed by different organisations with expertise in their fields, known as Awarding Bodies. Expedition Providers Association are the appointed Awarding Body for Overseas Expedition applications.
The EPA Code of Practice defines an expedition as:
“Overseas travel that involves a deliberate element of risk, challenge or adventure and requires specialist skills for its safe management”
These can range from a 1-4 weeks in duration and include in their programme: treks in remote regions in challenging terrain, ascents of mountains, journeys by foot, horse, kayak, bike, camel, raft, cultural projects often with remote village communities or other cultural or adventure activities.
Most EPA programmes are at the lower challenge end of this range, and only differ from a more traditional school trip in that they specifically include an element of risk such as a project, or an activity provided by a third party provider, such as white water rafting.
Expeditions will have a UK leader who will have overall responsibility for the management of all activities that form part of an expedition programme even if the activity is being delivered by a third party provider.
Expedition Leaders are required to have the experience and knowledge to manage all aspects of an expedition programme.
Note: In order to be compliant, all EPA members are externally assessed. EPA does not recognise self-assessment by non-members.
Why apply for the LOtC?
The LOtC Quality Badge provides you with a framework to ensure you are meeting the needs of your school clients. It supports you to:
- Stay up to date with statutory guidance and latest good practice
- Develop customer relationships by improving communications with schools to support their learning outcomes and plan a successful visit.
- Mitigate business risk by directing you to check you have the appropriate policies and procedures in place to protect your organisation.
- Provide reassurance allowing school staff to book with confidence.
The Department for Education’s guidance on Health & Safety on Educational Visits
recommends that schools look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing external providers of educational visits. The Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel
endorse the LOtC Quality Badge and most Local Authority Outdoor Education Advisers accept it in place of some or all of their checks, so reduces schools’ and your own paperwork. Senedd Cymru endorse the advice provided by OEAP Cymru
which includes using LOtC Quality Badge holders.
Once you hold the LOtC Quality Badge CLOtC also offers opportunities for you to promote your organisation for free via their website and social media.
To view the LOtC Quality Badge indicators, please click here.
