Charging for educational visits

Find out which school trips you can charge for and how much you should charge. Download our handy template to help you calculate your costs. Plus, find out what to do with any money that's left over.

Last reviewed on 4 October 2024
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 8110
Contents
  1. You must have a charging and remissions policy 
  2. Know the rules around charging
  3. How much should we charge?  
  4. Should we refund surplus money? 

This article is based on the DfE's guidance on charging for school activities. It applies to all maintained schools as part of the Education Act 1996 (sections 449 to 462). 

If you're an academy, this act also applies to you, but check your funding agreement to find out your specific requirements. 

You must have a charging and remissions policy 

You should outline the activities that you'll charge for in this policy. 

Download and adapt our model charging and remissions policy, or use our checklist (you can find this in the same article), to find out what to include. 

Know the rules around charging

Visits you can't charge for

You can't charge for any educational provision, including an educational visit that takes place during school hours.

The National Curriculum A syllabus for a prescribed public examination that the pupil is being