Why Schools Are Thinking Ahead To 2027
For many schools, May is actually one of the best times to begin planning future trips.
With GCSE and A-Level students on study leave, teachers often finally have a little more time to sit down, review ideas and start thinking ahead to future travel.
Planning earlier can also make things much easier financially and logistically for both schools and parents.
Booking a trip for 2027 now can often mean:
- better flight availability and more choice
- more flexibility around dates and accommodation
- longer payment timelines for families
- more time for schools to organise approvals and budgeting
- more time for parents to spread the cost
Waiting until later in the year can sometimes make things more difficult, particularly for popular travel periods when flights and accommodation start to become more limited.
For many schools, starting conversations earlier simply makes the whole process feel more manageable.
Why Experience Matters
School trips are a big commitment for schools and families, which is why having the right support behind the booking matters.
At TCBC, we’ve been organising curriculum-linked school trips for over 20 years, supporting hundreds of schools with travel across Europe and beyond.
During that time, we’ve helped schools navigate rising costs, changing travel conditions and major challenges affecting the travel industry. What teachers usually value most during those periods is clear communication, honest advice and knowing they have experienced people supporting them throughout the process.
We were also proud to be named Best School Tour Operator 2025 (Small/Medium) at the School Travel Awards - recognition that means a great deal to us because it is voted for by teachers and school staff themselves.
Teachers also work with one dedicated tour specialist throughout, providing a consistent point of contact from planning through to returning home.
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It
We can talk all day about the importance of communication, support and experience, but the feedback that matters most comes from the schools who travel with us.
We’re incredibly proud of the relationships we build with schools and the number of teachers who return to travel with us year after year.
Financial Protection And Accreditation Matter
If your school is considering a future trip, one of the most important things to look at is the level of support and protection behind the booking itself.
At TCBC:
- flight-inclusive tours are ATOL protected
- non-flight tours and tours departing from outside the UK are protected through TOPP
- we are ABTA members
- members of the School Travel Forum
- holders of the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge
Package school trips booked through UK operators are also covered by the Package Travel Regulations, which provide important legal protections around financial security and support if significant changes affect travel arrangements.
For schools, these protections and accreditations provide reassurance that recognised financial safeguards, audited safety standards and clear support procedures are already in place. They can also help make trip planning and approval processes more straightforward for teachers and EVCs, as much of the required safety and supplier documentation is already available.
We know teachers are balancing budgets, safeguarding responsibilities, parent confidence and a huge amount of admin when organising a trip.
Our role is to make the process feel straightforward and manageable.
That includes:
- transparent pricing with no hidden charges
- flexible, tailored itineraries
- ongoing support from experienced tour specialists
- practical advice throughout the planning process
- honest conversations about budgets and options
School trips remain one of the best ways of bringing learning to life for students, and planning ahead now can often make things much easier later on.
If your school is currently weighing up options for a future trip, or simply wants to talk through concerns around budgets, timings or wider travel uncertainty, we’re always happy to have an honest conversation.
In some cases, there may be ways we can help reduce pressure through different travel dates, payment timelines or itinerary options.
