Report2017–2026 update
Different Journeys: Regional variations in English school residential visits and changes over time
A pilot analysis of data from the EVOLVE visit-planning system suggests that pupils at schools in the North of England are less likely to take part in residential visits than those in the South, and that provision has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
What's new
This quantitative pilot analysis draws on data from EVOLVE, an educational visit planning and approval system used by more than 25,000 education settings. It found North–South differences across adventurous, non-adventurous, domestic and overseas residentials, particularly for domestic adventurous and overseas visits. The pattern closely mirrors Free School Meal eligibility, which suggests there may be a link between deprivation and opportunity to take part. Residentials have rebounded since the Covid shutdown but have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The steepest declines are in non-adventurous residentials, which are often subject-based and aligned with curriculum delivery. For these, visit numbers, participation and average length have all fallen sharply. Adventurous residentials have been more resilient. The findings indicate the impact of pressures such as rising transport costs, reduced budgets and increased anxiety. They also suggest a possible shift to students taking part in fewer, slightly shorter visits, which could reflect a need to manage costs.
Why it matters in Aotearoa
It shows how routine visit-management data can indicate changes and possible inequalities in access to residential experiences. New Zealand schools using similar EOTC management systems could carry out comparable analyses.
Putting it into practice
EOTC coordinators could use their visit-management system to compare camp participation, length and cost by year level and over time, then report the patterns to the board.
How strong is the evidence
This is a pilot quantitative analysis of administrative data from one visit-planning system. It describes patterns of provision but does not measure outcomes for students. The link with deprivation is based on similar regional patterns, not a tested cause. Settings that do not use EVOLVE are not represented. This summary is based on the publisher's news release, not the full report.
What to read
The full report, Different Journeys, particularly its regional and change-over-time findings