Want to try our resources? Sign up for our 14-Day Free Trial

Demo & Training
Business & Organisations
Terms & Conditions

Should school trips be used as a reward?

10th - 17th July 2026

Back to results

17965

Total votes

4728

5-11 votes

13237

11-16+ votes

With the academic year drawing to a close. we asked our voters which VoteTopic they would like to discuss for this year’s final vote. The answer was school trips. For many schools, summer term is full of enrichment activities to celebrate the hard work put in throughout the year, and trips play a big part in that. Research suggests that students feel most connected to their school when participating in activities outside the classroom, including trips and sports days. However, for many, British schools are seeing a crisis of declining behaviour, with teachers considering leaving the classroom naming it as one of their top three reasons. Could school trips play a part in remedying this? Do young people think that trips should be open for all or should they be a reward for positive choices throughout the year?

child

Age 5-11 voter

I think that school trips should be used as a reward but not for attendance because some people could be really ill and it will not be fair on them.

teen

Age 11-16 voter

Why should people get to go when they haven't behaved and others have?

student

Age 11-16 voter

Students make mistakes and make bad decisions for many reasons that are out of their control [...] Our most vulnerable peers need the trip the most.

72.5% of 5-7-year olds thought they should have more school trips.

  • Voters aged 5-7 were discussing the question, "Should you have more school trips?"
  • 'Yes' voters referenced the different ways of learning that school trips offer. They also appreciate the opportunity to explore new places.
  • 'No' voters were concerned about the cost of trips and thought it could be better to be at school learning instead.
Both 7-11-year old and Secondary voters were divided almost 50/50 about whether school trips should be used as a reward.

  • Older voters were discussing the question, "Should school trips be used as a reward?"
  • 7-11-year olds returned a slim 'No' majority of 53.9%
  • Secondary returned a 'Yes' majority of 57.1%
  • Many voters distinguished between trips with a purely educational purpose and trips for 'fun'. The former should be open to everyone and the latter could be used as a reward.
Voters of all ages thought that attendance should not be the criterion for getting to participate in a school trip.

  • Most voters thought it would be unfair to be excluded from a trip just for being unwell.
  • Many voters thought using behaviour could help to motivate peers to improve their behaviour and reduce disruptions.
  • 'No' voters argued that everyone has bad days and that sometimes behaviour can influenced by factors beyond the individual's control.
results