Field Studies Council is an environmental education charity, with a proud 80-year history as a leading provider of fieldwork and outdoor learning in the UK. Our mission is to create outstanding opportunities for everyone to learn about and connect with the natural environment and be passionate about preserving its future. That’s why we make every effort to help disadvantaged young people access the benefits of environmental education.
Our Grants for Schools programme removes barriers to learning by providing subsidised visits to our residential and day field centres to those who need them most. By offering grants to schools in disadvantaged areas we broaden the horizons of children who may otherwise miss out.
A visit to one of our field centres is a chance to experience the mental and physical health benefits of getting outdoors, allowing young people to learn about nature and have fun doing it.
For children, their visit is a chance to grow, improving their confidence and problem-solving skills. They develop an interest and understanding of the natural world and for many it is their first experience of nature and first time away from home.
For teachers, a visit is an important tool in improving students’ learning outcomes and a welcome opportunity to put their teaching into action. Teachers also report a boost in their own confidence around field studies which leads to a culture of further exploring and enjoying natural sciences.
Field Studies Council Grants for Schools
We are delighted to be continuing our commitment to our flagship Grants for Schools programme in May 2025
Field Studies Council’s Grants for Schools programme provides financial support to students and schools to access outdoor education. This builds confidence, personal independence and teamwork; reduces stress and anxiety improving their mental health; connects them with nature and fosters a passion to care for the environment. It supports their curriculum-based learning and allows them to experience field work by providing bursaries to eligible schools.
Field Studies Partner Funding Programmes
Defra funded course opportunity
We are thrilled to be able to offer a number of fully funded two-night residentials and day courses for eligible schools. Funded by Defra, the courses focus on learning in England’s protected landscapes as part of their ongoing support of access to nature. Eligibility criteria:
- The school must have 30% or higher pupil premium, or be located in an IMD 1-3 area
(check your postcode). - The school must be in England.
- The course/s must take place before 31 March 2025.
If your school meets the criteria please find full details and apply here
*Update
All fully funded places have been allocated; however, we have a number of places for larger groups from eligible schools at a heavily discounted rate, please apply if you are interested
Great British School Trip bursaries now available!
Bursary applications for 2024/2025 are now open!
If you are looking for financial help with your school trip to one of our centres, we are a a registered Venue Partner and this bursary might be able to help.
Bursaries are available to all UK schools and allocated on a first come, first served basis. Priority is given to those who have more than 30% of their pupils receiving free school meals. We do not provide funding towards trips outside of the UK.
Funds can be used towards travel, entry costs or extras such as on-site workshops.
Discount for local schools
To support our education partnerships, we are pleased to offer schools a 20% discount on the student price for day courses in the following areas.
- London Borough of Lewisham for Beckenham Place Park
- City of Birmingham for Birmingham
For any day courses booked for dates before the end of December 2025. Please let us know your postcode when asking about a trip.
London Parks funded opportunities
Our partner The Royal Parks has received generous funding from the Royal Parks Foundation USA, enabling them to offer a limited number of bursaries for eligible London schools who would otherwise be unable to visit.
The Greenwich Park Revealed project offers subsidised school sessions thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Community Fund.
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) grants for teachers
The Society offers grants to support the development of teaching resources, projects that lead to innovation in teaching and learning, and to help get school students into the field. The deadlines for the grants run from November to February. Please see below and visit the RGS website for further details and to apply.
If you are interested in applying for one of these RGS grants for teachers and have any questions or just want to find out more, please contact [email protected].
Browse the collection of resources created by previously funded projects
Ray Y. Gildea Jr Award – deadline 30 November 2024
The Ray Y Gildea Jr Award supports innovation in teaching and learning in higher and secondary education. Grants of up to £1,000 are awarded annually.
Innovative Geography Teaching Grants – deadline 15 February 2025
The Innovative Geography Teaching Grants provide up to £1000 for geography teachers at secondary level for the development of imaginative and creative educational resources, with a university collaborator.
Frederick Soddy Schools Award – deadline 3 February 2025
The Frederick Soddy Schools Award encourages field studies in schools by providing financial support for primary and secondary school fieldwork.
The Wildflower Society
The Wild Flower Society (WFS) has generously donated a number of bursaries to encourage a wider understanding of wild flower identification among younger people. Anyone aged 18 to 30, who wishes to attend courses principally concerned with species identification in one of the following categories:
- Ferns
- Flowering Plants
- Grasses, Sedges and Rushes
- Trees
is eligible to apply for these grants. Please fill out the application form and send it to [email protected] For further details or if you have any questions please call 01743 852100.
For details about joining the WFS, the UK’s society for everyone who enjoys learning about British wildflowers. Tel 01223 830665 or visit The Wildflower Society website
What else does Field Studies Council offer?
We believe in the benefits of environment education which can be accessed through our wide ranging courses and experiences, and wildlife guides.
