We are delighted to continue our commitment to our flagship Grants for Schools programme opening for applications in May.
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.
- Grants of up to £225 per student to experience a 3-day, 2-night residential
- Grants of up to £35 per student to experience a day of fieldwork
- Discretionary grants of up to £500 for school to support with transport costs
Please visit our courses and experiences page, to see what trips are available to primary and secondary schools.
Qualifying criteria
We offer grants to help more people from diverse communities take part, particularly those who face challenges in accessing courses. This funding is available to both schools and home education groups. Due to limited resources, grants are awarded to schools that most closely align with our criteria:
The amount of support given to schools will be based on the school’s pupil premium % (PP) and/or their Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).
| Group type | Eligibility | Funding Support |
| Schools | If PP% is 50% or greater or school postcode is in IMD 1–3 | 100% of trip funded |
| Schools | If PP% is less than 50% | % of trip funded = PP % |
| Home Educated Groups | % of participants with postcodes in IMD 1–3 | % of trip funded = % in IMD 1–3 |
Note: – English schools and home educated groups will have their decisions based on IMD index and/or pupil premium %.
– Welsh schools will be based on their pupil development grants.
– Scottish schools will be based on their IMD index.
– Field Studies Council will review all the applications and our decisions are final.
Application process
- For English schools you can check your IMD index here and pupil premium here.
- Welsh schools pupil development grants are here
- Scottish schools IMD index are here
- We are open for applications from Monday 19th May 2025 and will close end of day Sunday 25th May 2025
The smallprint
- Schools can apply for one grant for each planned trip.
- Grants cannot be used against existing bookings if any payment has been made. You may apply for future bookings.
- We cannot assess applications received outside the application period, or if information is not fully completed in the application.
- We reserve the right to close applications early if demand exceeds the available grants.
- We will offer grants to schools who receive the highest assessments from the information they provide and based on available funding. Our decision is final and there is no appeals process.
- We don’t offer grants to cover the full cost of travel to the Field Studies Council centre or in-course transport, although we may make a discretionary grant of up to £500 to help fund travel.
- All grants are subject to availability at our centres and the dates offered may be restricted to certain times of the year or locations.
- Our normal booking terms & conditions apply to bookings made with a grant. Please be aware that deposit payments are not refundable.