Some of the most powerful learning experiences don’t happen at a desk. They happen at the edge of a rock pool, in the quiet of an art gallery, or in the middle of a city street.
We’re a national charity that exists to ensure that learning beyond the classroom is valued, supported and available to every child — not just the lucky few.
Learning beyond the classroom includes experiences near and far, inside and out, within and beyond the school day – from visiting local parks and farms to adventurous residentials; from day visits to theatres and museums to taking part in international study and sports tours; from bringing visitors back into school to taking virtual tours around cutting-edge industries.
Learning beyond the classroom opens a world of possibilities.
The Evidence is Clear
We’ve long known that children learn in different ways. What the research now tells us is that learning outside the classroom doesn’t just complement a good education — it actively enhances it.
Children and young people who regularly learn beyond the classroom show improvements in academic attainment, motivation and engagement. They develop stronger social skills, greater emotional resilience and a more positive sense of identity. Their physical and mental wellbeing benefits too. And for those who are disengaged or have additional needs, real-world learning can be genuinely transformative.
These aren’t marginal gains. For many young people, experiences beyond the classroom are among the most significant of their school years — the ones they remember, and the ones that shape who they become.
What We Believe
Experience changes people. It builds curiosity, resilience and confidence that stays with a child long after the visit has ended, or the project is complete. We believe that learning beyond the classroom isn’t an add-on to education — it’s central to it.
That’s why we work across every age group, every setting and every sector, from early years to further education, from forest schools to science museums, from inner-city playgrounds to remote countryside.
What We Do
We work alongside schools, educators and learning providers to raise the quality, reach and recognition of learning outside the classroom.
That means offering professional development and support for educators who want to do more beyond the classroom. It means running the LOtC Quality Badge — a trusted assurance scheme that helps schools identify providers who meet the highest standards. And it means making the case at every level, from the staffroom to government, for why this kind of learning matters.
Our Mission, Vision and Values
Vision: Learning everywhere, for everyone — empowering through experience.
Mission: Driving high-quality, safe and engaging learning beyond the classroom.
Values: Community · Collaboration · Creativity · Courageousness · Credibility
