Whether you’re in primary or secondary education, deciding where to go for an educational visit is an important business. After all, a good school trip will stay in a child’s mind for a long time, whereas a mediocre one will be chalked up to “a day off school” or “better than doing PE in the rain”.

There are many companies that organise school trips. Frequently, a flyer will arrive in your tray advertising an excursion to a far-flung destination, complete with glossy images showing smiling, excited children and teachers all engaged in some fantastic-looking learning experience.

But how do you choose the outing that is right for your children at this moment in their education? How do you avoid simply falling back on what the school does every year? How do you decide whether to pick an off-the-shelf trip or to plan something bespoke? And how do you ensure that the children have a valuable experience outside of school that is better than if they had stayed in the classroom?

Here are four key questions you should consider when making your decision.

1. What is the purpose of the trip?

School outings don’t always have to be about school work, they could simply be a reward for outstanding achievement or about broadening horizons - many students have never left their own town, let alone their county or country. Is the trip designed to bolster part of the curriculum? Your answer should play a big role in deciding where you go and what you do - the “why” should permeate every decision relating to the trip.

2. Is the cost going to be prohibitive?

Some schools offer trips as far afield as China, and while this may be a fantastic opportunity for those children who can afford to go, ask yourself if it is elitist. Is the trip you’re planning affordable for all? Is there sufficient time in place to allow for staged payments or are you prepared to use school funds (from whatever source) to supplement the costs for those who simply cannot otherwise afford to go?

3. Are the timings right?

Some activities/performances can only happen at certain times of the year and, with the school calendar being so full for staff and students, finding the right time for a trip can be difficult.

Many schools now offer longer residential overseas trips outside of term time to get round this problem. However, they then face the issue of requiring staff to give up their holiday time to go on a school “holiday”. Other logistical matters may arise, too, such as the availability of coach hire, risk assessment deadlines, passports and associated paperwork, and other events happening in the vicinity of where you’re planning to go.

4. Will it be beneficial for all?

With all the hard work and planning that goes into the trip, is it something on the calendar that you, the children and their parents will look forward to and that will benefit every child?

If you work your way through these four questions for every idea you have and find that it all adds up, you’ll know you are half-way there to making it happen. If it is tailored to a clear objective, is inclusive financially and can be slotted seamlessly into the school calendar while being backed by parents and students alike, how could the headteacher possibly say no?

Graham Walton is head of maths at Tupton Hall School in Chesterfield