About the Schools' Travel Bursary
APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING FOR THE 2024 – 2025 ACADEMIC YEAR ARE NOW CLOSED
The Travel Bursary Scheme for school visits to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens during the 2024 – 2025 academic year will reopen on Monday 16 September 2024 and close on Sunday 13 October 2024. The scheme will enable more schools than ever to enjoy an interactive and immersive school trip, without worrying about the cost of a coach.
Schools based in the UK and ROI will be offered up to £500/500 Euro to help with associated travel costs.
The scheme welcomes applications from state funded primary, secondary and SEND schools. Successful schools can apply for up to £500/500 Euro towards the cost of travel, for a maximum of 3 facilitated sessions. Session capacities vary, please see the individual session pages for more detail.
If you have any questions about the Travel Bursary Scheme, please check out our FAQs below or email hillsboroughlearning@hrp.org.uk.
Eligibility
To be eligible, schools must meet the following criteria:
- A state funded primary, secondary or special school based in the UK or RoI.
- Have at least 35% of pupils receiving Free School Meals.
- In the RoI schools which are part of DEIS will be given priority.
- Only one application per school will be accepted.
Additionally, priority will be given to schools that have at least 15% of pupils with special educational needs*.
For all eligible schools, funding will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, based upon the date the Travel Bursary Scheme application was received.
*these characteristics will not be considered in relation to special schools or units.
All schools receiving a travel bursary will be given the opportunity to attend a free Teacher Taster event at Hillsborough Castle, where you can, join our HRP Teacher Network, and participate in a sample session.
Terms and conditionsTravel bursary FAQs
The Travel Bursary Scheme offers state-funded schools based in the UK and ROI up to £500/500 Euro towards the cost of travelling to Hillsborough Castle & Gardens to take part in an onsite, facilitated school session. The scheme is open to primary, secondary and SEND schools that meet our eligibility criteria.
Applications are welcome from schools which meet the following criteria:
- State funded primary, secondary or SEND schools based in the UK and RoI.
- Schools which have at least 35% of pupils eligible to receive Free School Meals.*
- Additionally, priority will be given to schools that have at least 15% of pupils with special educational needs. *
- In the RoI schools which are part of DEIS scheme will be given priority.
*SEND schools will not have to evidence these criteria.
Applications will open on Monday 16 September 2024. The electronic application form will be available on our website. The fund is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, to eligible schools, so you are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Please ensure you provide an accurate quote for travel at the time of your application. Failure to provide this will result in a delay in processing your application and could therefore result in you not being awarded a bursary.
You can apply for a maximum travel bursary of £500/ 500 Euro. You may bring up to 3 classes, with a maximum of 32 pupils per class, if you are a primary school. For SEND and secondary schools, session capacities vary, please see our sessions page for more information. You may still book up to 3 facilitated sessions.
The Travel Bursary Scheme covers travel to Hillsborough Castle & Gardens only. For information on the Access Fund, which is applicable to Hampton Court Palace, The Tower of London, and Kensington Palace, please visit our website.
Unfortunately not. If your visit to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens is contingent upon successfully being awarded a Travel Bursary, please apply for a bursary first and await the outcome of your application before booking a session
If you are successful in your application, you will be sent a booking form to arrange your visit. Visits can take place on an available day of your choosing during term time, between December 2024 – 27 June 2025, subject to availability. Primary & SEND sessions run on Mondays*, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and secondary sessions run on Thursdays during term time. (*Mondays available until the end of December 2024 only.)
We will notify you on the outcome of your application by mid-November 2024. We will then send out booking forms and more instructions about the Travel Bursary Scheme and how to book your session then. Please do not submit a session booking form until you have received confirmation of your bursary and use the specific form we will then provide.
Along with your chosen facilitated sessions, for up to 96 pupils (session capacities vary), you will be awarded up to £500/ 500 Euro towards travel costs. The required number of accompanying adults to fulfil our ratio requirements will be admitted free of charge and additional adults will be charged at the standard adult rate. You will also receive a Teacher Planning Pass to enable you to undertake a pre-visit, and a place at one of our teacher taster sessions, if desired. More information can be found about our learning sessions on our website.
We welcome applications from a group/pair of schools working together under the Shared Learning Agenda, however, please note we can only accept one application per school.
Upon a successful application, your funding amount will be confirmed via email. The amount will be based upon the quote for travel costs which you included in your application. Included in the booking form will be a space for the relevant bank details needed for us to pay your travel bursary funds directly to your school 6 weeks prior to your visit date. Further details and terms and conditions will be confirmed upon a successful application.
Please email us directly at hillsboroughlearning@hrp.org.uk