Council for Learning Outside the Classroom
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) is a UK national charity operating the LOtC Quality Badge for providers and the LOtC Mark for schools, alongside memberships, CPD and an annual conference serving UK educators and LOtC providers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersShrewsbury, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Council for Learning Outside the Classroom does
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) is a UK-registered charity (No. 1127802) and company limited by guarantee (No. 6778701), founded in 2009 and headquartered in Shrewsbury, operating nationally across England and Wales with a small team (1–10 employees). Its mission is to champion all learning that happens beyond the classroom (LOtC), supporting educators, schools and organisations that deliver life-changing learning experiences to children and young people.
CLOtC's product portfolio centres on two quality assurance schemes and an associated membership ecosystem. The LOtC Quality Badge is the only national award assessing both risk management and educational provision quality across LOtC providers (museums, heritage sites, adventure centres, field study centres, zoos, theme parks, theatres), and it carries endorsement from the Department for Education and the Welsh Government. The LOtC Mark (with a self-service Direct pathway and a supported Mentoring pathway) recognises schools' commitment to LOtC, valid for two years. These sit on top of a web-based platform comprising a member portal, online CPD resources, a progress tracker for the LOtC Mark and event management capabilities. Adjacent offerings include virtual CPD sessions, an annual National Conference (next: 12 November 2026 at RHS Garden Wisley), a funding/grants database, an evidence and research library, and time-bound project initiatives such as ALPINE (Sport England / Canal & River Trust, 2025–2026) and Waterways, Wildlife & Wellbeing (Green Recovery Challenge Fund, 2021–2023).
The business model combines subscription school memberships at £120/year (with a £75 sponsored tier via Hyundai's Great British School Trip), one-time LOtC Quality Badge application fees from providers, conference and CPD ticket sales (e.g., £160 per National Conference ticket), grants from charitable foundations (Alpkit, Arts Council Wales, Jack Petchey) and corporate sponsorships (Canal & River Trust, PGL Beyond, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, EVOLVE Advice, Sport England, People's Postcode Lottery). Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, reaching schools and providers via direct engagement, an online provider directory, an annual flagship conference, recurring virtual CPD events and partner-sponsored distribution channels.
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Council for Learning Outside the Classroom
- Legal name
- Council for Learning Outside the Classroom
- Website
- https://www.lotc.org.uk/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) is a UK national charity operating the LOtC Quality Badge for providers and the LOtC Mark for schools, alongside memberships, CPD and an annual conference serving UK educators and LOtC providers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shrewsbury
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- School Membership: Annual membership fees for schools and educational settings providing access to resources, CPD, discounts, and support for developing LOtC
- LOtC Quality Badge Applications: Quality certification fees from providers seeking the national quality badge endorsement
- Conference and Event Tickets: Revenue from CLOtC National Conference tickets (£160) and virtual CPD session attendance
- Sponsorships and Grants: Funding from sponsors including Canal & River Trust, PGL Beyond, Warner Bros., Sport England, and various charitable foundations
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard School Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Sponsored School Membership via Hyundai Great British School Trip |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | CLOtC National Conference 2026 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CLOtC operates the LOtC Quality Badge, a national quality assurance scheme endorsed by the Department for Education that assesses both risk management and educational provision across learning outside the classroom (LOtC) providers such as museums, heritage sites, adventure centres, and field study centres. It also awards the LOtC Mark to schools that demonstrate commitment to LOtC, and runs an annual membership programme, online CPD sessions, and the annual CLOtC National Conference for educators and providers.
Product overview
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) is a national charity that champions learning beyond the classroom. Its core offerings consist of quality assurance schemes (LOtC Quality Badge for providers and LOtC Mark for schools), membership programmes, and professional development services. The LOtC Quality Badge assesses risk management and educational provision quality across all types of LOtC providers, while the LOtC Mark recognises schools' commitment to LOtC through two pathways: LOtC Mark Direct (self-service) and LOtC Mentoring (supported). CLOtC also delivers online CPD sessions, an annual national conference, and manages project initiatives like ALPINE and Waterways, Wildlife & Wellbeing. Resources include free activity ideas, recorded CPD, a funding database, and evidence research publications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LOtC Quality Badge A national quality assurance certification awarded to LOtC providers (museums, heritage sites, city farms, theme parks, zoos, field study centres, adventure centres) that recognises both effective risk management and quality educational provision. Endorsed by the Department for Education and Welsh Government, it reduces school visit paperwork and is recommended by the OEAP when schools book providers.
- LOtC Mark A 2-year accreditation for schools and educational settings that recognises their commitment to and achievement in learning outside the classroom. Awarded following an online interview, with pathways including a self-service progress tracker (LOtC Mark Direct) and supported mentoring.
- LOtC Mentoring One-to-one online mentoring support for schools to build staff knowledge and confidence in developing learning beyond the classroom, including access to Learning Beyond guides and resources, supporting schools on their LOtC Mark pathway.
- CLOtC Membership An annual subscription membership for UK schools and educational settings priced at £120/year (£75/year via sponsored partners) that provides access to training, information, discounts, resources, and a supportive community to help take teaching beyond the classroom.
- Online CPD Sessions Live and recorded virtual professional development sessions providing inspiration, information, guidance, and activity ideas for taking learning beyond the classroom, offered with free and paid ticket options and accessible to members on demand.
- CLOtC National Conference The annual flagship conference dedicated to learning outside the classroom, bringing together teachers, headteachers, sector leaders, and providers for keynote speeches, workshops, discussions, and networking. Held at RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey, with tickets priced at £160.
Quantifiable outcome
- 45,000 children engaged through Generation Wild nature connection programme
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Council for Learning Outside the Classroom
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Canal & River TrustcoreLead conference sponsor 2025. Partners on ALPINE project (2025-2026) working with 10 Greater Manchester schools. Previous Waterways, Wildlife and Wellbeing project (2021-2023) funded by Green Recovery Challenge Fund. Joint 'Explorers' education programme for children aged 5-11.
- PGL BeyondcoreLead sponsor of CLOtC National Conference 2025. Network includes PGL, NST, European Study Tours, and StudyLink Tours united in mission to spark breakthroughs in young people through transformational experiences beyond the classroom.
- EVOLVE AdviceminorSponsored 20 free school CLOtC memberships. Educational Visits Specialists supporting schools in reducing bureaucracy and increasing LOtC opportunities. Provides advice, guidance, and online systems to schools.
- Diverse School TravelminorPartner offering every school that books with them free CLOtC Membership, LOtC Mark and Mentoring to support educational experiences beyond the classroom.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry PotterminorSponsored 50 free school CLOtC memberships. Provides cross-curricular education programme meeting national curriculum objectives at the Warner Bros. studio tour venue.
- Hyundai's Great British School TripminorSponsored school membership at £75 (discounted from £120) for schools registering with The Great British School Trip programme.
- HelpFilmminorCharitable media production company that supported creation of 'Learning Beyond the Classroom' short film, with filming, editing and production by Andrew Rutter.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Outdoor Education Advisers Panel (OEAP): UK national advisory body for outdoor education and learning outside the classroom. OEAP directly recommends CLOtC's LOtC Quality Badge and provides overlapping guidance on school visit approval and risk management, making it the most comparable sector authority.
- British Activity Providers Association (BAPA): UK trade association representing providers of outdoor and adventure activities for schools. BAPA accredits activity providers with a similar risk-management focus, competing with CLOtC for provider-side accreditation mindshare in the school LOtC sector.
- EVOLVE Advice: UK educational visits advice service and online platform used by schools to manage visit approvals. EVOLVE is a CLOtC partner but also an adjacent system that schools use alongside or instead of CLOtC accreditation.
Emerging players
- Field Studies Council: UK environmental education charity operating field study centres that deliver LOtC programmes. Likely a Quality Badge holder, the Field Studies Council is a peer sector specialist with overlapping mission and school-facing delivery model.
- Farms for City Children: UK charity providing residential farm experiences for urban children, listed as a CLOtC partner. A niche but comparable sector specialist delivering school-facing LOtC programmes with similar mission and beneficiary base.
Broad incumbents
- PGL Travel: UK's largest provider of school activity and adventure centres, and a CLOtC lead conference sponsor. PGL is a major LOtC provider in the same school market with national reach and overlapping beneficiary base.
- National Trust for England and Wales: Major UK heritage and conservation charity operating schools-facing educational programmes at historic sites. Likely a Quality Badge holder; serves overlapping school audiences and is a comparable large UK education-engagement charity.
- RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds): Large UK nature charity delivering school-engagement programmes across reserves. Operates in the same outdoor learning space as CLOtC's provider network with comparable educational outreach scale and grant-funded model.
- Youth Hostel Association (YHA): UK charity providing residential LOtC opportunities for schools. Operates a national network of centres delivering outdoor learning experiences, overlapping with CLOtC's provider ecosystem and school membership base.
Others
- Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA): Northern Ireland curriculum and assessment body — comparable in being an education-sector standards body, though operating in a different jurisdiction and function. Highlights CLOtC's England/Wales geographic constraint relative to UK-wide peers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom social profiles
Digital presenceCouncil for Learning Outside the Classroom financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Council for Learning Outside the Classroom
What does Council for Learning Outside the Classroom do?
CLOtC operates the LOtC Quality Badge, a national quality assurance scheme endorsed by the Department for Education that assesses both risk management and educational provision across learning outside the classroom (LOtC) providers such as museums, heritage sites, adventure centres, and field study centres. It also awards the LOtC Mark to schools that demonstrate commitment to LOtC, and runs an annual membership programme, online CPD sessions, and the annual CLOtC National Conference for educators and providers.
Is Council for Learning Outside the Classroom a public or private company?
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Council for Learning Outside the Classroom founded?
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Council for Learning Outside the Classroom based?
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is headquartered in Shrewsbury, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Council for Learning Outside the Classroom make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. School Membership is the primary driver. The others are LOtC Quality Badge Applications, conference and Event Tickets and sponsorships and Grants.
Who are Council for Learning Outside the Classroom's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Outdoor Education Advisers Panel (OEAP), British Activity Providers Association (BAPA) and EVOLVE Advice. Emerging players are Field Studies Council and Farms for City Children. Broad incumbents are PGL Travel, National Trust for England and Wales, RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and Youth Hostel Association (YHA). Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) is listed as an others.
Does Council for Learning Outside the Classroom have an API?
No public API is recorded for Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.