FAQs for party leaders

We are supported by local authorities throughout the country, and every year thousands of schools entrust PGL with the organisation and coordination of their curriculum-based adventure or adventure study courses.

The Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel (OEAP), which represents all advisers for school trips across every local authority area in England and Wales, and an increasing number of academy trusts, has stated that all authorities with OEAP membership recognise the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge accreditation.

All of our adventure centres have been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.

The Adventure Activity Licensing Regulations 1996 have no legal jurisdiction overseas, but we have adopted any relevant safety principles in the operation of our French centres, which we also subject to inspection by the British Activity Providers Association and the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.

Our safety management systems are in accordance with the National Guidance provided by the Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel.

Each of our exciting activities or sessions, including adventure, Discover More, Maths and Field Studies, is linked to your curriculum and the QCA Schemes of Work through our Learnlink™ resource. Each Learnlink™ unit of study provides you with more detailed information about the particular unit, its aims, vocabulary, links to the curriculum and QCA Schemes of Work, and expectations upon completion of the unit.

For more information visit the Learnlink™ area of our website or call us on 0333 321 2116

Travel is not included in the basic cost of your chosen course, however, we can provide a quotation, and many groups choose to arrange their travel through us.

For groups travelling to the Isle of Wight, we can arrange for the group to take coaches, cars and mini buses across on the ferry if necessary, subject to availability.

We are a member of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) which means you benefit from ABTA's assistance and Code of Conduct. Some of the travel products and services we sell are protected in case of the financial failure of the travel company. We are also ATOL holders for any booking made with PGL Air Travel Ltd. Please ask us about the protection that applies to your booking.

As a company we are unable to accept childcare vouchers as payment for our school travel programme as we are not 'in loco parentis'; however as a school you may be able to accept them as payment. To find out if you can please contact your Local Authority.

PGL head office staff will assist you with your booking. At our head office in Ross-on-Wye our team is responsible for the smooth running and coordination of your course booking. From initial enquiry and planning through to completion, they will be on hand to give advice and support every step of the way.

For more information about how we support you throughout the entire process, please visit Support for Party Leaders.

Once you have made your no-obligation provisional booking you will be able to log in to MyPGL, our online resource for party leaders. This gives you access to a whole range of information including:

PGL Code of Practice - containing detailed information regarding health and safety and risk assessment systems and procedures. Specific risk assessments for each centre are also available and will save you a lot of precious time.

PGL publicity material - to help you advertise and promote your trip:

• Posters to advertise your course in school.
• Sample letters for parents.
• PowerPoint presentations for a parents evening.
• A link to our Parent Guide.
• Virtual tours of some centres.
• Video content for some courses, giving students and parents an insight into the excitement and adventure of a PGL course.

In addition to the various early booking discounts, we also offer FREE places for Party Leaders and accompanying school staff, and concessionary places for their families.

When you make a provisional booking we will send you an email containing a link - when you click on this link and register you can then access details of your booking at your convenience.

If you haven't received an email from us but would like to view your booking details online, call your reservations advisor/tour organiser and they will get the link sent to you.

Log into MyPGL >

The procedures are documented in documents called Normal Operating Procedures (NOPs), which are supported by Approved Codes of Practice. NOPs describe hazards, risks and control measures and the ACOPs provide further detail for Instructors and Managers.

Each instructor is trained and assessed in the fulfilment of these to the required level. We clearly define the competencies required of staff undertaking different levels of responsibility within the programme. The operating procedures conform to NGB guidelines where these are relevant to the safe conduct of the activity at the level being undertaken.

 Lifejackets or buoyancy aids are always worn for watersports, except for bodyboarding, surfing and snorkelling sessions, where if participants are able to swim 50 metres or more, they are not required to wear them. For all water-based activities participants must be water-confident in a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. Water-confident is defined as:

• ability to duck head underwater
• confidently swim 15 metres in a lifejacket or buoyancy aid without signs of panic

Party Leaders are advised to check that the PGL Policy conforms to their Local Authority Guidelines. Alternative activities are available for non-water-confident participants at most centres.

On PGL centres, all participants are accompanied by, or have access to, at least one person with a current nationally recognised First Aid qualification. Each of our centres has a supervised sickbay and/or medical/first aid facility. We have established good relationships with local doctors, dentists and hospitals in proximity to all our centres. Our staff are aware of procedures to be followed in dealing with an accident or emergency, but they will liaise closely with you to ensure that we comply with your wishes. Records are kept of any accidents or incidents.

Our fully stocked on-site shops are the perfect places for your group to pick up a few treats during your trip.

All school groups will have the opportunity to visit our on-site shop once during their stay, with the visit proving a fantastic chance for pupils to strengthen communication skills, work on their mental maths, and grow in independence as they take responsibility for purchasing their own treats!

We’ve been working hard to bring you a new range of exciting products, clothing, healthier snacks and fun PGL souvenirs that we just know your group will love! Why not take a look at our PGL gift shop price list below, to get an understanding of how much pocket money you may wish to recommend to parents ahead of your trip? You can be sure there's a treat in store for every taste and budget!

PGL gift shop price list >

See here for booking terms and conditions >

It is very difficult, once a group has left centre, to match up lost property items. With this in mind please encourage guests to mark all property with their name.

Please contact the centre on your return if items have been left behind - centre contact details will be provided in your Final Information. If we are successful in locating the items they will be returned but postage will be charged to the group.

All specialist equipment is supplied by PGL and is appropriate for the size of the participating students. All equipment meets BS or CEN standards. Equipment used in our programmes is carefully selected by experts in our Purchasing Department in consultation with our technical advisors. Equipment is tested regularly and maintenance reports are closely scrutinised to ensure that high standards are consistently maintained. Any suppliers of activities not run by PGL are contracted to provide equipment that meets CEN standards or the local relevant standard. Checks are carried out regularly by PGL to inspect suppliers’ equipment.

This is the responsibility of a dedicated team at our UK Head Office. Our Recruitment Officers bring a wealth of experience between them including working in roles at PGL centres and as HR professionals. This extensive knowledge ensures they are ideally equipped to select the best possible staff for jobs with PGL.

The recruitment process is as follows:

1. A detailed application form is received and vetted by a trained Recruitment Officer.
2. The employee’s reference is verified.
3. Original qualification certificates and the applicant’s identity are verified.
4. Applicants will be asked to disclose if they have ever been disqualified under the 2006 act and 2009 regulations.
5. The Disclosure and Barring Service* (DBS) ‘Barred List’ is checked and an ‘Enhanced’ check is applied for.
6. New applicants for Instructional and Group Leading roles are required to pass a 6-day residential selection and training course.
7. Employment commences. If the enhanced DBS check results have not been received by this time, a safeguarding assessment is undertaken and employees are restricted to supervised duties only.
8. Employees undergo a compulsory probationary period lasting a minimum of 4 weeks.
9. Their contract is confirmed upon receipt of the satisfactory DBS check and successfully passing the probationary period.
10. Ongoing support, development training and monitoring is undertaken by Senior Staff.

*Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme in Scotland

It is not possible to check applicants from overseas via the DBS so we require an Overseas Police check from their home nation. Over 50% of staff return each year. For those eligible, we undertake a new Barred List check annually.

Yes. In many areas it is possible for schools to pay their final account through the LA. It is important, however, that you contact your LA right at the beginning of the booking procedure to confirm that they will accept this method of payment.

Please note that meals en route to and from the centre are not included in the cost of your trip cost unless stated.

For trips to France - the self-service and fast food style restaurants on the cross-channel ferries offer good value for money and meal vouchers can be purchased in advance via PGL. Please speak to your Tour Organiser for more details. Euros will be required for stops abroad. For air groups, please note that many airlines do not provide on-board refreshments.

Accommodation will be allocated on the basis of the party composition provided by the Party Leader. Our groups are accommodated in single and bunk beds in multi-bedded rooms.

Adults of the same sex will be placed in twin or triple rooms. Single accommodation is limited and may be subject to a supplementary charge. Single rooms are only provided free of charge when this is necessary due to the composition of the party. Adults outside of the free place ratio may be accommodated in rooms with bunk beds.

Party Leaders travelling with members of their family should be prepared to share family accommodation and should provide their own travel cots if required.

Certain activities at PGL do have weight and size restrictions to ensure our guests are safe at all times. Our instructors are specially trained to make sure that that harnesses and safety equipment fit correctly. Below is a rough guide to our weight restrictions:

• Abseiling – 150kg
• All Aboard - 150kg
• Cat Walk - 150kg
• Climbing - 140kg
• Crate Challenge - 150kg
• Giant Swing - 150kg
• High Ropes Course - 150kg
• Jacob's Ladder - 150kg
• Quick Jump - 130kg
• Trapeze - 150kg
• Tree Climb - 150kg
• Vertical Challenge - 150kg
• Zip Wire - 90-120kg (varies by location)

Please note: Occasionally changes are made to our activity bases which mean that weight limits can vary. If you have any concerns in relation to weight limits and would like to check our most recent information on a centre-specific basis then please contact our team on 0333 321 2116

Wifi is only available in the communal areas of many of our centres and due to their locations, connection speed and availability may be challenging. We are investing in our wifi as a priority during 2024, so that we can provide faster connections, plus greater reliability and coverage at all of our centres in the near future. Please contact us for specific information relating to your chosen centre.