The Port of Dover and participating ferry operators have collaborated to introduce a faster border processing pilot for school groups, reducing administrative burdens and streamlining procedures for educational trips abroad.
This innovative scheme has been designed to support the needs of schools embarking on educational visits, particularly those to France, where border controls can be challenging for group travel.
- Fast border processing:
• School groups will be able to send passenger information to participating ferry operators 72 hours prior to departure, allowing for pre-screening and reducing queue times at border control points. - Reduced administration:
• Ferry operators will send schools signage to print and display in their vehicles, reducing the need for paper documentation and administrative tasks. - Increased efficiency:
• The advance submission of passenger details will enable ferry operators to plan and manage resources more effectively, reducing delays and improving overall efficiency.
Participating ferry operators, P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries, have implemented this scheme, following a successful pilot phase with other operators.
Key highlights of the initiative include:
• Schools must submit documentation to participating ferry operators confirming their educational status, such as evidence of registration on national school databases. • Children who are visa nationals in the UK will benefit from visa-free travel when taking part in a school trip to France, bypassing the usual requirement for an EU visa.
The School Travel Forum and ABTA have welcomed the introduction of this pilot scheme, citing its potential to improve the educational travel experience and reduce administrative burdens for schools.
“‘This initiative demonstrates a real commitment to supporting educational travel and reducing administrative burdens for school groups,” said Gill Harvey, Chief Executive of School Travel Forum. “We have been working with Government authorities and our colleagues at the Port of Dover to devise a solution for school groups travelling from Dover to Calais. We will be monitoring how this pilot scheme works as successful implementation could hopefully pave the way to further improvements.”
The new process has been welcomed by industry stakeholders, who acknowledge the potential for improved efficiency and reduced delays.
| Reduced administrative burdens for schools | Increased efficiency for ferry operators | Improved experience for school groups |
In addition, the advance submission of passenger details will allow for pre-screening, reducing administration time and potentially reducing queue times at the border.
Ferry operators will send schools signage that they must print off and add the first seven letters of their school name and the number of passengers on each coach. Schools must place this clearly in the inside windscreen of the coach before arriving at Dover.
Please speak to your ferry operator for further detail on how to participate in this scheme.
This collaborative initiative marks a significant improvement in facilitating educational trips abroad and demonstrates a commitment to supporting educational travel.
Key Requirements
To qualify for this scheme, schools must submit documentation to participating ferry operators confirming their educational status, such as evidence of registration on national school databases.
- Documentation:
• Confirmation of educational status, such as evidence of registration on national school databases. • Advance submission of passenger details. - Signage:
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