Quality Badges awarded to 65 activity providers

The Quality Badge scheme is part of the government's £4.5m Out and About package, which helps teachers plan out-of-school activities.

The scheme aims to cut red tape by assuring teachers that venues have met the required standard, so they will not need to carry out their own risk or quality assessments.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls said: "Quality Badges offer teachers a guarantee that not only is a venue providing the sort of educational value that they can build on in class long after the visit, but they also have the appropriate risk management structures in place."

He added: "It is a significant victory in our battle to move away from the misguided perception that learning outside the classroom is a potential minefield for teachers. I am determined that no child should miss out on these vital experiences because of unnecessary red tape or because of a cotton wool culture that discourages all kinds of risk."