News
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1627409?UserKey=
Centre owner fears for future of school trips
Concerns that ‘disabled access’ row may have knock-on effect for others
By jane candlish
Published: 02/03/2010
The owner of a Highland outdoor centre fears that a row over disabled access could have knock-on effects for future school trips.
Pupils from Crown Primary School in Inverness were to have visited Craggan Outdoors near Grantown later this year as part of a residential trip.
But it was cancelled after one mother, Donna Williamson, protested that her severely disabled daughter would not be able to attend.
Highland Council has now organised a new trip to Badaguish Outdoor Centre, near Aviemore, but Mrs Williamson, of Aultnaskiach Avenue, claims her daughter is still unable to participate, and has taken her out of the school.
Craggan Outdoors managing director Keith Ballam said he worked closely with the council to produce a programme for the original trip which would allow the disabled girl to take part, including arts, drama and film options for the children.
Mr Ballam added: “Putting aside my own frustration at how this situation has panned out, there is a much bigger question here. If every element of an outdoor activity trip – enjoyed by thousands of schoolchildren around the UK annually and increasingly seen as a critical element of the education system – is required to be 100% accessible to 100% of participants, as opposed to reasonable adjustments being made, as is required by the Disability Discrimination Act, what is the future for true outdoor activity experiences for school groups?
“At Craggan Outdoors we hope that commonsense and reasonable behaviour can prevail, that no other situations like this will occur in the future, and that all schools and all activity centres can continue with business as usual, subject, of course, to everything being in line with the spirit of the disability act.”
Mr Ballam said that Badaguish offered similar activities to Craggan and he was “unsure” how the trip would differ from what he had proposed. He said that his centre had worked with disabled customers before and an independent audit had ruled they offered “reasonable” access for disabled users.
He added that the girl’s wheelchair was highly advanced and sensitive and could only be used on smooth man-made surfaces.
A council spokesman said: “Schools have an open choice where they go for outdoor experiences
“The council facility at Badaguish is good value for money for schools and the council is promoting its use to all head teachers.
“Each potential trip is assessed on its merits and challenges and the expectation is that, as far as is practically possible, the school and the provider will make the necessary adjustments for individual needs as required.”
Read more: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1627409?UserKey=#ixzz0h2GEYXe2
See the full article at the Guardian online:
www.guardian.co.uk/schooltrips/learning-outside
Europe is looking to the UK for advice on developing educational activities away from the classroom, but we can still improve what we provide
- Debbie Andalo
- guardian.co.uk
In working order: pupils at Sandhill View school in Sunderland learn the basics in car maintenance. Photograph: Mark Pinder
The UK is emerging as the European leader in developing learning outside the classroom. Education experts from nine different countries, funded by the EU, gathered in the Lake District in November to see what they could learn about how to enrich children's education by taking them outdoors.
The event was the first of its kind to be held in the UK and shows how Europe is looking across the Channel to help shape outside learning. It was organised by Geoff Cooper, who runs the Wigan council outdoor education centre at Low Bank and has more than 30 years' experience in outdoor education. "I think the UK is leading the way compared to other countries in Europe that don't have the same wealth and richness of opportunities as we do here," says Cooper. "Our whole system of outdoor education centres – something like 100 in Britain – is linked to the curriculum in schools and, compared to other parts of Europe, this is quite unusual."
Another indicator of how outside learning is becoming embedded in education is the number of organisations and venues accredited under the government's Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) quality badge scheme, launched a year ago. More than 500 different companies and venues – from nuclear power stations to the offices of the Guardian newspaper – have been awarded a quality badge under the scheme in recognition of being able to offer a high-quality educational visit within a safe environment.
School trip organisations, however, express disappointment that the scheme is still not widely known in schools. Ian Pearson, development officer for the School Travel Forum, which represents 21 educational tour operators, and who is also a member of the LOtC committee and its advisory group, says: "The quality badge is there but it isn't fully recognised through education – that is the task for today, the task for yesterday was to get it established."
The intention is that the LOtC database of badge holders will become the first port of call for teachers looking to organise a school trip – but that has yet to happen, says Martin Hudson from the British Activity Holiday Association (Baha) which represents 200 activity centres. "Schools don't seem aware of the benefits that the scheme can bring them. The whole thing needs to raise its profile."
One school that has embraced LOtC is Sandhill View school in Sunderland. Last year, the 972-pupil institution beat off competition from 120 other schools to win the 2009 LOtC award for excellence and innovation. Joan Nix, school curriculum area manger, says: "I think it is important that our children get as many different experiences as possible. Learning outside the classroom gives them an extra dimension and engages them academically. It's also good for their social learning as well."
Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers and a member of the LOtC's board of trustees, shares the same view: "Taking children out into wilderness experiences and showing them what the world is like is very much about real, deep education." But he is concerned that school trips will be marginalised as schools focus increasingly on attainment and targets. "The environment needs to change and that needs to be led by teachers and schools because they need to move away from that focus of 'bean counting'."
Effect of the downturn
Another factor influencing the availability of school trips has been the downturn in the economy. The market has held up better than the general tourism market in the past 12 months, according to school trip organisations, with more interest coming from primary schools than secondary schools.
"Primary school is where the UK market is and that's where it's growing," says Hudson from Baha.
Schools are increasingly looking to add an "adventure element" to a trip according to Pearson who says: "There is a hybrid emerging between what you might think of as a traditional school trip and an expedition. For example, a trip to Morocco might now include gorge walking and camel rides along with studying the indigenous population."
Schools are also looking for trips that cover more than one subject. Pearson says: "It's no longer just about doing a 'foreign language' trip or a 'geography trip' – it's become cross-curricula."
As pressure on the public purse strings mounts in the next 12 months what will this mean for school trips? Pearson is confident that they will still thrive: "It's never really been about the money, although schools do increasingly look for value for money."
Brookes is equally optimistic that they will survive. "It may be tougher in a period of austerity and it's about wherever possible you can find some additional funds, but you must realise that headteachers are extremely entrepreneurial."
And as Nix from Sandhill View says, "learning outside the classroom isn't always about the big things "like taking a group of year 10s to Washington", it can also be about getting pupils out of classroom into the school grounds and using the environment on your doorstep.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8525604.stm
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Trip row girl taken out of school
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Mrs Williamson's daughter suggested a trip to a red-carpet film premiere
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A mother has withdrawn her disabled child from her primary in Inverness because she said the school's trips left her child feeling excluded.
Donna Williamson, whose daughter uses a wheelchair, previously warned she would take legal action over Crown Primary's planned trip to an outdoor centre.
Highland Council said last week an alternative excursion was fully compliant with disability legislation.
But Mrs Williamson said this trip also excluded her daughter from activities.
The local authority said it had hoped the alternative trip to take place in May at the council-owned Badaguish Outdoor Centre near Aviemore would have resolved the matter.
'Film premiere'
Education chiefs abandoned the residential visit to Craggan outdoor centre in the Cairngorms because they said it was in danger of breaching the Disability Discrimination Act by failing to consider the needs of a severely disabled child.
But Mrs Williamson said her daughter, who has a degenerative illness, would still be unable to take part in the activities and had now taken her child out of the school.
In a statement, she said: "Asking a disability sports specialist to ensure participation for all does not make a trip inclusive when all cannot participate.
"My child would have loved the opportunity to go orienteering etc, but is medically unable to."
She added: "My daughter had put forward several viable alternative options such as a red-carpet film premiere, with pre-film makeovers and a post-film VIP marquee party. Everyone could have participated in and contributed to this.
"We sincerely wish the P7 children a fantastic time on their trip."
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Legal warning school trip changed
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The school trip was in danger of breaching disability legislation
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An education authority which cancelled a school trip because it would not have catered for a disabled child has announced plans for an alternative.
Highland Council abandoned a trip to Craggan in the Cairngorms for about 70 children at Crown Primary in Inverness in an effort to avoid legal action.
A pupil's mother said her daughter, who uses a wheelchair, would be unable to take part in the activities.
A trip is now planned which is fully compliant with disability legislation.
Highland Council's education chiefs had said the trip to Craggan was in danger of breaching the Disability Discrimination Act by failing to consider the needs of a severely disabled child.
In a letter to parents, the Inverness school has now confirmed that the trip will take place in May at the council-owned Badaguish Outdoor Centre near Aviemore.
Meanwhile, the mother of the child at the centre of the dispute said she was still to be informed of the decision by Education Director Hugh Fraser.
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Pupils miss trips after arsonists torch minibus
Feb 9 2010 by Jonathan Evans, South Wales Echo
The 15-seater bus, which was donated by a charity group, was set alight outside Millbank Primary School, Ely, Cardiff, on Saturday night.
Police are now searching for suspects but the school fears it will be unable to replace the bus, leaving no transport for pupils.
Headteacher Gail Allen said: “We will probably try to get insurance but because it’s an old bus I doubt we’ll even get enough money to buy a second-hand bus.
“It’s just totally burnt out. The fire brigade were here quite quickly but the bus was completely beyond repair and that will have a huge knock-on effect.
“We use it for all of our sporting events; the football and netball teams use it regularly.
“We also had a trip to Techniquest arranged for yesterday but had to arrange a separate bus which added extra expense for us.
“A lot of other local schools borrow it as well so they will also lose out.
“We are going to have to think twice about some of our trips we have planned because of the cost of it all.
“The children are very upset, a few of them have been writing letters saying how sad they are.”
The M-registration minibus was burnt out at around 9pm on Saturday while parked outside the school.
It had been donated by the Sunshine Coaches children’s charity a few years ago with customers and staff at Boots also helping with the fundraising.
But Miss Allen believes it will now be very difficult to replace.
She added: “We’ve had mums coming in talking about doing fundraising events to try to get a new bus.
“They’ve been very supportive and one even said she will shave her hair off.
“But we are a very small school with only 115 pupils so it’s hard to raise the sort of money we would need.
“It would probably cost around £30,000 for a new bus so even to raise half of that would be difficult. We are just now trying to work out how we will cover all our trips that have already been arranged.”
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police confirmed they were treating the fire as arson, and that officers were carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area.
A spokeswoman for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received the call at 9.08pm on Saturday and crews were sent to the school from Whitchurch and Cardiff Central.
“One foam jet, breathing equipment and two hose reels were used and the fire was out by 9.32pm. We believe it was deliberate ignition.”
Anyone with any information about the fire should contact Ely Police Station or call 101.
Lichfield pupils learn all about democracy at county council event
Pupils from a Lichfield primary school have been deciding how they would spend thousands of pounds of public money.
Cllr Matthew Ellis with pupils from Manor Primary School
Manor Primary School attended a Local Democracy session in the Staffordshire County Council chamber with their local councillor Matthew Ellis.
Twenty five children decided in groups how they would spend a budget of £100,000 of taxpayers’ money across all public services. Each group then had to explain their decision to classmates. And they had the added pressure of being under the spotlight of a film crew for the county council’s SCCTV section of its website.
The session gave them an insight into how politicians have to make difficult decisions when it comes to setting the annual budget.
Cllr Ellis said the Local Democracy sessions have been designed to bring the citizenship curriculum to life. He explained:
“Our Local Democracy sessions are important as they help young people to understand the values of democracy in a fun and stimulating way. The children who attended the session at County Buildings were excellent and were soon immersed in the task.
“It was great to hear their perspective on how public money should be spent and I was really impressed with what they had to say. They will have come away with a greater understanding of how councillors reach decisions on spending and what a difficult job this is, and how important it is to vote.”
Manor Primary School’s head teacher Richard Lane said:
“It’s been fantastic to take the children out of the classroom to the place where county decisions are made. They really got into their roles as councillors and enjoyed being in the council chamber. The activity also tested them and made them realise the council does not have an endless amount of money and tough decisions are made everyday.
“It was the best school trip we’ve ever been on. I’d really recommend it to other schools as we got a great deal out of it.”
The county council runs Local Democracy sessions across Staffordshire twice a year for children in their final two years of primary school.
You can view Manor Primary School’s Local Democracy session at http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/news/primaryschoolpupils.htm
TYNESIDE youngsters took a trip to a Northumbrian village yesterday to explore the rural world of their countryside counterparts.
The 235-pupil Richardson Dees School in High Street East in Wallsend (population 10,000) has twinned with the 45-pupil first school at Bellingham (population 845) so that the rural and urban children can learn about each other’s worlds.
Richardson Dees teacher Bridget Lynch said: “Many of the children haven’t ventured further than Wallsend before.
“The experience of going to a country village and finding out what it is like will be very valuable.”
The Wallsend pupils delivered a presentation to the Bellingham youngsters on life in their Tyneside town and school.
They also visited Bellingham Heritage Centre, which has a long-established schools programme, to learn about country life.
They were able to enjoy activities such as riding a small pedal-powered tractor, hearing about the exploits of the Border Reivers using an old telephone to dial up recordings of people’s memories of life on the farm in the old days, and play a video game in which they helped a salmon avoid hazards in its journey upriver .
Susan Winter, deputy head teacher at Wallsend, said: “We decided on a topic of town and country and literally just picked out a village and contacted its school, and they were up for it.
“A lot of children haven’t been outside Wallsend much and it was a first experience of the countryside for some.
“We wanted to give them new experiences and let them see how life in the country contrasts with that in town.
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2010/02/04/richardson-dees-school-pupils-take-trip-to-taste-rural-world-61634-25758351/
Nick Seaton, of the Campaign for Real Education, says Trafford Council's decision to have school trips just for free school meals recipients is part of a wider malaise.
Trafford Council made national news last week – for all the wrong reasons. The Council is using money allocated by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to fund school trips to an indoor ski centre, Knowsley Safari Park and Manchester United for football training.
The problem is that these trips are only available to children on free school meals. Other children who may wish to go are not allowed to, whether their parents pay or not.
As ever when the sparks fly, the DCSF absolves itself from responsibility. A spokesman said there was no stipulation that the money was ring-fenced for those on free school meals. 'It is down to schools to use their professional judgments in deciding who is or is not eligible for the subsidy,' he said.
This Trafford policy may be unusual but it raises fundamental questions:
Why should families and their children who work hard to be self-sufficient be penalised? (Surely, properly run schools have always ensured that children don't miss school trips simply because their parents can't afford to pay.)
Isn't this obvious cruelty to children, even if we ignore the apparent failure of Trafford's councillors properly to control their mad officials?
Should schools or a local authority identify children on free school meals like this?
And doesn't this call into question the very nature of the social justice agenda?
Social justice obviously means helping those who need it. But to do so, is it sensible to penalise others who may or may not be wealthy, but try to be self-sufficient?
Obvious examples include:
Fiddling school catchment areas to deny places to children from good homes? Reducing exam standards so that the brightest can't properly demonstrate their knowledge and preparation? Fiddling university admissions to deny places to youngsters from good schools or 'middle class' homes? Promoting over-ambitious school, college and university building programmes to exhaust reserves that should be retained for leaner times?
Too many of these stupidities are now accepted without question by local and national politicians from all sides of the political spectrum. But isn't that why socialism fails? The aims may be desirable but the practical administration of the policies almost always falls down.
Risk assessment? Wouldn't government be more effective if consequences, both intended and unintended, were always listed first?
Cancelled school trip is criticised
The Equality and Human Rights Council has criticised the decision by the Highlands Council in Scotland for cancelling a school trip because of potential legal action over the exclusion of a disabled child.
The Crown Primary School in Inverness has held an annual trip to an outdoor activity centre in the Cairngorms for a number of years.The trip this year has been cancelled by the local council to avoid potential legal action after the mother of the child concerned complained that her daughter was physically unable to take part in the planned activities.
The report states that it believes there to have been a lack of planning and foresight and that the action of the council was disproportionate. It was felt that the council had taken the easiest route out by cancelling the trip, effectively penalising all the children at the school.
Full article on the BBC: Cancelled school trip is criticised
Learn To Sea has kindly been awarded a grant by the Aune Conservation Association for an after school club to run for 5 weeks at Aveton Gifford Primary School. Here is the press release...
"Integrating land and sea: ACA awards education grant
The Aune Conservation Association (ACA) is very pleased to announce the granting of one of its John Crawford Environmental Awards to Maya Plass of ‘Learn to Sea’ for the delivery of a series of workshops in which Aveton Gifford primary school children will explore the Avon (from source to sea). It is hoped to run the programme after school later this year, with the possibility of subsequent extension.
Maya’s aims fit very closely with the ACA’s charitable objective of advancing the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the river Avon in the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. More specifically, the ACA hopes the programme will encourage, in the next generation, the passion and commitment to conserve our Avon.
The workshops will start with the question “Where does the land end and the sea begin?” Through various field trips and activities it is hoped the children will learn that there is no clear separation. At the very least, they will gain a greater understanding of the local river and it’s relevance to their every day lives.
Note to Editors:
More details of the Environmental Award scheme may be found at
www.auneconservation.org.uk or by contacting Stuart Watts at 01548 810373.
Children of better-off parents banned from school trips with poorer classmates
Children of better-off parents have been told they are not allowed to go on Government-funded school trips with poorer classmates.
Published: 7:58AM GMT 27 Jan 2010
Trafford council, in Greater Manchester, has been chosen for a new scheme which pays for "economically disadvantaged"' school children to take part in holiday activities.
But the only children eligible to take part are those who receive free school meals because their parents are on benefits.
They have been told their kids cannot take part - even if parents offer to pay.
The activities, due to take place at in February half-term, include a trip to Knowsley Safari Park, football sessions with Manchester United Foundation and a day at indoor snow centre, Chill Factore.
Sarah Rumney, whose five-year-old son goes to Partington Primary, in Trafford, said some children had been left in tears because they did not understand why they could not go on the trips with their friends.
"I'm really angry," she said. "I'm being penalised for working and wanting to do better for myself and my children."
Sarah, 29, a self-employed cleaner from Partington, added she would be willing to pay for her son to take part but has been told she was not allowed to do so due to restricted places.
She said: "It's a nightmare. What sort of incentive does it give to these kids to want to go out and work if all their friends are allowed to go on fantastic trips but they aren't? I'm quite annoyed about it."
Margaret Woodhouse of Trafford council's interim corporate director of the Children and Young People's Service, confirmed 22 schools in west Trafford had been included in the pilot scheme.
"This meant children attending schools from Urmston through to Partington would benefit," she said. "It was a government requirement the money be used to support children from 'economically disadvantaged' families within the area.
"Trafford council chose to follow the guidance from the Training and Development Agency - responsible for allocating funding on the government's behalf - and use free school meals as its criteria. This ensures the funding goes to support children from lower-income families."
The Department for Children, Schools and Families did not respond to a request for comment.
From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7085605/Children-of-better-off-parents-banned-from-school-trips-with-poorer-classmates.html
St Albans School benefit from £500 for Tanzania charity trip
By Manisha Mistry »
ST ALBANS SCHOOL has benefited from the proceeds of an annual Tough Ten race held in Abbots Langley last year.
Village schools, clubs and youth groups gathered in October to compete in the race.
During a presentation evening held on Friday, January 22, the chairman of the committee, John Reid, announced the recipients of the money raised on the day.
Mr Reid said St Albans School, in Abbey Gateway, has supported the Tough Ten and also contributed thousands of pounds to the fund over the years.
A cheque for £500 was donated to the school towards its trip to Tanzania during which it will be helping out at an orphanage.
Pupils fihttp://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED22%20Jan%202010%2012%3A38%3A51%3A710ght to save Norfolk outdoor study centre
Last updated: 24/01/2010 08:38:00
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| Wells Field Study Centre |
A group of school children have written complaints to Norfolk County Council to vent their anger at proposed funding cuts to their favourite outdoor study centre.
Year Five students from Hillside Avenue Primary School in Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, enjoyed a three-day residential stay at the Wells Field Studies Centre in October.
But soon after they returned, they learned that Norfolk County Council was discussing the possibility of cutting the £250,000 annual subsidy given to the centre, and a similar one in Holt Hall.
Teachers realised it was an ideal subject matter for the students' persuasive writing lessons - and the youngsters pulled no punches in expressing their feelings.
As well as their enjoyment of outdoor learning, the 10-year-olds wrote about the value of independence and teamwork, while stating their concerns for the job prospects of the centre's staff.
One letter says: “I cannot believe that Norfolk County Council could even consider the possibility of depriving future children of the opportunity to experience such an amazing place.”
Nicole King, the teacher who organised the school trip, said: “The children's feelings were genuine and the letters are written from the heart. They were horrified to hear the centre could be in danger of closing.”
Another teacher, James McCrea, said: “As adults, we are always encouraged to write to MPs or councillors to say how we feel about these issues, so this was a perfect opportunity to get the children to write about what they think for a real purpose.”
The letters were addressed to county councillor Mervyn Scutter, the Lib Dem's education spokesman, but were also forwarded to Shelagh Hutson, cabinet member for children's services.
She said: “I was delighted to hear that the children in Thorpe St Andrew enjoyed themselves at the Wells Field Studies Centre, and I have written to them to thank them for their letters and assure them that we take their views very seriously indeed.
“We value residential fieldwork and are committed to doing everything possible to make sure children and young people in Norfolk have the opportunity to benefit from such a positive learning experience.”
Norfolk's children's services overview and scrutiny panel discussed options last week to establish in-house provision at Holt for the next two years - but said this will require it to “explore alternative uses” for Wells.
Opposition Labour councillor Bert Bremner, a former teacher, said: “The reason this centre needs to stay open is it gets the children out of the class room and into the countryside, which makes their work seem real. This is an integral part of learning, and the social part of it is immense. Maybe the children could convince the cabinet of the study centre's value.”
From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8470699.stm
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Cancelled school trip criticised
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The EHRC said the school and council had not acted unlawfully
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A council has been criticised by the equality commission for having had a "lack of planning and foresight" after it cancelled a school's annual trip.
Highland Council stopped the trip for pupils at Inverness's Crown Primary because of potential legal action over the exclusion of a disabled child.
The criticism of the council is contained in a document from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
However, it added the council and school had not done anything unlawful.
The stay at an outdoor activity centre in the Cairngorms has been held annually for children at the city school.
Highland Council cancelled this year's trip to Craggan last month to avoid legal action after Donna Williamson said her daughter was physically unable to take part in the activities planned.
'Easiest answer'
In the document seen by BBC Scotland, the EHRC said it needed more information on the case to comment fully.
It went on: "However, there appears to have been a lack of planning and foresight and the council's approach in scrapping the trip entirely may not have been proportionate."
The document reads: "What does appear to have happened is that the council felt unable to defend their actions and decided the easiest answer was to withdraw the trip entirely."
The EHRC said the council's education director was aware of the steps needed to ensure all pupils felt included, but added that it hoped practice in other schools could be better demonstrated than in this case.
Following the cancellation of the trip, Highland Council said the school had tried hard to meet the needs of the disabled child.
The authority said there was no alternative to cancelling after taking legal advice.
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Drunk teacher struck off register
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A senior teacher from Renfrewshire has been struck off the teaching register for being drunk on a school trip.
Anne Bruce, 55, was found to be unable to carry out her duties during the visits to Castle Toward Outdoor Education Centre in March 2008.
A General Teaching Council disciplinary hearing ruled the former deputy head teacher at St Mary's Primary School, Paisley, was guilty of misconduct.
It said her behaviour had fallen short of expected standards.
After the school trip, Mrs Bruce was suspended and an investigation was launched by Renfrewshire Council.
Full story -
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Published: 24 December, 2009
OFFICIALS who cancelled two school trips for pupils at an Inverness Primary after the parents of a disabled child threatened legal action have been accused of being "overzealous" in their interpretation of the law.
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Crown Primary pupils had been due to take a five-day trip to Craggan Outdoor Centre, near Aviemore, involving activities such as climbing, kayaking and rafting.
An alternative three-day trip to Glasgow visiting museums and art galleries was also planned.
Full stoury http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/11288/Officials_under_fire_after_school_trip_is_cancelled.html
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Legal warning over Inverness school's trip
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The school has held the trip to Craggan annually
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A school trip for about 70 pupils has been cancelled because of potential legal action over the exclusion of a disabled child in the group.
The stay at an outdoor activity centre in the Cairngorms has been held annually for children at Inverness's Crown Primary.
Highland Council has cancelled the trip to Craggan to avoid the action.
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Full story from the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8427762.stm
PUPILS returning from a school trip were caught up in the cross-Channel chaos as strikes and blizzards hit.
The 45-strong party from Wey Valley School and Sports College missed their ferry slot after being stuck in traffic for four hours at Calais.
They managed to catch the last ship out of Calais before the French port closed as a one-day strike by Border Agency staff took hold.
The party – of 34 students and 11 adults – found themselves amid the crisis over the weekend.
Full story:
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/4813595.Weymouth_s_Wey_Valley_School_in_travel_misery/
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School trip crash driver sacked
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Fourteen children were treated for minor injuries after the crash
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The driver of a bus which crashed into a railway bridge in Leicester during a school trip has been sacked.
More than a dozen children and two adults from Cantrell Primary School, Bulwell, Nottingham, were injured in the crash in Lancaster Road.
The 24-year-old driver was dismissed from Nottingham-based AOT Travel after a meeting with officials.
The firm is holding its own investigation into the crash which happened on 11 December.
Leicestershire Police are also investigating.
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Full story from BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/8412071.stm
You never know what a School Trip might lead too!
Eddie the Eagle picked up his passion for skiing on a school trip. He originally wanted to be a downhill racer but realised that jumping offered what was then an easier route to the national team. At the height of Eaglemania he was earning £10,000 an hour and was always on the box. He will be back on TV this Christmas, as he has just made a commercial for the insurance company Churchill.
Edwards was Britain's first Olympic ski jumper ? and remains the only one. The nearest the Olympics ever got to another of his kind was Eric the Eel (Eric Moussambani of Equatorial Guinea), who in the 2000 Sydney Games took almost two minutes to swim a 100metres freestyle heat.
Read the full story: http://sport.independentminds.livejournal.com/1613103.html
A popular school trip residential centre is facing an uncertain future.
The Hornsea Outdoor Residential Centre has been owned by Wakefield Council sinc
1938 and has been used by local schools for residential trips for many years.
But the council's Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee have been asked to look at what should be done with the seaside centre amid fears that it is no longer providing value for money.
A report to the committee says: "The centre has to be viable and provide value for money for schools, families and the local authority, and increasingly has to be fit for purpose in a modern setting.
"Although the centre is well utilised by local schools, it is also suggested that there are a significant number of schools in the district that do not use it.
"This along with a difficult economic climate and current financial pressures adds weight to the speculation around the centre's future viability."
Youngsters visiting the centre have taken part in activities including hiking and star-gazing.
Members of the committee have been to the centre to see what it has to offer.
Coun Monica Graham, committe chairman, said: "During our visit to Hornsea we were told that many schools value the centre and the facilities it provides. However, the centre has to be viable and provide value for money."
She added that educational visits are "among the most memorable experiences in a child's school life" and said the committee is keen that schools take advantage of the opportunities that learning outside the classroom provides.
At next week's meeting, the committee will be considering options for the future use of the Hornsea Centre and making recommendations to the council's cabinet.
Published Date: 05 December 2009
By Stuart Robinson - The Yorkshire Evening Post
School Tour Operator offers £400 voucher for School Trips
Please call Louise on 0845 026 4661 or visit www.studytrips.co.uk and find out how you can save up to £400 on your next school trip.
Britain's smallest school enjoys lots of school trips.
Kids at smaller schools get more one-on-one teaching time and more educational trips , suggests a recent report on what is thought to be Britain’s smallest school.
Hollinsclough Primary School in Derbyshire has just five pupils and nine teachers, equating to nearly two teachers to one student.
According to Headteacher Janette Mountford-Lees, the pupils benefit from the one-to-one tuition, and also do not lose out socially. “She describes her pupils as “very confident” because they get to shine out, rather than hiding “behind a big class”.
Ms Mountford-Lees told journalists: “We get to go on lots of school trips because we can just jump in the car.”
The school’s remarkably small attendance register has been attributed to a drop in families settling in the local village. While the children, aged from five to ten, are taught together in a group, they also receive one-to-one sessions.
Full story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232559/Britains-smallest-primary-school-just-pupils-NINE-teachers.html
My school trip to women's prison!
By KARL PILKINGTON writing in the SUN online. Read the Full article here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2752437/Karl-Pilkington-writes-a-column-for-The-Sun-Online.html
“Whilst other friends now tell me of their fond memories of school trips to France and London, I can only recall walking around a perimeter fence of Styal woman's prison in Cheshire, another idea which I presume was a way of putting us off crime. A full morning of watching woman with arms full of tattoos play netball who made the woman on the TV programme Prisoner Cell Block H look like the cast of Hollyoaks.
All this could be one of the reasons I left with only one GCSE.”
This not the sort of thing you would expect to read on a School Trip review site but there must be some funny episodes on school trips.
So please let us have your “school trip from hell” or funny incidents on a school trip and we will put them up in a new section. Best one gets a £25 M&S voucher for Christmas.
Send them to len@schooltripadvisor.com
FeedWind
No paddling on school trips, children told
Children are being banned from paddling in water during school trips under new health and safety guidelines.
By Graeme Paton, Education Editor
Published: 9:00PM GMT 06 Nov 2009
Pupils are ordered not to wade into ankle-deep water unless teachers first carry out a full risk assessment and put “proper measures in place”.
Staff are expected to check rivers, ponds and the sea for currents and rocks before allowing children to dip their feet.
A new consultation has started to investigate ways to make it easier to take pupils on school trips
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