The Department for Education has published the attached guidance supporting school trips. The new 8 page document replaces existing guidance and the Government claim the move would mean a “more common sense approach to health and safety”.
Judith Hackitt, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive has said that "daft" health and safety decisions risk harming children's education because bureaucrats fear being sued.
However, what Education Secretary Michael Gove is calling a "more common-sense approach" is being criticised by teaching unions, who say reducing best practice could lead to more accidents.
Amanda Brown, of the NUT, commented: "What we wouldn't want to do is to see a reduction of guidance which could lead to a lot more accidents."
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT added: "The decision to scrap over 140 pages of guidance is potentially reckless and could increase litigation against schools and teachers.
"There is no evidence demonstrating the need for the previous guidance to be abandoned, and no educational reason for doing so."
Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Executive said it hoped the new guidance would help dispel legal "myths".
Chairman Judith Hackitt told the BBC it was "time to out those who hide behind red tape and procedures and often blame us and health and safety as the reason why they can't do these things".
It is encouraging that a link for the Quality Badge Scheme is included at the end of the guidance. The guidance also notes that there are a number of reviews also being undertaken, such as the replacement for AALA, which may well affect this guidance and it is to be reviewed next year. The STF will continue to work to feed into the development of guidance,
Click here for a link to the document.
See BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14000093