The HSE continues to support the benefits of school trips with the addition of case studies and statistics on the education pages of its web site.
Ian Pearson, General Manager of the STF, suggests that the statistics overwhelmingly demonstrate that the safe nature of school trips reflects the sound practice being used by schools and suppliers alike. For example, the majority of specialist study tour operators are members of the School Travel Forum, which requires them to conform to a robust code of practice, evidenced by independent, expert audits annually.
Teachers, schools and parents should have confidence in school trips. The value to pupils attainment and development is enormous and the frequently quoted health & safety worries are not borne out by facts.
Go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/education/school-trips.htm
From 4/7/11
Along with the recent issue of DfE guidance, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published a policy statement on school visits on 1 July. The policy statement clarifies how health and safety law applies to school visits and is designed to reassure schools and teachers that where sensible and proportionate precautions are taken in planning and running school visits, then teaching staff should not fear prosecution by HSE.
The statement also encourages school employers and dutyholders to remove wasteful bureaucracy often imposed on schools in organising visits and activities.
Health and safety is often cited as a barrier which discourages teaching staff from planning and organising school visits. HSE recognises the benefit of school visits and encourages schools to strike the right balance between protecting pupils from risk and ensuring that they can learn from the stimulating challenges that school visits provide.
A copy of the policy statement can be downloaded from the education pages of the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/education/school-trips.pdf