School trips under threat
TEACHERS are too scared to take children on trips into the countryside amid fears of legal action if something goes wrong, research suggests.
But a survey of councils in the Westcountry suggests just two compensation claims have been made in the last 10 years – and neither was successful.
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Three-quarters of teachers surveyed by the National Foundation for Educational Research claimed the barrier to taking pupils into the countryside was "concerns about health and safety".
Half of the 1,400 teaching staff surveyed blamed "fear of litigation in the unlikely event of an accident".
But almost all of them thought it was important for children to learn about the countryside.
Information obtained by the Countryside Alliance suggests the fear of litigation is far greater than the reality. Nationally, just 364 school trips from 1998-2008 ended in legal action with schools found culpable in fewer than half of cases. Total compensation paid out was £404,952.14.
In the Westcountry, councils in Cornwall, Plymouth, Torbay and Dorset responded to the Freedom of Information request.
Just two – Plymouth and Torbay – had received a claim in 10 years, but there was no successful payout in either case.
Simon Hart, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: "Statistically, the chances of accidents happening are low and we are working to explode the myths that the countryside is any more dangerous than anywhere else. The benefits of practical countryside education far outweigh the concerns.
"The Countryside Alliance wants to facilitate outdoor learning for the next generation without teachers feeling threatened by 'compensation culture'. It believes by making the countryside more accessible for teachers and pupils, learning will be enhanced and pupils will be tolerant and understanding of the countryside."
A survey for the alliance of children aged six to15 also found 85 per cent of young people would like the opportunity to enjoy activities like fishing, falconry and farm visits through school.
But just 46 per cent had actually been on a trip to the countryside with their school in the last year.
Two-thirds "did not feel they learnt enough about the countryside at school".
Last month, the Government announced plans to make it easier for teachers to take young people "out and about".
Schools minister Diana Johnson pledged to cut red tape, by making clear teacher's duties, providing sample checklist forms to help save time and highlight how employers should support their staff in the event of a child being hurt. "Most people remember their school trips as fun and valuable experiences," Ms Johnson said. "They are an important part of a child's education and personal development."
However the scheme attracted ridicule after it emerged children were to be banned from paddling during school trips to the seaside unless teachers carry out a health and safety risk assessment.
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by max power, st austell
Tuesday, December 29 2009, 11:10AM
“The health and safety act was a fine bit of legislation, it meant that a worker had the right to return home alive, complete with digits etc. Little has changed in 40 years except interpretations which now sometimes border on the hysterical. It's becoming another P.C. discipline, rather than adding to lifestyle it is now detracting. 'Risk Assessment' is P.C. jargon for common sense. H&S has been inadvisably used as a stick to beat those who take responsibility and now we are left with a namby pamby society the majority wishing to take a back seat and let 'others' take the risk.”
by Freethinker, Cornwall
Monday, December 28 2009, 6:19PM
“Happy New Year Charles and Theo 'green' Lifton. Best Freethinker”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Monday, December 28 2009, 5:34PM
“:) Happy New Year Justin! . . Theo is sounding increasingly Pious don't you think?. . . I think we should buy him a Habit, if he hasn't already got one; stuck up on their on Dartmoor with his Laptop, turkey sandwiches, mince pies and Chinese Figs by his log burning stove.. . .”
by Freethinker, Cornwall
Monday, December 28 2009, 5:12PM
“Well said Charlie. Gradualism it is. Its time the sleeping people of Britain woke up and got their act together. Don't trust any of the three main parties. The LabLibCON is the very system that is turning our beloved country into a Communist state. The British people, those awake, need to get this country back, before future generations suffer at the hands of those who have no intrests in a future for all. I agree with most of what you say Charles. Freethinker”
by Theo H, Lifton
Monday, December 28 2009, 4:54PM
“I notice this article was written by Matt Chorley, the WMN London reporter.
I do think the WMN should get a better reporter in London, or Mr Chorley be given a ticking off, and told to do better.
Matt Chorley consistently writes stuff that seems to be uncritically based on press releases that pop up in his in-tray - without actually digging around, such as reading source material, that I would expect a competent reporter to do.
His columns may then be a bit more accurate. "Comment is free, facts are sacred."”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Monday, December 28 2009, 3:17PM
“:| I think The Fabian Society should be proscribed and banned from organising any events for children don't you Theo?. . Their modus operandi is the terrible deceit that characterised the whole New-Labour program. . They call it 'GRADUALISM'. . . I just call it the gradual destruction of a moral and civilised society. . And the Marxist administrations just call it brain-washing.”
by Theo H, Lifton
Monday, December 28 2009, 2:39PM
“From the article:
""The Countryside Alliance wants to facilitate outdoor learning for the next generation without teachers feeling threatened by 'compensation culture'. It believes by making the countryside more accessible for teachers and pupils, learning will be enhanced and pupils will be tolerant and understanding of the countryside.""
Ummm. And it this the same CA that campaigned against the right to roam and the extension of the South West coast path?”
by Theo H, Lifton
Monday, December 28 2009, 2:34PM
“From the article:
"But almost all of them [teachers] thought it was important for children to learn about the countryside."
Yes. But it is the Countryside Alliance that is placing this particular article. The CA are a political lobby. So I would think that local education authorities would not let children go on events sponsored by the CA.”
by michael murphy, Teignmouth
Monday, December 28 2009, 1:52PM
“In the current litigeous climate teachers must be out of their minds if they accept responsibility for school trips of any sort.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Monday, December 28 2009, 11:31AM
“:) You obviously haven't had any dealings with 'Health and Safety' in a work environment where you employ people yourself or spoken to any teachers lately, have you Theo. . To all normal people in the ordinary workplace, H&S is a nightmare 'Job's Worth' creation that now has thousands of jumped up little Hitlers, creating masses of paperwork justifying their existence. . I had to threaten to sue them once to get them off my back.”