School Trips to Sadiq’s London Now “HIGH RISK” Activity

 Day trips to London are to be included in a higher risk category when Lancashire schools are planning educational activities away from their own premises.

VISITS TO MULTIPLE VENUES IN OTHER CITIES HAVE ALSO MOVED INTO THE SO-CALLED “TYPE B” CATEGORY, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WILL NOW REQUIRE PRIOR APPROVAL FROM LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL.

New plans have been put in place to keep pupils safe outside outside of the classroom

Previously, such trips had been classified as “type A” activities – like field trips and visits to museums and theatres – which could be authorised by senior leaders within an individual school. Now, they will be categorised alongside “adventure” outings like kayaking, climbing and motorsports.

All overnight stays at any location also need the council to give the go ahead.

Parental consent is required for each individual type B visit, whereas type A trips require only general consent at the start of the year – although parents must still be informed of any trip away from the school.

The changes are part of an update to County Hall’s guidance to schools about off-site educational visits. Its last major revision was in 2016.

The new policy applies to all county council-controlled schools and any others which are covered by its insurance arrangements.

There was a 10 percent increase in the number of school trips involving Lancashire schools last year – with 700,000 children taking part in 36,000 individual visits. More than 5,500 trips were classed as what was then type B activities, 3,500 of which fell into the “adventure” category. There were also 277 overseas visits.

“This shows the increasing value which is placed on giving young people the broadest educational experience,” County Cllr Phillippa Williamson, member for schools, told a meeting of the authority’s cabinet.

“It also reinforces the need to regularly review and update our policies to ensure that when children are involved in these visits, they are kept safe and well.”

The new guidelines state that the risk assessment process for all trips should be “proportionate [and] not be unduly onerous, but supportive and helpful” for those leading the visit.

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