Outdoor school activities

Chris Keates, acting general secretary of the NASUWT said: "The report highlights the benefits pupils gain from participation in outdoor education activities.  NASUWT endorses this view.

"NASUWT also shares the concern highlighted by Ofsted that the cost of these activities can deny some children access to them.  Sadly, it is often the children who would most benefit whose parents are least able to make the necessary financial contribution. A review of schools’ charging policies is long overdue.

"Unfortunately, although there is much in the report that NASUWT welcomes, there are two major areas of concern.

"Firstly, the report appears unsympathetic and dismissive of schools’ fear of litigation if an accident occurs on an educational visit.

"The comment made by chief inspector David Bell that ‘if teachers follow the recognised safety procedures and guidance they have nothing to fear from the law’ indicates that he has failed to grasp the reality of what actually happens when accidents occur.

"As NASUWT casework has demonstrated time and time again, following the procedures and guidance is no protection against litigation.

"Fortunately, the government is now taking our concerns seriously, having recognised that the demise of the concept of the genuine accident and the rise of the blame culture has left teachers and schools vulnerable.

"DfES officials now are working with NASUWT to analyse the problems in detail and to identify possible solutions to protect teachers and other staff who accompany educational visits.

"My second concern is that the remodelling of the school workforce appears to have passed OFSTED by as the report implies that only teachers are able to organise, accompany and take responsibility for outdoor activities. 

"Many of the highly qualified support staff that schools are now employing are perfectly capable of successfully undertaking these activities.

"Ofsted needs to embrace rapidly the concept of the remodelling agenda to ensure that schools see its reports as relevant and take the findings seriously."

Stakeholder Response: Professional Association of Teachers

PAT general secretary Jean Gemmell said:

"We welcome this report. Safely conducted and properly supervised, school trips play a key role in education. They are of enormous benefit to pupils, teachers and support staff. We should all applaud school staff who give children these opportunities. 

"School trips give children experiences they have not had before and may never have again. Education is not just about what happens in the classroom.

"We need young people to develop independence and learn how to deal with challenges safely. A visit to the park for a five year old is as much an adventure as abseiling for a 10-year old. 

"The issue of school trips was debated at PAT's 2001 annual conference and members supported the continuation of such a valuable educational resource."

Stakeholder Response: Secondary Heads Association

 John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association said: "The fact is that accidents can happen.  With so many parents turning to the courts at the first sign of a problem, schools are right to be extremely cautious in their approach to the organisation of outdoor activities.