HSE response to education select committee report into school trips

HSE Press Release: E019:05 - 10 February 2005

Commenting on the report today by the Education Select Committee on school trips, Deputy Director General (Operations) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Justin McCracken said:

"HSE believes that school trips are a vital part of a child's education. It would be a sad day if misplaced risk aversion deprived them of such opportunities. On the contrary, adventure activities provide the ideal opportunity to make children "risk aware" by involving them in practical decision making in challenging environments.

“HSE’s views closely mirror those of the Education Select Committee. HSE will continue to champion the message that sensible health and safety is about managing risk rather than eliminating it.

“We applaud those teachers and helpers who give their time and energy to follow best practice and do the job safely and properly. Long may well-planned educational visits continue.”

HSE wants to inform the extensive debate on the future of educational visits, in particular, the issue of proportionality between the extent of risk and the level of control required.

The report into the death of a 10-year old boy who drowned whilst on a school trip to Glenridding Beck in 2002 will be published on HSE’s website before Easter, and will be accessible from other sites such as the DfES Teacher-net” and “Governor-net” websites. It will be placed on the “Sensible Health and Safety” part of the HSE website.

Notes to editors

1. The Glenridding tragedy occurred on 26 May 2002 when 10-year old Max Palmer drowned whilst doing an activity called “plunge pooling” in Glenridding Beck in the Lake District. His mother, who jumped in to rescue him, suffered from hypothermia and was airlifted to hospital.

2. In September 2003, the teacher leading the visit pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for one year.

3. In July 2004, it was announced that, following a lengthy and detailed investigation of the role of the Local Education Authority, Lancashire County Council (LCC) in the tragedy, the decision had been taken not to prosecute LCC.

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