Headteacher wants answers from PGL after Dorset activity centre suspended over "safeguarding concerns"
She had just booked a trip for Year 6s, but may decide to cancel after hearing they failed an OFSTED inspection.
A South West primary school may cancel a trip to one of the four PGL sites that failed an OFSTED inspection last week - which includes Osmington Bay in Dorset.
The activity centre was suspended because of "serious safeguarding issues" - including concerns over health and safety and staff conduct.
The headteacher, who wants to protect her identity, told us she was shocked to hear the accusations:
"I really couldn't believe it. We literally have just booked with them, and it's not what you expect from such a large company. It's not just one site, it's four sites that this has happened at.
"I am going to be expecting some answers from them. We will be contacting PGL to find out what is going on and how much they can tell us."
The school had just booked a 3 day trip for Year 6s in June, but after the sites were suspended, the school is now considering whether to cancel.
"My biggest concern is how are the parent going to feel about this - are you still happy for us to go ahead with the booking knowing this has come out?
"They are a very reputable company which is why we booked with them, and you wouldn't expect something like this to happen."
OFSTED released a statement last week following the inspections. They said there was an ongoing investigation into substance misuse at one of the sites, however, PGL confirmed this was not the Osmington Bay centre.
The other three sites suspended were Liddington in Wiltshire, Marchants Hill in Surrey, and Windmill Hill in East Sussex.
In a statement, PGL told us:
“We would like to reassure parents and teachers that safety and safeguarding are at the heart of everything we do. The two specific concerns arising from the recent OFSTED inspection at our Liddington site have already been addressed.
"Our sites remain open and operational and we continue to expect only the highest standards of care and safeguarding from our staff, as guests who have enjoyed a stay at PGL over many decades will have found.”
The primary school headteacher added:
"As headteachers we wouldn't be doing out duty if we didn't take this sort of thing seriously. When you hear the word 'safeguarding', that's very evocative and it brings up all sorts of questions."
PGL provides residential breaks and activity holidays for children aged 7 -17 and operates from centres across the UK and France.
The four sites involved have only suspended services for anyone under 8 years old. Other services and sites elsewhere in the country are operating as normal.