Schools cancel trips after terror attacks

Schools have been urged to talk to parents about upcoming trips, as it emerged that a number of schools are cancelling visits in the wake of the London and Manchester terror attacks.

Visits to museums and art galleries are among those to have been scrapped, it has been reported.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said that schools will make decisions based on the best available advice.

General secretary Geoff Barton, said: "Our advice to schools concerned about planned trips to London is to review and amend risk assessments as necessary and to talk to parents to gauge their views.

"Where school trips go ahead, parents who are concerned can withdraw their children. If schools choose to cancel trips, we would ask that people respect that decision, which will have been made after full discussion and in light of the individual circumstances.

"Each school works in its own distinctive context and will make decisions based on the best advice available.''

Nower Hill High School in Pinner, north London, is one of those to cancel trips, the Guardian reported.

In a letter to parents, assistant headteacher Cathie Serrao said they had decided to cancel visits including trips to the University of Westminster, the British Museum and the National Gallery "due to the inevitable transport disruptions and increased armed police presence that could cause anxiety amongst the children and after careful consideration of all the risks involved.''

She added: "Whilst we work very hard at building resilience in our students, we feel that due to the ongoing investigation and election this week, the risk is too high to allow these trips to continue.

"We have also considered that by allowing the trips to run, this would put parents in a difficult position, given the concern they would rightly feel about the safety of their children.''

St Michael's Church of England Primary Academy in Exeter cancelled a three-day trip to London for Year 6 pupils.

A message on the school's website said: "After the events in London last night, we have made the decision to cancel the residential. The travel company are working with us to try to re-book for later this term. We are sorry for any disappointment & inconvenience caused and offer our thoughts and prayers for those directly involved in the incident.''

The Science Museum and the National Gallery both confirmed that they have had cancellations from schools.

A spokesman for the Science Museum said that visitor numbers for educational groups remain strong, with record numbers visiting last month, but that there have been some cancellations following the recent terrorist incidents.

"The safety and security of our visitors and colleagues, collection and building are of the highest importance to the Science Museum,'' he said, adding that they have a large, trained security presence on site, as well as security systems, and that the Museum works closely with the police and other agencies.