Overview
Mr and Mrs C, and Mr and Mrs D (the Complainants) are two sets of parents who raised a number of concerns about a school trip to France that their daughters (Miss C and Miss D) had attended in October 2007. Their concerns were subsequently investigated by the secondary school (the School) and North Lanarkshire Council (the Council).
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) the planning/management of the trip was inadequate (upheld);
- (b) the investigation into an incident on the trip was inadequate in that the School asked students to complete a questionnaire without involving or informing parents; a senior male teacher interviewed female students about sensitive issues; the Head Teacher made unsubstantiated allegations about some of the students and some of them consider that they have been victimised; the matter should have been referred to the police or the other local authority involved; and parents were not kept informed of the progress of the investigation (partially upheld); and
- (c) the Council should have offered counselling to the students (no finding).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Council:
- (i) ensure that the revised draft procedures on excursions and outdoor activities are finalised urgently;
- (ii) ensure that the new procedures contain adequate guidance on agreeing and discussing expected standards of behaviour with parents;
- (iii) consider how they can improve the procedures for notifying parents promptly of changes in the arrangements for school trips and excursions;
- (iv) issue an apology to the Complainants for the failings identified in relation to the investigation into the matter; and
- (v) take steps to ensure that complainants are kept informed whilst an investigation into a complaint is ongoing.
The Council have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.