to expect DD's school to inform parents that their children had been in a bus crash rather than encourage the children not to tell their parents?

[Aimsmum]

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Wow!

Does that Head Teacher really think that not one of the kids will tell their parents?

Wouldn't like to be in his shoes at 9am tomorrow!!

Ummmmmm, surely it's the school's responsibility to provide safe, adequate transport, with seatbelts? or am I wildly optimistic?

And as for telling them not to tell ...

I think if you are using public transport it is not possible to ensure that all children definitely get a seat. It is one of the hazards of public transport. However, I think it totally wrong of the school to not inform you of the incident, and even worse is encouraging the children to effectively lie to their parents in not mentioning it at all. Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt.

I'd be in there now kicking some serious arse

will he still be there?

The 'not telling' bit is serious and someone should be in a lot of trouble over that. Not to mention getting the kids to stand up. Are they worth so much less than the other passengers?

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Most people ask their children to give up a seat for an adult on a bus don't they? I had to when I was a child. I wouldn't have been happy at the school trip using public transport - this is a perfect example of why children should be strapped in a seat each on a coach when they are out with school.

Re the head teacher telling them not to tell - I'd be straight on the blower to Ofsted.

This is unbelievable!! Firstly, the parents should have been TOLD that the trip was going on public transport - every trip my children have ever been on, we've been told what the method of transport is going to be - coach, train, bus, shanks's pony.

Secondly, when the children were involved in an accident, surely the headteacher has a moral responsibility, if not a legal one, to inform the parents of the children involved.

And to encourage the children to LIE to their parents - that is such a bad message for someone in authority to be giving to children. Presumeably this same headteacher would tell children that if anyone assaults/abuses them and tells them to keep it a secret, that they shouldn't do so - how are the kids supposed to disentangle this mixed message???

If this were my child, I would be writing to the Chair of Governors, the head of the local education authority, the Education Secretary and the newspapers. This head's head should roll!!

sunnygirl.

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Not an over-reaction at all. THe more I think about this, the worse it seems.
She ought to be fearing for her job, actually. On so many levels.

Aside from the things mentioned by other posters, if some of the children bumped their heads, then the parents must be warned to watch for signs of concussion.

The reaction of the school is highly irresponsible, I would be creating hell.

If a child bangs their haed on the play ground a letter is sent home with the child at the end of the day (in my DC's schools anyway)-but they decide not to do so when it's due to a RTA?

Of course the children are going to tell their parents the bus crashed! How stupid is this head?

Did you have to sign a trip consent form?

"And to encourage the children to LIE to their parents - that is such a bad message for someone in authority to be giving to children. Presumeably this same headteacher would tell children that if anyone assaults/abuses them and tells them to keep it a secret, that they shouldn't do so - how are the kids supposed to disentangle this mixed message???"

Quite right. This ht has made a serious fuck-up, going against every single guideline going. I would not be surprised if she is suspended. If you can't trust her on this, what else is she lying about?

Tell yer local newspaper too.

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Her (the head's) reaction to the accident is just plain wrong.

However, I would not go to the press, nor would I lobby for schools not to use public transport for trips. DD is 5 and will be going to the theatre next week with the other year 1 children. They are going on the bus that goes from outside their school into the local town. I am actually really happy about this, and I would expect her to stand if OAPS or other people had greater need of a seat.

do you think the head was just trying to encurage the kids not to run home shouting and maybe panic parents with sketchy details?

i agree though that the school should have informed you themselves

nothing wrong with going on public transport.

what's wrong is a) her failure to report the incident and b) her exhortation to the children to lie about it.

Although I'd check out b in case it's chinese whispers

God I wouldn't want a 5yo standing on a bus without an adult holding onto her

8yo maybe