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Original poster

WTF - so they didn't already include a head count as standard???

26 replies

toccatanfudge · 16/06/2010 09:42

link{http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/10325955.stm\8yr old boy left behind on school trip}

"The school apologised to his mother and has reviewed its outdoor trip policy, which will now include a head count"

now I guess I must have been naive because I remembered always having head counts done on school trips when I was a child, and I know that my DS's school do head counts (not just at the end of the day as they board the coach but through the day as well - that's how they realised that my DS1 and his friend had disappeared on his last school trip - silly boy)

But they're only now going to include a head count when rounding large numbers of children up to put on a coach to take home????????

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Original poster
toccatanfudge · 16/06/2010 09:43

crap 8yr old boy left behind on school trip

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weblette · 16/06/2010 09:45

Good grief, that's such a basic thing. When I've got a hoard of Beaver Scouts out and about I do head counts all the time.

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 16/06/2010 09:49

It might be that they normally do them, but that it's never made it into the policy document (arguably because it's so blindingly obvious that no one thought it needed to be in the policy document). Clearly in this case the member of staff in charge didn't think to do it, although whether he/she would be any more on the ball if it were written down in a policy document is I think at best debatable.

PixieOnaLeaf · 16/06/2010 09:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
toccatanfudge · 16/06/2010 09:54

I guess I kind of figured that there would be ore than one person doing a head count as well, you know - just to make sure.

At least the lad had the common sense to tell the staff at the centre that he'd been left behind...........or maybe that's how they're reporting it and actually centre staff saw the kid looking lost.....

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SagacityNell · 16/06/2010 09:56

I helped on a school trip for reception class once. They did a head count at every opportunity and thats despite there being 1 parent to 2 children!

SagacityNell · 16/06/2010 09:57

HAving said that - well dome to the boy for approaching staff to tell them! I think my oldest (7) would have just flapped!

gagamama · 16/06/2010 10:00

Insane that they didn't do a headcount. It's also strange that none of his friends or classmates realised he wasn't there. When I was at school we used to have to walk round in pairs too, so that not only is it quicker and easier to count pairs, but it's more obvious when one child has gone missing because you've got one spare!

ShadeofViolet · 16/06/2010 12:45

On the school trips I have been on with DS we cant move 10 paces without having another headcount

Original poster
toccatanfudge · 16/06/2010 12:47

unless of course - like my DS1 did the other week - they disappear with the other half of their "pair"

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destructogirl · 16/06/2010 13:27

When I was little on a school trip, my friend and i were left behind.

We were in Austria and everyone went on a bus trip to a skiing place leaving me and friend at hotel.

We just woke up in morning, went down to breakfast and everyone was gone

We basically got a complete bollocking! Teacher was furious at us and told us off in front of everyone. Also, apparently because we had missed the excursion, everyone else had to pay a bit extra so everyone hated us.

All calmed down when my friend had the bright idea of us offering to pay the difference out of our spending money.

They didn't do head counts, relied on the 'buddy' system which didn't work because friend and i were each others 'buddy'.

I still seethe about it now, seems so unfair, we were only little as well (primary school).

sharbiebowtiesarecool · 16/06/2010 13:29

I've done and seen headcounts being done at school.

Morloth · 17/06/2010 17:21

Jeez when I go on school trips with DS's school, there are constant head counts and rounding up, by all adults there.

belgo · 17/06/2010 17:24

Even if you do a head count, mistakes can happen.

A group in Belgium took small children (aged 3-5) on a day outing, and came back with exactly the correct number of children.

Just not entirely the same children as they left with. One child had been switched with another group.

Morloth · 17/06/2010 17:33

belgo "Just not entirely the same children as they left with. One child had been switched with another group."

Did they try to get the parents of the swapped child to accept an exchange?

bran · 17/06/2010 17:47

I was left behind on a school trip to the botanical gardens. I must have been 9 or 10. We had a worksheet to do and were split up into pairs to go and do it on our own with strict instructions to meet up at 2.30pm. Unfortunately neither the other girl nor I were wearing a watch.

They had done a head count before they left apparently, but somehow managed to double count a bit and thought everyeone was there.

edam · 17/06/2010 17:52

belgo Not entirely sure how you'd draw up a policy to deal with that!

destructo, that is the kind of injustice that you never forget, isn't it? I wonder if teachers realise how much power they wield - there are still some things that rankle with me decades after the event (and other teachers of whom I think fondly).

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 17/06/2010 17:54

God, I remember helping on shcool trips, being given my group of 6 and I was counting

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 17/06/2010 17:54

to six in my sleep by the end of the day

giraffesCANdriveAcar · 17/06/2010 18:02

My friend got left behind at a cathedral on a school trip on florence because 2 of the teachers who were sneaking off to have a shag (was an affair, thats why they went, they are now together oficially) forgot her

EnglandAllenPoe · 17/06/2010 18:08

my Dad once failed to bring back my brother from a shopping trip. you would have thought a headcount of 4 wasn't that taxing....

BigFatSepticToe · 17/06/2010 18:16

absolute disgrace that this can happen, as a teacher, parent and rainbow guider i am appalled.

On trips there is a very good adult:child ratio and you count them all day long ,simple!

they should also sit next to the same partner on the bus so missing ones are soon spotted, and a register should be taken before they leave.

I bet the teacher in charge of the trip got a right bollocking though!!

FabIsGettingFit · 17/06/2010 18:22

I do a head count several times a day.

3 is a lot when there is only 1 of me.

Morloth · 17/06/2010 18:23

Well they couldn't very well take her with them for the shag giraffes.

Original poster
toccatanfudge · 17/06/2010 18:29

belgo - I have to confess I at that story as well

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