Have you ever considered who is driving your child's school minibus?

[roonerboo]

In November 1993, a minibus carrying young people home to a Worcestershire school from a school trip to London crashed into a lorry, killing 13 people. The trip took place after the school day and the crash occurred just after midnight. My friends Steve and Liz, lost their daughter Claire in that crash.

A teacher, or support staff member can still, thirty years later, work all day, and then drive a school minibus for long distances without further training or qualifications.

School children can still legally be transported in school mini-buses by anyone, including teachers and support staff, who do not hold any professional driving qualifications. The majority of schools do not have to have an O Licence, an Operator Licence governing vehicle, driver and passenger safety standards. They can transport pupils without this licence under the Section 19 exemption. If this exemption is removed it would ensure that – in the future all schools, State or private, would have to have an O-Licence which, effectively, increases the safety of schoolchildren and teachers travelling to and from their schools.

Please consider signing our petition.

School Minibus Safety - Remove Section 19 Exemptions for Schools - Petitions (parliament.uk)

I remember that accident. It was terrible. My heart goes out to your friends and all the other families concerned.

However, before I drove the school minibus, I had to do a days advanced driver training and pass a test. The test then had to be renewed 3 years later. So I am surprised at you saying other LAs don't have this.

Mind, the Government taking so many schools out of the jurisdiction of LAs and letting anyone set up academies means there are so many different 'bodies' making decisions on cost vs safety.

Horrific accident and condolences to your friend. A truly awful thing to happen.

My school does not allow just ‘anyone’ to drive the school mini-bus. Only a select few are permitted and they have to undertake training. However as we are in Scotland, maybe the rules are different? I’m not sure.