Is it unusual for school to use a sixth former as a group leader on residential trip?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Abroad for a fortnight.

Large group of kids going and about 5 teachers to Italy. The group is going to be split into sub groups and each sub group has to stay with their group leader for stuff like underground, trams, through the airport.

One of the group leaders is a sixth former from the school. I'm not too bothered as I figure that they'll mainly all be together. They might be separated for small periods of time if they can't all get on the same train/tram/underground.

One of my friends is really worried from a safety aspect.

I think being a British school is one issue. But also being a school pupil is another. Although one set of advice I have seen says that "supervising adults" should be over 21.

I actually think that some of the areas where this sixth former will be used are some of the worse. What if the sixth former's group is left behind getting on a train? That is far worse than being with a small group on a guide tour of a castle.

I went on a school trip abroad when I was in the 6th Form. I was 18 and expected to help supervise the younger ones.

I remember late one night when all of the teachers were in one of the hotel rooms sharing a box of wine and having a jolly old time, me and another 6th former were running around trying to control a small group of 13 year olds who had managed to sneak alcohol into their room and had got stupidly drunk.

As others have pointed out, I'd be concerned about the unfair burden placed on the 6th former.

My son was left to roam Brussels for the morning with two classmates aged 13 when on his exchange. They all immediately went to the market and bought tasteless hats and then wore them to Quick. No harm done.
He's also done lots of Scout stuff where patrols go off with a Young Leader, who might only be 15, for breakout activities.
I would trust the school on this myself, although I think asking for clarification is a good idea. The sixth-formers at dd's school look more streetwise and with-it than some of the teachers tbh

This is nothing to do with being streetwise, it is to do with a pupil having to take responsibility when it should be an employee of the school or a responsible adult. A responsible adult is not a pupil at the school. I have looked extensively at many educational visit policies and I cannot find a single one that says the responsible adult can be a pupil at the school. Trips abroad are very different from a trip down the road to a sports field or the local museum. Do not confuse scouts with a school trip abroad. They are totally different.