Huge preliminary planning and vigilant supervision is needed when taking students abroad on school tours, according to Trinity College Dublin law professor William Binchy.
Speaking at a recent conference at TCD, entitled: "Suing post-primary schools: How to reduce your exposure to liability", Binchy said: "School tours place a heavy burden on the teachers who are required to act as supervisors."
Inadequate supervision is one of the main areas of potential liability when travelling abroad with children, he said. If supervisory resources are spread too thinly, "that is something for which the school management will carry responsibility."
Most school ski packages allow one adult to travel free with every 10 paying students. Often a reduced supplementary charge is available for additional adults. Topflight charges €80 for each additional adult.
Gerry McFadden of Malahide Community College, chose this option. "We brought 10 staff with 80 students to Austria. We ran a disco to raise the extra funds. I would urge anyone to make sure they have plenty of staff."
Binchy urges caution about using parents as supervisors on trips.
"They can of course be of great assistance, but they are not part of the school management system nor directly subject to its organisational command structure."
