A Plaid Cymru AM is proposing a bill to strengthen safety regulations on school trips after meeting the parents of an Ystrad Mynach College student who died in 2011.
Steffan Lewis, Plaid Cymru South Wales East AM, plans to enter the Safety on Educational Trips Bill to the National Assembly for Wales’ Individual Members Bill ballot.
Mr Lewis will take part in the ballot in the Senedd on Wednesday January 25, where one AM will be picked to propose a private member’s bill.
If his bid was picked and the law was passed, Mr Lewis’s bill would introduce; a minimum ratio of supervisory staff to pupils; a code of conduct for staff during trips (including a prohibition on alcohol); and guidelines on information provided to parents before a trip.
In October 2011, Glyn Summers, from Hengoed, died while on a college trip to Barcelona.
The 17-year-old was on a language trip with Ystrad Mynach College – now Coleg y Cymoedd – when he fell from a balcony. He had consumed alcohol that night, having been permitted to go to a nightclub by accompanying staff, and died a week later from his injuries.
Steffan Lewis said: “School trips are a great opportunity for students to get out of the classroom and learn in a new environment. I want to introduce a Safety on Educational Trips Bill to strengthen and improve current regulations to ensure that students are kept safe and can get the most out of trips with their school or college.
“I was inspired to propose this Bill by conversations with the parents of Glyn Summers, whose tragic death on a school trip in Barcelona is an example of what can go wrong when the guidelines are not properly followed.
“They have shown huge strength in speaking out and I want to see lessons learnt and improvements made as a result. The aim is not to increase the administrative burden on teachers, but to ensure that all schools and colleges are following the best possible practice to keep their students safe.”
Mr Lewis’s bill would also introduce a mechanism for independent review following injury or death during a trip, after Ystrad Mynach College carried out its own internal investigation into the incident, the report of which has not been revealed publicly.
Glyn’s parents have called for an independent investigation to take place.
Mr Lewis added: “I want to see better information sharing with parents before a trip, a minimum staff to student ratio, and a code of conduct for staff who are supervising a trip that includes a ban on drinking.
“Parents should know exactly what they’re giving permission for when their children sign up. I also want to see a mechanism for an independent review put in place should an accident, injury or death occur.
“The law regulating school trips is in need of strengthening and updating. Children and young people benefit hugely from educational trips, and I want to ensure that they can learn and enjoy themselves in safety.”