Educational visits: refusing to take pupils

It's up to you to decide whether to prevent a pupil from going on a trip, but you must avoid discrimination. Here's what to consider if you have pupils with challenging behaviour, and for those with SEND and/or medical conditions.

Last reviewed on 6 June 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 6829
Contents
  1. It's up to you, as long as you avoid discrimination  
  2. Pupils with challenging behaviour
  3. Pupils with SEND and/or medical conditions

It's up to you, as long as you avoid discrimination  

Your headteacher can decide when to refuse to take a pupil on a school trip, or to only let them take part in certain bits of it.

However, you must make sure you avoid discrimination. Read the guidance below for more information, and seek legal advice if you'd like further help.

Pupils with challenging behaviour

In some cases, it may be reasonable and necessary to prevent a pupil from coming on the trip to protect their safety and the safety of the other pupils attending.

However, always consider if there are other ways to help the pupil go on the trip safely. Any support given should be:

It might help to develop a policy on this issue and make sure that all parents are aware of it. Here are a

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Also in "Dealing with behaviour challenges"