A SCHOOL in Wiveliscombe has cancelled two planned trips abroad for students following terrorism fears.

Pupils in Year 7 at Kingsmead School had been due to travel abroad to France and Germany next summer and there was a broader trip to Spain planned over Easter, however this week the school cancelled the visits.

Parents were informed in a letter earlier this week and the decision was discussed in an assembly this morning.

The letter said that in such uncertain times, they did not want to students and staff in a potentially dangerous situation.

Head teacher Mark Griffin said: "This is something I thought long and hard about following the events in Paris and it is a decision which we have not taken lightly.

"I posed the question to my senior leadership team, would you be comfortable sending your children on these trips and they said they wouldn't.

"One member of staff also expressed their relief after their own child's trip abroad was cancelled by the school they went to."

There was no consultation with parents but Mr Griffin said this was because if the decision was not made this week, money already paid would not be able to be refunded.

He also said it would have been unpredictable to know what parents would say and that he felt many parents would pull their children out of the trip, making it no longer viable.

He added: "We have had a small response from some parents expressing their disappointment but before taking this decision we also had several parents saying they would withdraw their child from the trip.

"I would rather have taken this decision so that the children can be disappointed with me and not their parents.

"We discussed it this morning in assembly and they were very sensible about it.

"They had some very good questions about the alternative.

"I would take my family abroad, but it is a different matter from taking 30 children and being responsible for them.

"Even though it is unlikely that something would happen, even if it did and it was miles away, the problems and anxiety it would cause the children, the parents and the teacher, I didn't want to take that risk."

The school is now looking for an alternative trip here in the UK for the year 7's.

Are you a parent of a pupil at the school? 

How do you feel about the decision?

Comment below or email danielle.morris@nqsw.co.uk