PRIME Minister Tony Blair visited Upton Warren Outdoor Education Centre yesterday to publicise the announcement that teachers who follow Government guidelines on school trips will not be prosecuted.
Mr Blair had a safety briefing with a group of children from St Edward's School in Evesham before being taken out on a Wayfarer boat by Upton Warren sailing instructor Charlie Bone.
Dressed casually in a pair of blue jeans and a charcoal fleece, Mr Blair joked with the youngsters about the boat capsizing.
He was taken around the lake at the Worcester Road centre before coming back inside for a cup of tea.
Mr Blair was accompanied by Secretary of State for Education, Ruth Kelly.
Some teachers have been reluctant to take part in school trips for fear of being prosecuted should something go wrong, and NASUWT, the teachers' union, whose headquarters is in the Lickey Hills, had advised its members not to accompany children on trips.
But a Number Ten spokeswoman said: "School trips bring education to life and children can experience what they learn in the classroom first hand."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article