School Trip Safety Plan: How Teachers Keep Every Student Safe
Ratios, rooming, head-counts, medical readiness, transport and what to do if a student goes missing or falls ill — a teacher's safety plan for school trips.
18 October 2026 · 3 min read
Parents say yes to a school trip when they trust the plan. A written safety plan — shared with the management and summarised for parents — is the single best way to earn that trust. Here is what to include.
People and ratios
Agree the student-to-teacher ratio with your school before booking (younger students need more adults), and include at least one woman teacher with girls. Give every teacher a named group of students for the whole trip, so no child falls between groups.
Rooming
- Separate rooms — ideally separate floors or wings — for girls and boys.
- Teachers' rooms next to students' rooms.
- A night-time check by teachers, and a rule that students stay in their rooms after lights-out.
Head-counts
Count before leaving the hotel, after every stop, before the bus moves and at every meal. Use the same list every time and a buddy system so students notice if their partner is missing.
Medical readiness
- A medical list with every student's conditions, allergies and medicines, carried by the lead teacher.
- A first-aid kit with the group at all times, and the nearest hospital noted for each stop.
- Students' own medicines labelled with their names.
- On treks or at altitude: a trained trek leader, regular checks and a clear plan to descend if someone feels unwell.
Transport
Use vetted coaches and drivers, avoid night driving unless it was agreed in advance, and make sure students stay seated while the vehicle moves. Note the driver's and operator's numbers on the emergency sheet.
If a student goes missing
- Keep the rest of the group together with one teacher.
- Search the last known area; call the student's phone if they carry one.
- Inform the operator and local staff — they know the place.
- If the student isn't found quickly, inform the local police and the school, then the parents.
If a student falls ill
Give first aid, inform the lead teacher and the trip leader, and get medical help early rather than waiting. Call the parent as soon as the student is being cared for.
On every Deshraah trip: a first-aid kit with the group; on treks, first-aid trained trek leaders, pulse-oximeter checks morning and evening, and oxygen on high-altitude treks. See [school trips](/groups/schools).
