Shropshire Star

Meole Brace school trip's £41,000 hangs in the balance

An Easter skiing trip for more than 50 pupils of a Shropshire secondary school was today hanging in the balance over concerns with the tour operator. An Easter skiing trip for more than 50 pupils of a Shropshire secondary school was today hanging in the balance over concerns with the tour operator. It is believed that Meole Brace School at Shrewsbury could have to reimburse parents about £41,000 if the holiday does not go ahead. The school has booked the trip with Devon-based tour operator Skiing Europe, a company it has been using for six years. Fifty-two students, aged 14 to 16, along with members of staff, are planning to visit Switzerland.

Published

An Easter skiing trip for more than 50 pupils of a Shropshire secondary school was today hanging in the balance over concerns with the tour operator.

It is believed that Meole Brace School at Shrewsbury could have to reimburse parents about £41,000 if the holiday does not go ahead.

The school has booked the trip with Devon-based tour operator Skiing Europe, a company it has been using for six years.

Fifty-two students, aged 14 to 16, along with members of staff, are planning to visit Switzerland.

But today Hilary Burke, headteacher, said: "It seems Skiing Europe may not be able to deliver the package holiday that we have been planning for the first week of the Easter holidays.

"If that is the case then the school will reimburse the holiday cost to the parents, and the school, together with the local authority and trading standards, will seek a full refund from Skiing Europe.

"I am extremely upset on behalf of the children, and the parents and the staff."

She added that students understood that the school was "trying to do the best" in a difficult situation.

David Edwards, head of trading standards confirmed the situation was being examined.

No-one was available for comment at Skiing Europe.

Last month it was reported that Devon County Council was investigating the circumstances surround the last-minutes cancellation of a school's skiing trip which had been organised with Skiing Europe.

Tavistock College in Devon said it was forced to pull out because it feared there would be no accommodation for pupils and staff.

Skiing Europe admitted said alternative arrangements had been made.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.