Schools could lose millions of pounds on cancelled trips abroad due to the coronavirus outbreak, heads have warned.
There could be “serious financial implications” for schools forced to cancel trips during the Easter holidays, as insurers are likely to refuse payouts unless the government advises against travel to specific countries or regions, according to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).
This means schools could face pressure to refund parents’ payments, and are likely to be liable for any outstanding amounts owed to travel companies in the event of a cancellation.
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Asked what the potential cost to schools may be, Geoff Barton, ASCL general secretary, said: “It is likely to be in the millions across schools in England [and the rest of the] UK, but it is hard to quantify any further than that as we don’t have information about how many schools are putting on trips or the cost of the trips they are arranging.
“For example, a skiing trip involving 40 pupils could in total cost £40,000 or more.”
If this cost was reflected across all 3,448 state-funded secondary schools in England, it would amount to £138 million.
Mr Barton added: “We are picking up concerns from school leaders about the potential for financial losses in the event of them having to cancel planned trips abroad during the Easter holidays.
“Our understanding is that if they decide to cancel a trip because of parental concerns about the situation regarding coronavirus, they may not be able to claim back the cost on insurance policies unless there is government guidance against travelling to a specific region or country.
“This leaves them in a difficult position about what to do in respect of any payments made by parents.”
Mr Barton said that schools are “not obliged” to refund this money, but a refusal to do so “is clearly likely to leave parents feeling aggrieved”.
He added: “As payments for trips tend to be phased, it is also likely that the school will be liable for any outstanding payments to the travel company.
“This is clearly a situation with serious financial implications for schools and we are seeking guidance from the government.”
The government is currently advising against all travel to Hubei Province in China, and the cities of Daegu, Cheongdo and Gyeongsan in South Korea.
It is also advising against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China, and the “lockdown” areas of northern Italy.
However, the government website states that: “The FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] is not advising against travel to any other country/territory as a result of coronavirus risks.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Advice from Public Health England continues to be for schools to remain open, unless advised otherwise.
“We are continually reviewing how best to support all educational settings and the impact of any measures will be considered carefully before being implemented.”