British schools planning to take groups to France between now and Sunday have been advised not to do so.
The Foreign Office issued the advice in line with guidance from the French Ministry of Education.
It said: “As part of the national state of emergency, the French Ministry of Education has cancelled all school trips within France by French schools until Sunday.
“This includes excursions to cultural sites (theatres, museums, etc) and travel by school groups on public transport. These cancellations don’t specifically include foreign school parties, but the French Ministry of Education has advised foreign school groups to avoid travelling to France until after 22 November.
“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommends that British schools planning to take groups to France between now and 22 November follow the French Ministry of Education’s advice not to travel. The French Ministry of Education has advised that school trips already under way in France may continue as originally planned.”
The headteacher of a school in Grimsby said he was cancelling two trips to France, even though doing so felt like “giving in to terrorism”.
Some 96 pupils aged 12 and 13 from Tollbar Academy were due to leave for St Omer in two groups on a French and history trip, one on Thursday and the other a week later.
David Hampson, chief executive of Tollbar Multi Academy Trust, which runs the school, told BBC Radio 5 live: “It was a decision we made with great regret, but it was necessary and we felt in the interests of the safety of the pupils.
“It’s giving in to terrorism, but in this case I’m in a position of loco parentis for children that are 12 and 13 years old.
“The parents are in an absolutely hideous position. The children want to go, [but] the parents have obviously got concerns about their safety, as I have.”
Mr Hampson said the school was hopeful of receiving full reimbursement from its insurance company, but will ensure that, either way, all parents involved are repaid the £285 cost of the trip.
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