Parents who send their children to a school in Poole were left horrified when they learned that a student had been left to sleep on the coach overnight during a trip to London.
The group of youngsters from Broadstone Middle School set off to the capital last Wednesday (5 July), ready for a three-day trip which saw them visit a series of landmarks and go to the West End to see a musical.
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Staff kept parents updated with posts and pictures from the trip, showing the group posing at Wembley Stadium and enjoying a buffet dinner, but things took a turn on the second evening away after the group watched a performance of Wicked.
The school has shared a statement with Tyla explaining what happened, saying: "Last Thursday night, after the children attended a performance in Central London, they travelled back to the hotel, based in the North of outer London.
"Most regrettably, a child who fell asleep on the journey home, was left sleeping on the coach after it was locked for the night in the hotel car park."
After the child was discovered, headteacher Dawn Wilks was quick to assure families the child was 'safe and well', and that their parents had been informed.
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The child was happy to continue on the trip before heading home later that day.
The statement said there were 'robust risk assessments' in place, but admitted a 'highly serious error occurred'.
Parents were stunned after hearing the news, with one Broadstone mum telling the Mail Online: "What happened at my son’s school is completely disgraceful and a huge safeguarding issue.
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"The school took children on a three-day residential trip to London, a child was left on a coach overnight and nobody noticed until morning.
"Simple risk assessment procedures were clearly not followed. How can this happen?"
The school is now focused on 'undertaking a systematic and thorough investigation of the incident'.
"We are working with the parents and staff involved to determine how this happened," the statement continued.
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"We have informed all relevant authorities. We hope you understand that whilst this investigation is taking place, we cannot share specific information more widely, other than with those directly involved in the incident.
"We will of course provide further details and actions taken to reassure you that the school has taken every possible action to ensure this never happens again, as soon as possible."
Broadstone Middle School welcomes children aged nine to 13.
Emily Brown