The Northland high school involved in the death of a student at Abbey Caves will train all staff in risk management for education outside of the classroom.
WorkSafe is investigating after 15-year-old Karnin Ahorangi Petera died during a trip to the caves with his year 11 Whangārei Boys’ High School outdoor education class last month.
The caving trip took place during a heavy rain warning and Karnin was swept away in floodwater.
The school is working though an “improvement notice” issued by WorkSafe and has stopped all high risk activities until the regulator is confident the risks can be safely managed.
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Police are investigating the death on behalf of the coroner and the school is also doing their own, internal investigation with the help of Education Outdoors New Zealand.
As part of the improvement notice, the school must run professional learning for staff on risk management practices for education outside the classroom, according to a report to the school’s Board of Trustees.
David White/Stuff
The Whangārei Boys’ High School year 11 outdoor education trip to Abbey Caves last month turned deadly, but the school is now implementing new rules for education outside the classroom.
Education outside the classroom includes outdoor education, like the trip to Abbey Caves, plus extracurricular activities which include cultural and sports trips.
Education Outdoors NZ suggested the school run two interactive training sessions: A four-hour session with senior leadership and key teachers in charge, and a one-hour session for all other staff.
All staff are to be taught how safety is a shared responsibility, effective supervision structures – including clear roles and responsibilities – and using risk assessment standards and standard operating procedures to control risk.
The session for key staff will be expanded to include legal responsibilities for health and safety, planning processes, leadership and supervision, and emergency response plans.
The school’s board will also get a 30-minute session in July on its responsibility when it comes to education outside the classroom.
Denise Piper/Stuff
Whangārei Boys’ High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith says the school has been overwhelmed with support from around the country following the death of Karnin Petera. (File photo)
On Tuesday evening, the Board of Trustees also updated its education outside the classroom policy, it now states it must sign off any education done offsite, in high-risk environments before they ahead.
It also added a new guideline that recognises that health and safety systems for education outside the classroom be continually improved.
Previously, the board only signed off on overnight and international trips.
The moves come after the school admitted it wasn’t sure what a high risk activity was and if the likes of a sailing regatta should be included.
WorkSafe visited the school in March after a teacher was seriously injured by an unguarded machine in the school’s workshop, while two students were also seriously injured in 2022.
Meanwhile, principal Karen Gilbert-Smith said the school community has been overwhelmed by the support and care it has received from all over the country, in light of the death.
A series of morning teas have been put on by other local schools and groups, running right up until this week, she told the board on Tuesday night.
Staff and students involved have been offered extensive and ongoing support, she said.
Ministry of Education crisis funding is also being used for student counselling and to employ a senior leader for a fixed term.
