Hastings school complains about bus driver’s abusive language

A school has filed a lawsuit against a bus company after footage emerged of a driver swearing at schoolchildren.

Phone footage appears to show the driver insulting pupils from Ark Alexandra Academy in Hastings, East Sussex, during a visit to the Science Museum in London.

The school said it was “concerned” to have received complaints from staff, students and parents.

Wise Coaches, based in Hailsham, said the students had been “disruptive” but the driver had not worked for the company since the day after the incident.

In the video seen by the BBC, a man believed to be the bus driver can be heard accusing the children of not wearing seat belts and smoking on the bus.

Gill Lane, whose child was on the bus on July 11, said there were seven teachers on the bus at the time of the incident, which happened halfway through a four-hour journey.

“The teachers’ job is to keep our children safe and manage them on the bus,” she said.

“And this time, they betrayed our children.

“I don’t know if I can keep my kids in school because I don’t know if I can trust them to keep them safe.”

The school said tour staff tried to reason with the coach driver and asked him to moderate his language and behaviour.

A school spokesperson said it communicated with parents and students after the trip and followed up with those affected as appropriate.

Ms Lane said her daughter was “visibly upset” when she returned from the trip.

“It was her first school trip because of the pandemic and I think it will probably be her last because she doesn’t want to go back,” she said.

“It was disgusting and I was really horrified that someone would act like that with children.”

Ark Alexandra Academy said it had filed a formal complaint against Wise Coaches and that the coaching company was investigating.

“We expect the highest standards of conduct from our third-party vendors and our students, both inside and outside of school,” a spokesperson said.

“When students do not meet these expectations, the school takes prompt and appropriate action in accordance with our behavior policy.”

The school is intended for students aged 11 to 18.

The school spokesperson added: “Our school recognises the importance of school trips and the cultural enrichment they bring to our students.”

The video appears to have been taken by a student at the back of the bus and the students appeared to be from one of the older classes at the school.

The 77-year-old coach company said: “We deeply regret and in no way condone the conduct of our driver towards disruptive students during the coach journey.

“The driver stopped working for the company on July 12.”