St John’s students returning from a ski-trip to Alpe D’Huez, France, were given a real life experience of the Calais refugee crisis on Saturday January 5.
A 29 year old male from Sudan managed to stow away in the luggage hold of the coach in which the St John’s students and staff were travelling. On arrival at St John’s he emerged from the hold.
The police were called and he was arrested for entering the UK illegally. He was taken to Gablecross Custody where he was detained before being taken by the immigration authorities to a detention centre. He remained calm and compliant throughout.
In a letter sent to parents and carers of students on the ski trip, St John’s new principal, Ian Tucker, said, “There were no unpleasant scenes and the students and staff were all safe, with the police arriving within minutes…we are addressing this situation with the bus company and we are seeking assurances with regard to their procedures.”
“The way the students and staff dealt with the situation so calmly gives me great confidence in the school and the way it approaches student safety and wellbeing.”
