Land's End disaster

Although the inquest returned a verdict of death by misadventure, a following private inquiry by Buckinghamshire County Council was critical of headteacher Alec Askew and teacher Robert Harrington.

[1] Eleven pupils, all aged between 10 and 12, scrambled down a cliff path to reach rocks approximately 10 to 15 feet above sea level and remained there for around half an hour playing a game of "dodge the spray".

[2] The four missing children remained unaccounted for by the end of the day, despite a search involving a Royal Navy helicopter, a minesweeper, two lifeboats and a fishing boat.

[10] Survivor Heather Price confirmed that none of the three teachers and two parents responsible for the party that day were present with the group of 11 who wandered below the cliffs, but remained at the top organising a photograph session at the headland's famous signpost.

[19] It also resulted in the widespread adoption by the UK's education authorities of new safety recommendations made by the National Association of Head Teachers.

[20] During 1985, in response to recommendations made at the inquest, six noticeboards were installed at Land's End to warn visitors of the "natural hazards and potential danger[s]" of the cliffs and sea.

[22][23] The families of the four victims, along with residents of Stoke Poges and other communities in South Buckinghamshire, raised approximately £100,000 towards the boat's £450,000 cost.