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Teachers' Marbella trip cancelled Teachers' Marbella trip cancelled
(20 minutes later)
A four-day teachers' training trip to Marbella in southern Spain, which would have cost thousands of pounds, has been called off.A four-day teachers' training trip to Marbella in southern Spain, which would have cost thousands of pounds, has been called off.
Pupils at Edensor Technology College in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, had been expected to stay at home on Thursday and Friday while teachers were away. Pupils at Edensor Technology College in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, were expected to stay at home on Thursday and Friday while teachers were away.
City council officials said the trip had been called off but gave no reason. The school's head Richard Mercer said it had been called off because of "pressure from media interest".
Staff are now expected to discuss the school's new curriculum and academy plans on site. Staff will now discuss the school's new curriculum and academy plans on site.
The full cost of the trip has not been disclosed, but BBC calculations estimated it at £18,000. The cost of the trip has not been disclosed, but a calculation by the BBC's Midlands correspondent Fiona Trott estimated it at £18,000, based on 80 staff travelling to the Spanish city.
'Absolutely barmy'
In a statement Mr Mercer said: "Following the recent publicity concerning the proposed visit to Marbella for training purposes by staff from Edensor Technology College, it has been decided to cancel the trip.
"The training programme will now take place at the school over the next two days.
"It was felt that due to the pressure from media interest in the trip it would be unfair to the staff, pupils and parents."
Stoke-on-Trent's elected mayor Mark Meredith had previously criticised the planned trip and said he was glad it had been called off.Stoke-on-Trent's elected mayor Mark Meredith had previously criticised the planned trip and said he was glad it had been called off.
He told BBC Radio Stoke: "We did think it was an absolutely barmy idea.
"We told the head teacher that. He's usually a very level-headed individual and a good leader of the school.
"I know he's incredibly creative but I explained I thought his creative juices had overflowed."