THE Coronavirus outbreak has cast a cloud over Hunter schools' plans to take their students on international excursions, forcing some to cancel or put travel on hold.
Head of Newcastle Grammar School Erica Thomas said the crisis had impacted planned trips to locations including China and Oxford.
"It's very difficult given the rolling nature of the COVID-19 restrictions as the situation changes here and internationally," Ms Thomas said.
"Insurance policies don't cover a decision not to travel due to concerns with COVID-19, so where we can pause or hold we are doing so to try to help parents who have paid money towards these trips not be liable for full amounts if we need to cancel.
"Saying that, the safety of students and our staff is paramount in all decision making."
Ms Thomas said the school did lose some money after deciding in January to cancel a language trip of 15 students to China in April, but was still working with the tour company on refunds.
She said the school had been planning to send 10 students to an Oxford Royale Academy program in July.
"Parents have paid deposits on the course as well as airfares - we are trying to resolve refunds with Oxford should we not proceed," she said.
"This is a higher risk because of the boarding component with students from around the world.
"Airline deposit is smaller and we have another month before we have to make a decision on whether to proceed with the flights."
She said the school was proceeding with plans for its annual social justice trip to Vietnam in December.
The NSW Department of Education has told state school principals they are required to put international excursions on hold until further notice.
It has also told principals they will need to cancel or consider rescheduling any excursions planned for later in term one.
Hunter Sports High principal Rachel Byrne said her school had put its 12-day "cultural immersion excursion" to Japan in September "on hold".
"As of now the network director and I have made the decision to keep it on hold," Ms Byrne said.
"This will be reviewed as more things come to light - we don't know if that will be two weeks or one month - but if things start to ramp up I dare say that decision will be made sooner rather than later."
Ms Byrne said she understood parents of about 20 students had paid the first instalment in a payment plan for the trip.
"It's just the initial confirmation that they're willing and interested to go and definitely want a position on the camp," she said.
"If it was postponed I'd say it would be refunded and parents may choose to put that towards an excursion the following year or when we get the final approval to go ahead."
Ms Byrne said the school had gone on a similar international excursion - its first in a "long, long time" a couple of years ago - and it had been a "huge success".
A Department of Education spokesperson said they understood the Hunter School of the Performing Arts had cancelled upcoming tours "after considering the advice provided by NSW Health and the Commonwealth Government".
"The health and wellbeing of students and staff are always the department's highest priorities," the spokesperson said.
