BEACON Education Trust schools across West Somerset reopened on Monday (July 21) after being closed on Friday following the A396 coach tragedy in which a 10-year-old Minehead Middle School pupil was killed and 21 other people injured.

Two other year five pupils remained critically ill in a trauma hospital in Bristol, while two adults were still in Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton.

The coach was carrying pupils and staff who had been on an enrichment week trip to Exmoor Zoo when it came off the road on Cutcombe Hill, between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe, and flipped onto its roof and slid 20 feet down an embankment.

Hundreds of floral tributes have been left outside the middle school as a wave of grief swept through the community, and nearly £50,000 has been raised from a number of online fund-raising appeals set up to help the families involved.

Dozens of local families were seen crying as they laid flowers outside the school gates and hugged as they read the tributes left to those involved in the crash, with some describing it as a ‘sombre day’.

Cards, flowers, and cuddly toys lined the street as the community rallied together to show support.

Floral tributes, stuffed toys and messages have been left outside the gates of Minehead Middle School in Somerset, following the tragic bus crash that killed a pupil on July 17 2025. Floral tributes have been left outside a school after a fatal bus crash that killed a pupil. One child died and 21 people were injured after the coach slid 20ft down an embankment during a day trip from Minehead Middle School in Somerset. Two other children were airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following the horrific crash on the A396 at around 3pm on Thursday. The 70-seater vehicle was taking pupils back from a zoo when it came off road Wheddon Cross.
Some of the floral tributes laid outside Minehead Middle School. PHOTO: Filipa Gaspar/SWNS. ( )

The message on one card read: “RIP. We sure are going to miss your infectious smile. Shine bright angel. Thinking of your family, much love.”

One family left a small blue cuddly toy of a seal with a tag around its neck which said: “Dear friend. Nothing you ever done in the world would lead you to deserve this. I love performing in The Regal and will dedicate all my shows to you.”

Another read: “Thinking of everyone at this heart breaking and devastating time. Our community is holding you all tight and surrounding you with love.”

Written on another card was: “Our hearts are broken but we stand strong to support you at this most difficult time. RIP little one, fly high with the angels.”

Among those paying tribute was Karin White, who said: “It is a bit of a shock. We know the area where the coach tumbled over the hill.

Floral tributes, stuffed toys and messages have been left outside the gates of Minehead Middle School in Somerset, following the tragic bus crash that killed a pupil on July 17 2025. Floral tributes have been left outside a school after a fatal bus crash that killed a pupil. One child died and 21 people were injured after the coach slid 20ft down an embankment during a day trip from Minehead Middle School in Somerset. Two other children were airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following the horrific crash on the A396 at around 3pm on Thursday. The 70-seater vehicle was taking pupils back from a zoo when it came off road Wheddon Cross.
Touching messages have been written by local people in the wake of the Middle Middle School coach tragedy. PHOTO: Filipa Gaspar/SWNS ( )

“From the aerial view you can see it is all wooded and it is terrible.”

Meghan White. Who knew one of the adults on the coach, who was ‘ok’, said: “I used to travel there daily to go to work.

“It is easy to forget how steep it is down the side of the banks.

“I was very shocked.

“I reached out to all my friends and family and people who go to the school just to see if they had anybody involved and if they need any help.

“It is incredible that everybody has come out to pay tribute.”

Floral tributes, stuffed toys and messages have been left outside the gates of Minehead Middle School in Somerset, following the tragic bus crash that killed a pupil on July 17 2025. Floral tributes have been left outside a school after a fatal bus crash that killed a pupil. One child died and 21 people were injured after the coach slid 20ft down an embankment during a day trip from Minehead Middle School in Somerset. Two other children were airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following the horrific crash on the A396 at around 3pm on Thursday. The 70-seater vehicle was taking pupils back from a zoo when it came off road Wheddon Cross.
Local residents have continued laying floral tributes following the Minehead Middle School coach tragedy. PHOTO: Filipa Gaspar/SWNS. ( )

Another woman said: “I am still in shock. I had a child in this school she is 18 now.

“We are a tight knit community around here.

“It affects the whole community around here.

“I have just been down to Tesco and everybody is red-eyed.

“Everybody I talk to bursts into tears.

“I know people with children in the school.

“My friend’s niece was involved, she is ok but she had to get stitches in her leg.

“You feel so helpless, there is nothing you can do.”

One middle school teacher posted on social media: “My amazing students, I could not be prouder of all of you today, how incredibly brave you have been.

An ambulance outside the Rest and Be Thankful pub in Wheddon Cross, where a rest centre was set up for survivors of this afternoon's school coach crash. PHOTO: George Ody
An ambulance outside the Rest and Be Thankful pub in Wheddon Cross, where a rest centre was set up for survivors of Thursday’s school coach crash. PHOTO: George Ody. ( )

''You have looked after each in what was a life-changing event, we will get through this together.

“Today, I feel so lucky to be your teacher.

“I am so grateful to my wonderful colleagues during this time who were also fighting to help as many people as we could.

“My deepest condolences to all parents, carers, family, and friends involved.

“Finally, thank you to the emergency services who have saved many lives today and to the brilliant public who went out of their way to look after myself and, most importantly, the wonderful students of Minehead Middle School.”

One Minehead mother Simona, aged 42, who did not want to give her surname, laid flowers with her sons Eric, aged 12, and Kevin, aged nine, who both attend the middle school.

Simona said there were two buses which took the children to the zoo and Kevin was on the first one, which returned safely.

When then they arrived back at school they did not know why the second bus had not returned.

Simona said: “I was shocked because he could have been on that bus.

“One of his friends was there and he was alright.

“The other one passed away sadly, he knows him.”

Emergency crews are rescuing passengers from a bus following a crash. The 999 teams were called to a collision on the A396 Cutcombe Hill, between Wheddon Cross and Timbercombe in Somerset. Calls came in at about 3pm today reporting a bus had left the road near the junction with Ashwell Lane and Steart Lane. Police say most of the passengers have been taken off the bus but fire crews are rescuing others.
A massive multi-agency emergency response was witnessed in Wheddon Cross following a school coach crash on Cutcombe Hill. PHOTO: Mark Passmore/SWNS.

A Beacon Education spokesperson said: “Our entire school community are devastated and we will do everything we can to support everybody affected.

“We are working closely with the emergency services and relevant authorities, and we will support our pupils, staff, and families at this incredibly difficult time.”

Police are continuing to appeal for anybody who witnessed the collision or has any dashcam footage which could be relevant to call 101 and give the reference 5225201782.

Chief Superintendent Mark Edgington said: “Please avoid speculating about the circumstances on social media, to prevent additional distress for the children, their families, the school community, staff, and the driver, who are all deeply affected by what’s happened.”