The school "failed to ensure the safety" of pupils

The group, from Salford, became separated in "torrential" weather conditions after their teacher fell and broke his leg in April last year.

Yeshaya Schneck, a 14-year-old pupil from the Jewish Senior Boys' School, suffered a hairline skull fracture when he fell down a hillside in the north Wales mountain range, Salford magistrates were told.

An RAF helicopter then rescued six others, aged 12 to 14, one of whom was hanging by his fingertips from a muddy rock, the court heard on Thursday.

Another was found holding onto a tree, two were found on a slippery ledge and the other two were lost on another part of the hill.

Poor planning

It was only because passing hill walkers were able to alert emergency services that the group was rescued, said the Health and Safety Executive.

Prosecutor Catherine Willars said the school failed to ensure the safety of its pupils, as a result of poor planning, preparation and supervision.

Acting headteacher Rabbi Michael Schwartz admitted the charge and the school was ordered to pay �400 costs in addition to the fine.

Mrs Willars said the weather forecast had been checked and the trip began in good weather.

After the picnic one of the teachers, Rabbi Joshua Israel took 15 "energetic" boys on a longer walk while nine others went on an easier route.

Teachers 'naive'

Mrs Willars told the court "[But] Rabbi Israel slipped and hurt his leg, in fact he actually broke his leg.

"[Then] suddenly there was a change in the weather."

She told the court the seven boys went missing in conditions described to the court as "torrential", and mobile phones then stopped working.

The schoolteachers were "naive" and had failed to plan the trip adequately, said Mrs Willars.