A Sussex teacher who led a school boating trip in which a nine-year-old girl drowned was today fined £2,000 for his part in the tragedy.

Science teacher Paul Dove, 66, of Mill Road, Burgess Hill, pleaded guilty to failing to take adequate precautions to protect the health and safety of children in his care.

Elizabeth Bee, a pupil of Boundary Oak School in Fareham, Hampshire, died when a motorboat carrying nine children from the school capsized in Portsmouth Harbour in September 1999.

The school was also fined £20,000 for failing to ensure the safety of its pupils and £5,000 for failing to ensure the safety of staff.

Judge Tom MacKean said: "If there is to be any benefit derived from these tragic events it would be that it might encourage other schools or groups to keep the highest possible standards to reduce the risk of further accidents."

Speaking after the hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court, Elizabeth's mother Lesley Bee, 45, of Waterlooville, Hants, said: "I am devastated. This was a tragedy waiting to happen.

"Our lives have been ruined by the lack of duty of care to our children when attending school. How many more children will lose their lives?"

The court heard that the main criticism against Dove was that he was the sole supervisor for nine children. Guidelines issued by the Royal Yachting Association stated that a single teacher should not be in charge of more than six.

The court heard that the trip was dogged with problems, including a boy falling overboard - he was recovered quickly - and the engine failing as the waves rose, rocking the boat.

Sarah Whitehouse, prosecuting, said when Dove asked the children to paddle water started to enter the boat.

She said panic set in as a bucket containing a jellyfish, intended for a science lesson, overturned. That caused the children to run to one side of the boat, further destabilising it.

The boat collapsed and all the occupants were pitched into the water. Four or five were able to climb on top of the hull and others grabbed ropes at the side.

Ms Whitehouse said: "It appears Mr Dove did not carry out a headcount or the headcount he did carry out was inadequate.

"As a result it was some ten minutes before it was realised that Elizabeth Bee was missing. It was her twin sister Victoria who realised her disappearance and began to call her name. When the dory was lifted up she was found unconscious in the water."

Tim Concannon, defending, told the court that this was the first incident involving his client in 30 years of running sailing activities and 40 years as a teacher.

He said Dove, who had since retired, suffered depression as a result of the accident.

Mr Concannon said: "He acknowledges that the decision he took on that day resulted in a fatal accident."

William Norris, defending the school, said: "What happened wasn't a result of laziness, commercial greed or reckless irresponsibility. What happened here is human error in well-intentioned activities.

"They acknowledge that things could have been improved but any system could be improved and the school's responsible attitude to all these aspects is commendable rather than the object of criticism."