The driver of a coach that crashed in northern France while bringing 29 British schoolchildren and their adult supervisors home from an Italian ski trip was due to appear in a French court on Monday.

The driver of a coach that crashed in northern France while bringing 29 British schoolchildren and their adult supervisors home from an Italian ski trip was due to appear in a French court on Monday.

The driver, whose name has not yet been released by the French authorities, was due before a judge in Châlons-en-Champagne pending further inquiries into the accident, which killed a teacher, Peter Rippington.

Eleven people remain in hospital following the crash near Reims early on Sunday.

The driver has been questioned about the crash since his release from hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

Initial tests showed the driver, who suffered only minor injuries, was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Police are believed to be investigating whether he might have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Six people were said to be seriously injured although their condition was not life-threatening, according to a local prosecutor investigating the crash. A 13-year-old was transferred to the Necker children's hospital in Paris for surgery.

Map: Paul Scruton/guardian.co.uk

Another driver and six ski instructors were also on the coach, which flipped over and came to rest at the bottom of an embankment on the A26 at Châlons-en-Champagne.

Tributes have been paid to 59-year-old Rippington, head of mathematics at Alvechurch middle school in Worcestershire, who died in the crash.

The school was open on Monday with pupils and adults being offered counselling. Police officers were on duty at all three entrances as pupils and parents arrived, some in tears. Dozens of bunches of flowers and notes of sympathy in memory of Rippington had been left around a flagpole inside the school grounds.

A photograph of the teacher with his wife Sharon had been placed near the tributes. She and their daughter Amy were injured in the crash. In a statement, the Rippington family said they were devastated, describing the 59-year-old as "a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, friend and teacher".

Rippington was a "dedicated and inspirational teacher", Bryan Maybee, chairman of the school's governors, said in a statement read outside the school. "He will be so sadly missed by all those who knew him."

After confirming that staff and children who were well enough to travel arrived back from France late on Sunday night, he added: "We continue to wish for the swift recovery and safe return of those who are currently being treated for injuries abroad.

"The school is open today and I can reassure you that specialist support is in place for children and staff."

Rev David Martin, the rector of Alvechurch, said: "The church community are holding all those affected by yesterday's shocking crash in our prayers, especially Peter's family. Peter was very much part of the wider community in Alvechurch and was known and liked by many."

St. Laurence's Church in the village was open to give people an opportunity to say prayers and light candles for Rippington, he said.

Twenty-seven people were taken to two hospitals following the crash, with 22 of those said to have minor injuries.

Interski Snowsport School, the company that arranged the trip, said it was "saddened and distressed". In a statement, it offered its condolences to Rippington's family and friends and sympathy to those injured and others involved in the incident.

The bus was owned by Solus Coaches, which is based in Tamworth, Staffordshire, and was chartered by the ski company. "Our thoughts are with the bereaved, to whom we offer our sincere condolences," said a spokesman. "We are also obviously highly concerned for the welfare of the injured passengers and all others involved in this incident."

The Foreign Office is investigating the accident and providing consular assistance.