schools opening when it has snowed!

meds12_2 · 21 January 2013 at 10:30AM

Don't know if the answer to this has been posted as only read the first page but if schools open when it snows it tends to have a significant negative effect on their attendance stats- the staff struggle in from all over the West Mids while generally only 1/3 of the students bother coming in- so our school (massive secondary, 2000 students, which almost always stays open) takes a big hit on our attendance figures whilst other schools who tend to close have stats which look better). Please bear in mind that poor attendance can trigger Ofsted inspections.

We were open on Friday. The staff got in- we don't get paid if the school is open and we don't make it in, most of the kids actually came in, but then it turned into chaos as it snowed throughout the day and we had hundreds of parents calling in and dropping in to pick up their children before the snow made the roads impassable. In the end we closed after lunch as we needed a class of 30pupils just to do the running around the various lessons picking children up to be sent home, and people were slipping over all over the shop (1 ambulance was required, which then raised the possibility of litigation).

It is closed today, and I was up early to start work. I have a 6year old and 2year old at home too so not sure how much I will get done. I am actually disappointed we are closed as I have an a-level exam later in the week that for which I am losing 3hours revision with the students today.

balletshoes · 21 January 2013 at 11:01AM

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Exactly? Did you measure it?

my mum did

- because if we'd been more than 2 miles away from school by road, we'd have got school transport provided.

balletshoes · 21 January 2013 at 11:05AM

lostinrates wrote: »

2 miles is not that far. It's half an hour ish. I can walk that and back mos days and I am often using walking stick.

granted its been a few years since I had to walk it as a young child, but it took me a lot longer than half an hour - no pavements either.

peachyprice · 21 January 2013 at 11:45AM

balletshoes wrote: »

granted its been a few years since I had to walk it as a young child, but it took me a lot longer than half an hour - no pavements either.

Especially in the snow, with full school bags and PE kits

Also, it's all very well making them walk 2 miles to school in the snow, but they then have to spend the day in wet cold clothes or lugging around full winter clothing and boots as they don't have lockers or cloakrooms anymore, which then becomes an H&S issue with all this paraphernalia strewn over classroom floors.

maman · 21 January 2013 at 12:14PM

Now that our weather's getting worse the snow is bringing the teacher-bashers out earlier in the year than usual.

Soon it will be time to pose the usual question that teacher-bashers love: 'Should I take my child on a term time holiday?'.

Teacher-bashing is now officially an all year round pursuit!!

wallbash · 21 January 2013 at 12:14PM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21121284

Guessing that a few parents had wished that the school had been closed .

nottslass_2 · 21 January 2013 at 1:18PM

The thing that I don't understand is that schools are to only place that appear to shut during the bad weather.

Has anyone ever seen a Tesco (or any shop) shut due to the snow ?

Every other buisness / service manages to operate despite the weather conditions, what makes a school so unique............

peachyprice · 21 January 2013 at 1:33PM

nottslass wrote: »

The thing that I don't understand is that schools are to only place that appear to shut during the bad weather.

Has anyone ever seen a Tesco (or any shop) shut due to the snow ?

Every other buisness / service manages to operate despite the weather conditions, what makes a school so unique............

Erm, maybe the fact that they are responsible for the safety of 100's or 1000's of children?

There's already a member here suing her school because her son broke his tooth on PE equipment, can you imagine the field day parents like that would have if little Johhny fell over and broke his leg in the snow covered playground?

toshkininny · 21 January 2013 at 1:44PM

Well I hope they let the children play in the snow at our school - my children didn't want to go today but my playing card was to tell them at least they can play in the snow with their friends at lunchtime.

kingfisherblue · 21 January 2013 at 2:04PM

I've cancelled my Rainbows and Brownies tonight. I live four miles away, and the weather was great last night with a definite thaw. This morning I have woken up to thick snow and slippy roads. I'm not prepared, as a volunteer, to risk driving in the snow. Also, some of my Rainbows and Brownies are not from the immediate area either, so there is a risk to the children and their parents as well. That's if anybody turned up with the bad weather - and I would be very miffed if I turned up and none of the girls did!