School closure explanation

Headteachers, chairs of governors and council officers share concerns about school closures, and especially when they run over a prolonged period as appears the case with this particular period of freezing weather conditions and heavy snow.

We are acutely aware of the problems caused when a school cannot open, for parents, for young people and for employers. The decision to close is a serious one and is not taken lightly. It will be based on a careful risk assessment carried out by the headteacher and chair of governors.

The types of issues they have to consider include:

• The physical safety of the children and young people: ice, snow, possible heating failure in the school, possible power cuts;

• The availability of staff to ensure that the school can operate safely: many teachers will not live as locally to the school as its students, and may not be able to get to the school;

• Travel to school: emergency services may be advising that travel by road should be avoided unless absolutely essential; many schools may be located on roads that are not a priority for clearing or gritting/salting. The Council’s resources are inevitably concentrated on major roads and arterial routes;

• Car parking may be hazardous at the school; although working parties of volunteer parents and the community could help to clear these;

• Transport providers who bring children in to school from outlying settlements may be unable to safely transport the children. Some schools receive pupils from a wide area.

We all recognise the absolute need to get our schools open again as soon as we possibly, and safely, can. Head teachers keep the situation under constant review, and the council supports them in their risk assessment so that they can make appropriate decisions reflecting the circumstances of their school.

In the meantime, schools will be endeavouring to make full use of their Learning Platforms to provide some ‘distance learning’ for their pupils and students.

Andy Couldrick - General Manager, Children's Services

Rob Stanton - Lead Member, Children's Services