Schools shut or closing early due to snow (From Bucks Free Press)

I think that people often think more about their own inconvenience, and less about the fact that the staff need to get into school, & home again safely!! Many teachers live in surrounding villages, which can be hard getting too!!
I for one would not like to be driving in this weather, so I really wouldn't want anyone else too!!

No one likes driving in this weather but a lot of parents still have to go into work. What would happen if doctors and nurses didn't go into work, what would happen if shops closed because no staff.
It's always the schools that are first to close.
How many private sector workers have been told they don't need to go to work today because of the snow.
I expect the council will close there offices early like last year to allow there staff to go home.
It's not only teachers that have to drive to work. I know people that have to drive 35 miles each way to work and have still gone into work today.

Bookermum wrote:
I think that people often think more about their own inconvenience, and less about the fact that the staff need to get into school, & home again safely!! Many teachers live in surrounding villages, which can be hard getting too!!
I for one would not like to be driving in this weather, so I really wouldn't want anyone else too!!

Many people who work for private companies live in outlying villages as well and yet manage perfectly well to get in and out of work safely. why is it people who work for the public sector such as teacher find themselves incapable of doing so?

fair say wrote:
No one likes driving in this weather but a lot of parents still have to go into work. What would happen if doctors and nurses didn't go into work, what would happen if shops closed because no staff.
It's always the schools that are first to close.
How many private sector workers have been told they don't need to go to work today because of the snow.
I expect the council will close there offices early like last year to allow there staff to go home.
It's not only teachers that have to drive to work. I know people that have to drive 35 miles each way to work and have still gone into work today.

Most my friends are private sector workers, & most of them have been told to work from home today :D

I am a teacher in a school and we did not choose to close until the ground was covered in snow (including the surrounding roads).
The majority of parents were complaining that we had not closed earlier or quicker!
Schools have a duty of care to their children who have to travel in and back from school, many walking along roads where cars are now sliding all over the place. They also have to think of their staff. I am at a school in High Wycombe and we have three staff members who live in Oxford, two from Slough, one from Rickmansworth and the rest from tricky places to reach (Missenden etc).
All of my family members are from the private sector and I have a number of friends who work in the private sector. They have either been told to work from home or have been sent back home.
The people who complain at school closures will not be happy until all schools stay open in all conditions, no matter how treacherous. When a child is killed from the unsafe conditions, that will not matter, they will just be ecstatic that the schools stayed open! To be honest, if that was the case, they'll probably all be complaining about something else anyway! Complaining for complaining sake.

What a stupid and pointless poll. Al this will do is fuel the complaining rather than having a proper debate.

More to the point it why are the schools closing for voting in May? This is just as inconvenient and I will lose another days pay.

Why does the Met office even bother to issue weather warnings? When people don't listen you get hoards stuck in their cars like a couple of years ago. When people do listen you get moaning and groaning about the schools closing early.

5656l5656 wrote:
I am a teacher in a school and we did not choose to close until the ground was covered in snow (including the surrounding roads).
The majority of parents were complaining that we had not closed earlier or quicker!
Schools have a duty of care to their children who have to travel in and back from school, many walking along roads where cars are now sliding all over the place. They also have to think of their staff. I am at a school in High Wycombe and we have three staff members who live in Oxford, two from Slough, one from Rickmansworth and the rest from tricky places to reach (Missenden etc).
All of my family members are from the private sector and I have a number of friends who work in the private sector. They have either been told to work from home or have been sent back home.
The people who complain at school closures will not be happy until all schools stay open in all conditions, no matter how treacherous. When a child is killed from the unsafe conditions, that will not matter, they will just be ecstatic that the schools stayed open! To be honest, if that was the case, they'll probably all be complaining about something else anyway! Complaining for complaining sake.

When i was at school, closing was unheard of, teachers, staff, still had a duty towards the children then, it can be done.

5656l5656 wrote:
I am a teacher in a school and we did not choose to close until the ground was covered in snow (including the surrounding roads).
The majority of parents were complaining that we had not closed earlier or quicker!
Schools have a duty of care to their children who have to travel in and back from school, many walking along roads where cars are now sliding all over the place. They also have to think of their staff. I am at a school in High Wycombe and we have three staff members who live in Oxford, two from Slough, one from Rickmansworth and the rest from tricky places to reach (Missenden etc).
All of my family members are from the private sector and I have a number of friends who work in the private sector. They have either been told to work from home or have been sent back home.
The people who complain at school closures will not be happy until all schools stay open in all conditions, no matter how treacherous. When a child is killed from the unsafe conditions, that will not matter, they will just be ecstatic that the schools stayed open! To be honest, if that was the case, they'll probably all be complaining about something else anyway! Complaining for complaining sake.

Well it's funny that when some of us went to school in the past we had to go into school no matter how bad the weather. I remember having to queue and wait for a school bus for over an hour due to it being late as the diesel in it's fuel tank had frozen. Having to walk over a mile to school with the snow above my knee's. And yet the schools today close with just a few millimeters of snow on the ground. And i don't know what companies your friends work for as most people i know are still expected to turn into work or they will not be paid..

sidthesexist wrote:

5656l5656 wrote:
I am a teacher in a school and we did not choose to close until the ground was covered in snow (including the surrounding roads).
The majority of parents were complaining that we had not closed earlier or quicker!
Schools have a duty of care to their children who have to travel in and back from school, many walking along roads where cars are now sliding all over the place. They also have to think of their staff. I am at a school in High Wycombe and we have three staff members who live in Oxford, two from Slough, one from Rickmansworth and the rest from tricky places to reach (Missenden etc).
All of my family members are from the private sector and I have a number of friends who work in the private sector. They have either been told to work from home or have been sent back home.
The people who complain at school closures will not be happy until all schools stay open in all conditions, no matter how treacherous. When a child is killed from the unsafe conditions, that will not matter, they will just be ecstatic that the schools stayed open! To be honest, if that was the case, they'll probably all be complaining about something else anyway! Complaining for complaining sake.

Well it's funny that when some of us went to school in the past we had to go into school no matter how bad the weather. I remember having to queue and wait for a school bus for over an hour due to it being late as the diesel in it's fuel tank had frozen. Having to walk over a mile to school with the snow above my knee's. And yet the schools today close with just a few millimeters of snow on the ground. And i don't know what companies your friends work for as most people i know are still expected to turn into work or they will not be paid..

Well you clearly didn't spend that much time in school as your use of apostrophes and starting sentences with 'And' are shocking!

When you went to school, there wouldn't have been nearly as many vehicles on the road therefore making it easier to travel. Also, all children went to their local school, often within walking distance. This is still the case for some children but due to the option of choice, many children travel a long way to attend their chosen school.

The school has a duty to provide education to it's pupils. It cannot fulfil that duty if it is closed. As has been said before parents manage to get to work, now they have to leave work early in order to pick up their children because teachers can't be bothered to leave for work a little earlier.

As for cars sliding all over the place, a rare few may do, but cars are on the roads and pedestrians are on the pavements!

On Monday my boss was sending people home by lunchtime.

I think it is more sensible to do that and heed met office warnings and go home (unecessarily in some cases) than be stuck in your car in the snow with lots of other people.

It was the heavy traffic that caused the chaos a couple of years ago when a warning was issued and everyone ignored it gridlocking HW and the surrounding areas as people could not go up or down the hills. Gritters could not get out as the roads were full.

We were one of those who ignored it, popped out to do some quick shopping and did not get home till the next day.

thethe wrote:
The school has a duty to provide education to it's pupils. It cannot fulfil that duty if it is closed. As has been said before parents manage to get to work, now they have to leave work early in order to pick up their children because teachers can't be bothered to leave for work a little earlier.

As for cars sliding all over the place, a rare few may do, but cars are on the roads and pedestrians are on the pavements!

If you worked in a school, you would realise that teachers (good ones) are often in school every day from 7:15/7:30.

It has NOTHING to do with teachers not being bothered.

You agree that some cars slide all over the place, it only takes one to slide into the pedestrians on the pavements.

I know perfectly well that some teachers get in early, as to people in many other professions. I am regularly at work well before my paid hours and have made the 20 mile journey to work today. Our office has not closed due to poor weather. And yes, we have pavements and roads where I am

5656l5656 wrote:

sidthesexist wrote:

5656l5656 wrote:
I am a teacher in a school and we did not choose to close until the ground was covered in snow (including the surrounding roads).
The majority of parents were complaining that we had not closed earlier or quicker!
Schools have a duty of care to their children who have to travel in and back from school, many walking along roads where cars are now sliding all over the place. They also have to think of their staff. I am at a school in High Wycombe and we have three staff members who live in Oxford, two from Slough, one from Rickmansworth and the rest from tricky places to reach (Missenden etc).
All of my family members are from the private sector and I have a number of friends who work in the private sector. They have either been told to work from home or have been sent back home.
The people who complain at school closures will not be happy until all schools stay open in all conditions, no matter how treacherous. When a child is killed from the unsafe conditions, that will not matter, they will just be ecstatic that the schools stayed open! To be honest, if that was the case, they'll probably all be complaining about something else anyway! Complaining for complaining sake.

Well it's funny that when some of us went to school in the past we had to go into school no matter how bad the weather. I remember having to queue and wait for a school bus for over an hour due to it being late as the diesel in it's fuel tank had frozen. Having to walk over a mile to school with the snow above my knee's. And yet the schools today close with just a few millimeters of snow on the ground. And i don't know what companies your friends work for as most people i know are still expected to turn into work or they will not be paid..

Well you clearly didn't spend that much time in school as your use of apostrophes and starting sentences with 'And' are shocking!

When you went to school, there wouldn't have been nearly as many vehicles on the road therefore making it easier to travel. Also, all children went to their local school, often within walking distance. This is still the case for some children but due to the option of choice, many children travel a long way to attend their chosen school.

My punctuation and grammar are largely due to the fact the teacher involved gave us a total of half and hours tuition on the subject, hence in the that regard was clearly as lousy as the current generation of teachers.

If families choose to take to a school from a longer distance than usual then it is their responsibility to make sure the kid gets there. If they don't want to do this then they should move the kid to a closer school.

thethe wrote:
I know perfectly well that some teachers get in early, as to people in many other professions. I am regularly at work well before my paid hours and have made the 20 mile journey to work today. Our office has not closed due to poor weather. And yes, we have pavements and roads where I am

If you know that, why did you say that teachers can't be bothered to get in early?! Just trying to peddle a stereotypical myth that you have now backed away from.

I'm glad your office is open as you must be working very hard as you can reply constantly during the day.......

You do have a big chip on your shoulder I must say! Calm down

I didn't say they can't be bothered to get in early, I said they can't be bothered to leave for work earlier

Imagine it is 9am and the met office has issued an amber warning telling people not to travel unless it is vital. Although it is not snowing yet, they say a distruptive and heavy snowfall is on they way.

You are a worker-will you go to work?
You are a parent-will you send your kids to school?
You are a head teacher. You have pupils/teachers who live a distance away that means travel by car. Will you shut the school?

It is 10am and it has started to snow.
Imagine you are a boss and have workers who travel by foot, by car, by train and by rail. Do you send them home?

5656l5656 wrote:

thethe wrote:
I know perfectly well that some teachers get in early, as to people in many other professions. I am regularly at work well before my paid hours and have made the 20 mile journey to work today. Our office has not closed due to poor weather. And yes, we have pavements and roads where I am

If you know that, why did you say that teachers can't be bothered to get in early?! Just trying to peddle a stereotypical myth that you have now backed away from.

I'm glad your office is open as you must be working very hard as you can reply constantly during the day.......

I'm glad your office is open as you must be working very hard as you can reply constantly during the day.......”

What just like you are you mean??????
tough life being a teacher then isn't it.

miccles wrote:

5656l5656 wrote:

thethe wrote:
I know perfectly well that some teachers get in early, as to people in many other professions. I am regularly at work well before my paid hours and have made the 20 mile journey to work today. Our office has not closed due to poor weather. And yes, we have pavements and roads where I am

If you know that, why did you say that teachers can't be bothered to get in early?! Just trying to peddle a stereotypical myth that you have now backed away from.

I'm glad your office is open as you must be working very hard as you can reply constantly during the day.......

I'm glad your office is open as you must be working very hard as you can reply constantly during the day.......”

What just like you are you mean??????
tough life being a teacher then isn't it.

My school closed, we established that.

5656l5656 wrote:

miccles wrote:

5656l5656 wrote:

thethe wrote:
I know perfectly well that some teachers get in early, as to people in many other professions. I am regularly at work well before my paid hours and have made the 20 mile journey to work today. Our office has not closed due to poor weather. And yes, we have pavements and roads where I am

If you know that, why did you say that teachers can't be bothered to get in early?! Just trying to peddle a stereotypical myth that you have now backed away from.

I'm glad your office is open as you must be working very hard as you can reply constantly during the day.......

I'm glad your office is open as you must be working very hard as you can reply constantly during the day.......”

What just like you are you mean??????
tough life being a teacher then isn't it.

My school closed, we established that.

But you claim teachers are so busy that they are in work at 7.15 7.30, if you are that busy, why are you on here????

School maybe shut, but teachers are so overworked, why are you doing schoolwork???

thethe wrote:
I know perfectly well that some teachers get in early, as to people in many other professions. I am regularly at work well before my paid hours and have made the 20 mile journey to work today. Our office has not closed due to poor weather. And yes, we have pavements and roads where I am

Hi thethe.

Glad you made it to work today. Having set a really good example to everyone, will you be working until your normal finishing time. What is that? About 6pm? What will you say to your boss if you are told to go home early?

I hope that you are well prepared for your 20 mile journey home in case it is dangerous and difficult.

Would you still have gone to work if you lived in South Wales where a red warning has been issued?

Well done for those schools taking the difficult decision to close today. It made the roads easier to use this morning, and will do so again as everyone tries to get home safely today in difficult conditions, especially as some areas are already busy.

No, I don't work at one of them.

Fine close the schools for a little bit of snow. How ever many days are closed then these days should be claimed back off the next seasonal holiday. Back in the fifties we would have to walk through what ever the ellements threw at us. If some teachers didnt turn up then we just carried on with whoever turned up, but the schooling went on.

daemonite wrote:
Fine close the schools for a little bit of snow. How ever many days are closed then these days should be claimed back off the next seasonal holiday. Back in the fifties we would have to walk through what ever the ellements threw at us. If some teachers didnt turn up then we just carried on with whoever turned up, but the schooling went on.

That was still happening in the seventies and eighties as well.

I'm so glad I'm at home and didnt try to get to work this morning.

When I went to pick the kids up at lunchtime it was quicker walking than driving and the roads were very busy and slow moving. Saw a couple of people sliding.

My hubbie tells me there's a jacknife lorry down treadaway hill which is closed. I bet he wishes he had stayed at home this morning.

Good luck to everyone who has to drive and take care out there.

Perhaps some thought for the 12 year old now 'seriously injured' whilst walking on the pavement, in collision with a car (see Bucks Free Press report approx.11.30a,m, today), would be in order and grateful thanks that this wasn't your child, or the car driver, might be in order. The ambulance service are asking people to stay in doors and I guess, the child involved, the parents and possibly the car driver, wish that they has followed the advice. Really hope the youngster involved is okay!

"I guess, the child involved, the parents and possibly the car driver, wish that they has followed the advice. Really hope the youngster involved is okay!"

True, but the kid would also have been safe if the school have been open. i.e. in a safe classroom learning.

Given the amount of snow that has actually fallen over the past few hours, is anybody now seriously saying that the schools should have stayed open? How tedious it is to hear the older generation blabbering on about.."in my day....". I hope all the school children are now out enjoying the snow. We probably lose about 1 day a year to snow over a 10 year average. Moan moan moan. And I'm over 50!

Why can't some people think outside the box? it's not rocket science. If teaching staff can't get to school because of travel disruption, then the school need to close. For those of you who looked out of their windows this morning and found the roads to be clear, and wonder why schools had declared closed, do what I and many others did, read the weather warnings, that's what they are there for. The school my kids go to chose to open til 12, and guess what? the parents who sent their kids are now anxious because they are stuck in High Wycombe. My kids, been out snowballing with dad, just had bacon sandwich and are nice and snug at home. Read the red alerts, see the signs, learn from the past and then think again as to whether schools close too easily. My vote is that some schools should have closed, however, value their attendance figures more than their children's safety.

"I hope all the school children are now out enjoying the snow."

Just like on Monday when they were throwing snowballs at the windscreens of buses full of passengers because the schools had to close due to "Health & Safety"

sidthesexist wrote:

5656l5656 wrote: I am a teacher in a school and we did not choose to close until the ground was covered in snow (including the surrounding roads). The majority of parents were complaining that we had not closed earlier or quicker! Schools have a duty of care to their children who have to travel in and back from school, many walking along roads where cars are now sliding all over the place. They also have to think of their staff. I am at a school in High Wycombe and we have three staff members who live in Oxford, two from Slough, one from Rickmansworth and the rest from tricky places to reach (Missenden etc). All of my family members are from the private sector and I have a number of friends who work in the private sector. They have either been told to work from home or have been sent back home. The people who complain at school closures will not be happy until all schools stay open in all conditions, no matter how treacherous. When a child is killed from the unsafe conditions, that will not matter, they will just be ecstatic that the schools stayed open! To be honest, if that was the case, they'll probably all be complaining about something else anyway! Complaining for complaining sake.

Well it's funny that when some of us went to school in the past we had to go into school no matter how bad the weather. I remember having to queue and wait for a school bus for over an hour due to it being late as the diesel in it's fuel tank had frozen. Having to walk over a mile to school with the snow above my knee's. And yet the schools today close with just a few millimeters of snow on the ground. And i don't know what companies your friends work for as most people i know are still expected to turn into work or they will not be paid..

How some people have such vivid memories. I remember schools closing every winter because the pipes had frozen. I agree with comments about less trafic, and also, lets remember, we had snow ploughs on the roads and gritters doing the paths. This country has cut back so much, we don't see this anymore. Obviously these debates could go on for ever, however, those that complain about school closures would almost certainly be the first to complain if anything happen to their child. So it's a no win situation. This is how society has got, (SAD)

However you look at it, 'safe in the classroom', sure! Sadly you actually have to get to and fro afore said classroom. Safest place? Possibly following the advice and not venturing forth unless essential to do so. Oh, and back in the 'good old days', most of us lived within walking distance of our primary school and the volume of traffic was much less. My father used snow chains on his Morris Oxford to negotiate one of Wycombe's steepest hills and get to work and help keep various power stations running.

The schools were correct to close. It is a shame that some of them felt under pressure to leave the decision until it was too late for some parents to get to their children without them getting caught in 2 hour journeys home to travel 6 miles. Maybe that's because they were aware that local press would run stupid polls and the old 'back in my day' would come into play. I don't give my children days of lightly, and I don't take holidays in term time.... But when snow like this is forecast it is a simple case of common sense. Worth mentioning also that the secondary schools with exams have run them with a skeleton staff of local teachers... I would imagine this would include the heads who closed the school, it's not just an excuse for a day off!

Sorry to all those making valid and appropriate points here about why schools close - in my experience you are wasting your time.

The likes of sidthesexist (clue in the name) and daemonite have no interest in engaging in a proper argument with you, nor are prepared to attempt to understand the facts surrounding how school run now.

They have been hoodwinked by the current government's attempts to denegrate education and teachers in particular and aren't prepared to look beyond the Daily Mail to consider the real world.

1) Teachers do not decide to close schools.
2) Complex decision-making concerning Health & Safety and the availability of school transport (run by County Councils) is required by the Headteacher.
3) Many staff either do make it in or work from home for the day.
4) Many schools set work for students via their websites and so learning can continue.

That said, I am sure I have just wasted my own time in saying this too.

"They have been hoodwinked by the current government's attempts to denegrate education and teachers in particular"

That one comment says everything about you.

See, not prepared to engage in the actual facts of the debate.

Still nothing from you sidthesexist? How about engaging in my points 1-4?

I'm wondering if thethe ever made it those 20 miles home?

If not, then thats exactly why e met office issued warnings and the schools closed/workers sent home early.

bucksteacher wrote:
Sorry to all those making valid and appropriate points here about why schools close - in my experience you are wasting your time.

The likes of sidthesexist (clue in the name) and daemonite have no interest in engaging in a proper argument with you, nor are prepared to attempt to understand the facts surrounding how school run now.

They have been hoodwinked by the current government's attempts to denegrate education and teachers in particular and aren't prepared to look beyond the Daily Mail to consider the real world.

1) Teachers do not decide to close schools.
2) Complex decision-making concerning Health & Safety and the availability of school transport (run by County Councils) is required by the Headteacher.
3) Many staff either do make it in or work from home for the day.
4) Many schools set work for students via their websites and so learning can continue.

That said, I am sure I have just wasted my own time in saying this too.

... & many schools end up using snow days as part of their inset time, & teachers then make the inset time up for training after school (in my experiance)!!

As someone who today had to make the very difficult decision on whether to keep my school open or not, it is not one that it taken likely. I have a duty of care to ensure the safety of my staff, pupils and there parents and this extends to ensuring that they are able to travel to and from the school safely. I left the decision to close later than I should purely for fear of not making the right decision and closing prematurely, however, once I knew all my pupils and staff were safely at home and not having to travel in the horrendous condition later in the afternoon I knew I had made the right decision. I am also fortunate enough to have very supportive parents who agreed with my decision. And for the record my staff all went home and worked on things for the children and the school and the children had home learning to do. As a working parent myself I appreciate that when a school closes it presents challenges for those parents who need to go to work, but I can assure you the decision is only ever made when absolutely necessary.

no other sector or industry closes down like schools do its a complete joke. teachers should live close to the school they teach at especily if its such a problem for them to get to work. im not a parent but it must be such an inconvienance for some oarents, some even loosing a days money, getting in trouble with the boss etc. You can understand maybe a few teachers not being able to make it here and there but thats no problem a school can easy sort that out.
All the main roads are fine to drive on we had a bit of snow not mountains of the stuff.
teachers have so much time off over the course of a year and finish earlyer than most people do every day, and they want more money.... lol dont make me laugh there providing a service to the local community so thats what they should do instead of sitting at home on there arse

I think some people should spend a few days shadowing a teacher!! Instead of guessing about how easy it is teaching, they will see what it is actually like!! ... & I think they'd actually be shocked!!!
Schools were not the only places to close yesterday!! & many of my friends from the private sector were told to WFH!!
One friend who did go into work took 3 hours returning home (9 miles)
Trains were disrupted, roads were dangerous (saw this for myself many times), so yes, I think children should be protected from these dangers & schools closed!!
I am fed up with reading hate campaigns towards teachers!! If you could do better, then give it a go!!! ... Obviously you'd only teach at your local school & would make sure you walk in when there is snow etc!!!
Until you've actually done the job how can you judge it??

Thanks for the support, bookermum. buftonp13's post not only demonstrates a lack of written ability with the number of typos, but it also seems that he/she cannot read. Despite numerous previous posts explaining that the decision to close a school is not really anything to do with the teachers' ability to get to work, he/she continues to target teachers!

As I have said previously, people like this are not posting on here because they have any interest in engaging in a proper discussion about issues in education. We can only assume they have too much free time on their hands and just like complaining about anything.

Either that, or their own experience of education was really negative and it has completely skewed their view of teachers. Whilst I sympathise with this, because everyone deserves a good education, if they spent some time in a school today they would be amazed by the fantastic work that teachers are doing, despite the best efforts of the government to destroy morale and create such a 'divide and rule' society.

schools are only responsible for childrens' travel to and from shcool when they use a school bus, not when the children's parents make his/her own arrangements

I have to work as a single mum it's hard to juggle working life with family life so can understand some parents will get stressed about schools closing. I had my children through choice, is it difficult? Of course but sometimes you need to think, do I live to work or work to live? I decided to take the day off work and keep my child at home as I personally didn't think it was worth risking my life or someone else's getting in the car. Yes I lost a days pay but how could I care about that when I put on my wellies and got to spend precious time playing with my child in the snow. Childhood is so precious and special also very short! How would I feel if a car spun into us on our journey and killed my child and I lived or I was killed and left my child with no parent? Life is so precious and can be taken so quickly, personally my child's life and my own are far more important than any job.

buser wrote:
Perhaps some thought for the 12 year old now 'seriously injured' whilst walking on the pavement, in collision with a car (see Bucks Free Press report approx.11.30a,m, today), would be in order and grateful thanks that this wasn't your child, or the car driver, might be in order. The ambulance service are asking people to stay in doors and I guess, the child involved, the parents and possibly the car driver, wish that they has followed the advice. Really hope the youngster involved is okay!

Yes, it's really scary being a parent and worrying about your child coming home safely from school in these icy conditions and with the Wycombe hills. We live at the bottom of a steep hill and there were at least 4 accidents on Friday afternoon, with cars sliding out of control. I'm a teacher, and I was really grateful that my school closed early, so that children could get home safely before the traffic mayhem started. Also, I was able to walk to meet my own older child to make sure they crossed roads safely.

There are drivers who come down the hills far too fast despite the bad conditions - roads such as **** Lane, Hammersley Lane and Abbey Barn Lane. Last year I saw a car spin out of control and go backwards into the trees, just missing a child on the verge.

If this was a flatter area, then maybe schools should stay open in the snow, but the hills and in some places, narrow lanes with no footpaths, make it treacherous for pedestrians.

OK - but can someone explain why schools were closed today - no more snow and some even tomorrow when the roads are now clear?

Shenley05 wrote:
As someone who today had to make the very difficult decision on whether to keep my school open or not, it is not one that it taken likely. I have a duty of care to ensure the safety of my staff, pupils and there parents and this extends to ensuring that they are able to travel to and from the school safely. I left the decision to close later than I should purely for fear of not making the right decision and closing prematurely, however, once I knew all my pupils and staff were safely at home and not having to travel in the horrendous condition later in the afternoon I knew I had made the right decision. I am also fortunate enough to have very supportive parents who agreed with my decision. And for the record my staff all went home and worked on things for the children and the school and the children had home learning to do. As a working parent myself I appreciate that when a school closes it presents challenges for those parents who need to go to work, but I can assure you the decision is only ever made when absolutely necessary.

I take it your a headmaster/mistress etc, your use of grammer is awful...ha ha. pupils and their Parents.

Dr James wrote:

Shenley05 wrote:
As someone who today had to make the very difficult decision on whether to keep my school open or not, it is not one that it taken likely. I have a duty of care to ensure the safety of my staff, pupils and there parents and this extends to ensuring that they are able to travel to and from the school safely. I left the decision to close later than I should purely for fear of not making the right decision and closing prematurely, however, once I knew all my pupils and staff were safely at home and not having to travel in the horrendous condition later in the afternoon I knew I had made the right decision. I am also fortunate enough to have very supportive parents who agreed with my decision. And for the record my staff all went home and worked on things for the children and the school and the children had home learning to do. As a working parent myself I appreciate that when a school closes it presents challenges for those parents who need to go to work, but I can assure you the decision is only ever made when absolutely necessary.

I take it your a headmaster/mistress etc, your use of grammer is awful...ha ha. pupils and their Parents.

the word is grammar and it is you're a teacher as opposed to your a teacher and why did you capitalise the word "parents"? :)
With all due respect, people who live in glass houses should not throw stones ;)