Schools bring in diggers to clear snow for exams (From Bucks Free Press)

Schools bring in diggers to clear snow for exams

2:44pm Friday 8th January 2010 in

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DEDICATED staff and parents from two High Wycombe schools have drafted in extra help in the battle against the snow in a bid to stage next week's exams by bringing in diggers.

Wycombe High and John Hampden Grammar School have hired the diggers to clear the schools of snow ahead of the month-long AS and A-Level exams which start on Monday.

Wycombe High headteacher Sharon Cromie and around 20 other teachers, staff and parents have been desperately trying to clear the snow for two days but manual shovelling was proving to be “a hopeless task”.

She was alerted to the diggers by a parent who spotted ASDA using them to clear their car parks this week and called in a favour from the supermarket.

Parent Simon Morris has also volunteered to clear snow with his tractor and plough should the heavens open this weekend.

Miss Cromie said: “We had around 25cm and we have a large site. About 20 people came in to shovel it away but it just wasn't happening.

“But a parent said they had seen ASDA using these diggers, so we called them, asked if they could help and they put us in touch with the company and we're getting there now.

“We have 200 students in Year 12 due to come in to do their AS exams and another 200 in Year 13, many of which will also be in to take A2 exams.

“We have consulted the JCQ and it advised us to do our best to get the exams on otherwise the students will have to be entered into the May exams.

"And that wouldn't be fair on them as they have been revising for weeks and are ready now.

“We are doing everything we can to get these exams on for the students sake and I must say the site staff, teachers and volunteers have been brilliant.”

John Hampden headteacher Stephen Nokes said his staff and even nearby students had volunteered to help clear the snow from the Marlow Hill-based school.

The school has also been in touch with the school buses to arrange main road pick up points to enable the 450 pupils expected to sit exams next week could get in.

He said: “We've been clearing the snow for two days, some of the teachers, staff, a few parents and even students have been here helping out.

“We have also moved a number of people from the exam board in nearby to make sure the exams can go ahead.

“But an enormous thank you to those that made the trip in, many of which walked up the slippery hills, to help clear the snow and ice.”