Severe Weather
It is recognised that severe weather conditions may occasionally make it problematic for staff to travel to work. In the event of disruption caused by heavy snow the prime concern of the school is always the safety of the pupils and staff. The decision to close the school will take account of the safety of all our pupils and staff, some of whom travel a great distance to school each day. We will always endeavour to open the school in the event of bad weather, as long as it is safe to do so. If a teacher is unable to get to school we may need to close that class, as we must ensure that adult / pupil ratios are always within the legal requirements.
If the school is open in snow or bad weather the decision as to whether or not to send a pupil to school, however, must be at the discretion of the parents, taking into account factors such as local road conditions and the availability of child-care. In the event of bad weather, parents should check whether the school is open before travelling to the site. If the school is closed pupils who get to the school will be turned away.
There are a number of ways to confirm whether the school is open or closed:
If the school does open, but extreme weather develops during the day, we will aim to remain open until the end of the normal school day at 3.15 pm. However this is not always possible when roads are becoming treacherous. In which case parents will be contacted and asked to
collect their child/children as soon as possible. Under these conditions we will take verbal permission for their child/children to be collected by a nominated adult. Normal lessons may be curtailed, and the remaining pupils assembled in groups under the supervision of authorised members of staff to await collection.
Staff will always make every reasonable effort to undertake the journey to school. It is appreciated that the journey may take longer than normal and therefore some staff may not be able to arrive before the normal start of the school day. It may also be necessary to ask all children to bring packed lunches if the kitchen staff are unable to reach school safely.
It is always a difficult decision to close the school and we will make every effort to ensure parents are kept informed about the closure. We ask for your forbearance and understanding if these circumstances occur. Please also ensure that the School Office always has an up to date mobile number as well as a working email address.
Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust