This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21122453
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Snow closes thousands of schools | Snow closes thousands of schools |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tens of thousands of pupils are having an extra day off and their parents have an extra childcare problem, as snow closed schools across the UK. | Tens of thousands of pupils are having an extra day off and their parents have an extra childcare problem, as snow closed schools across the UK. |
| From Hampshire in southern England to Aberdeenshire in Scotland, schools have been shut by bad weather in the most widespread disruption of the winter. | From Hampshire in southern England to Aberdeenshire in Scotland, schools have been shut by bad weather in the most widespread disruption of the winter. |
| About one in six schools are believed to have been affected. | About one in six schools are believed to have been affected. |
| Pupils have been taking A-level and GCSE exams on Monday despite the difficult conditions. | Pupils have been taking A-level and GCSE exams on Monday despite the difficult conditions. |
| Head teachers make the final decision on whether to close schools - and schools and councils have been using websites and social networking to keep parents alerted. | Head teachers make the final decision on whether to close schools - and schools and councils have been using websites and social networking to keep parents alerted. |
| About 5,000 schools are believed to have been disrupted by the snow on Monday. | About 5,000 schools are believed to have been disrupted by the snow on Monday. |
| Some parents complained about late decisions on closures and poor communication from some schools. | Some parents complained about late decisions on closures and poor communication from some schools. |
| Justine Roberts, of the parent group Mumsnet, said school closures could be a pain for parents, "but obviously it's more important to them that their children are safe". | Justine Roberts, of the parent group Mumsnet, said school closures could be a pain for parents, "but obviously it's more important to them that their children are safe". |
| 'Communicate more' | 'Communicate more' |
| "Many Mumsnet users worry about having to take time off on a snow day, but actually employers tend to be understanding, particularly if they're parents themselves. | "Many Mumsnet users worry about having to take time off on a snow day, but actually employers tend to be understanding, particularly if they're parents themselves. |
| "The one thing schools could do better in some cases is to communicate more. The most stressful thing is having to make desperate last-minute childcare plans, so schools who send regular text updates or use Parentmail to keep parents up to speed on closures and provide as much advance warning as possible are a lifesaver." | "The one thing schools could do better in some cases is to communicate more. The most stressful thing is having to make desperate last-minute childcare plans, so schools who send regular text updates or use Parentmail to keep parents up to speed on closures and provide as much advance warning as possible are a lifesaver." |
| "No head teacher takes the decision to close their school lightly," said Brian Lightman, head of the Association of School and College Leaders. | "No head teacher takes the decision to close their school lightly," said Brian Lightman, head of the Association of School and College Leaders. |
| "Whilst heads will do everything they can to keep the school open, the key consideration has to be their ability to ensure the safety of students. If they do not think they can provide a site that is safe for the majority of students, they will close." | "Whilst heads will do everything they can to keep the school open, the key consideration has to be their ability to ensure the safety of students. If they do not think they can provide a site that is safe for the majority of students, they will close." |
| Mr Lightman said it was a decision that head teachers "dread", because they can be criticised for closing and can be accused of negligence if they open and there is an accident. | Mr Lightman said it was a decision that head teachers "dread", because they can be criticised for closing and can be accused of negligence if they open and there is an accident. |
| Sion Humphreys, policy adviser at the National Association of Head Teachers, said that head teachers had a duty of care to pupils. | Sion Humphreys, policy adviser at the National Association of Head Teachers, said that head teachers had a duty of care to pupils. |
| Exam worries | Exam worries |
| "They have to consider - is this a safe environment? Is the playground frozen, are there enough teachers? | "They have to consider - is this a safe environment? Is the playground frozen, are there enough teachers? |
| "Most teachers don't live in the community near the school so they have further to travel - so they sometimes find it harder to get in than their pupils." | "Most teachers don't live in the community near the school so they have further to travel - so they sometimes find it harder to get in than their pupils." |
| Keeping a school open depends on transport and access - and David Simmonds of the Local Government Association said councils had made this a priority. | Keeping a school open depends on transport and access - and David Simmonds of the Local Government Association said councils had made this a priority. |
| "Routes to large schools are gritting priorities for local authorities as they know how important keeping them open is both in terms of continuity of teaching for pupils and avoiding costly and disruptive childcare for parents," he said. | "Routes to large schools are gritting priorities for local authorities as they know how important keeping them open is both in terms of continuity of teaching for pupils and avoiding costly and disruptive childcare for parents," he said. |
| But heads had to consider the "local circumstances", said Mr Simmonds, such as "the number of teachers who can make it into work safely, dangerous road conditions, or problems with vital supplies such as food, heating or water". | But heads had to consider the "local circumstances", said Mr Simmonds, such as "the number of teachers who can make it into work safely, dangerous road conditions, or problems with vital supplies such as food, heating or water". |
| He also emphasised the need for early information for families. | He also emphasised the need for early information for families. |
| "A key priority in supporting mums and dads is for schools to ensure they make any decision as soon as possible so families can make arrangements accordingly," said Mr Simmonds. | "A key priority in supporting mums and dads is for schools to ensure they make any decision as soon as possible so families can make arrangements accordingly," said Mr Simmonds. |
| The Department for Education, responsible for schools in England, said: "Schools should wherever possible stay open in severe weather." | The Department for Education, responsible for schools in England, said: "Schools should wherever possible stay open in severe weather." |
| A statement from the department also said that schools that stayed open would not suffer in terms of their attendance statistics, if some pupils were unable to get to school. | A statement from the department also said that schools that stayed open would not suffer in terms of their attendance statistics, if some pupils were unable to get to school. |
| A statement from the Welsh government said the decision on whether to close a school because of bad weather rested with the head teacher and that lost sessions should only be made up if it was "reasonably practicable to do so". | |
| There have been pupils taking A-level and GCSE papers on Monday - including papers in A-level psychology, geography and biology and GCSEs in geography and ICT. | There have been pupils taking A-level and GCSE papers on Monday - including papers in A-level psychology, geography and biology and GCSEs in geography and ICT. |
| The "vast majority" of these exams have gone ahead as planned, says the Ofqual qualifications regulator. | The "vast majority" of these exams have gone ahead as planned, says the Ofqual qualifications regulator. |
| Any prolonged snow closures could cause further problems with more pupils taking exams this week. | Any prolonged snow closures could cause further problems with more pupils taking exams this week. |
| A statement from the Joint Council for Qualifications said that rescheduling these exams was "not an option", because the "integrity of the question papers could be compromised". | A statement from the Joint Council for Qualifications said that rescheduling these exams was "not an option", because the "integrity of the question papers could be compromised". |
| If a school is closed and there are no alternative arrangements possible and the exam cannot be retaken in the summer, the exam authorities say that pupils can apply for "special consideration", which could mean that exam boards take into account factors such as predicted grades. | If a school is closed and there are no alternative arrangements possible and the exam cannot be retaken in the summer, the exam authorities say that pupils can apply for "special consideration", which could mean that exam boards take into account factors such as predicted grades. |
| Closing a school also has a knock-on effect for local businesses, says John Walker, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses. | Closing a school also has a knock-on effect for local businesses, says John Walker, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses. |
| "Many small firms will find that staff are unable to make it to work due to snow-bound roads and school closures which mean that parents have to stay at home to look after their children." | "Many small firms will find that staff are unable to make it to work due to snow-bound roads and school closures which mean that parents have to stay at home to look after their children." |
| Staffing problems could mean that businesses could not open - and this could be expensive for small firms, said Mr Walker. | Staffing problems could mean that businesses could not open - and this could be expensive for small firms, said Mr Walker. |
| Parents who have had to stay at home to look after children have also spoken of their own challenging conditions. | Parents who have had to stay at home to look after children have also spoken of their own challenging conditions. |
| Neil Farrington, a senior lecturer at Sunderland University, described weather conditions near his home at Castleside, County Durham, as "horrendous". | Neil Farrington, a senior lecturer at Sunderland University, described weather conditions near his home at Castleside, County Durham, as "horrendous". |
| "All the schools round here are closed so I have a house full of kids and dogs and none of them want to go out." | "All the schools round here are closed so I have a house full of kids and dogs and none of them want to go out." |
| Mr Farrington said the snow was now too deep for sledging: "We're all stuck in the house, climbing the walls." | Mr Farrington said the snow was now too deep for sledging: "We're all stuck in the house, climbing the walls." |