The heavy snowfall across the region has caused a number of schools to close this week.
Banbury School pricnipal Dr Fiona Hammans says in this week’s Banbury Guardian that it would be ‘embarrassing’ to close with the levels of snowfall we have seen in recent days, but others say the condition of roads around schools and the safety of staff and pupils is justification for shutting school doors.
Who is right? Post your comments here
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Embarrassing indeed. I haven’t seen the Guardian article yet but too many schools shut for little or no reason in bad weather.
I have a friend who is a teacher in Northants. She told me that she drove past two schools on Tuesday that were closed in order to get to her school, which was open.
If she could drive past those schools without any problems, why couldn’t they be open?
By: Geoff on February 4, 2009
at 5:46 pm
Here we go again, the country grinds to a halt with unprecedented snowfall that was forecast a week ago and teachers are the ones who get all the blame.
I am a teacher and I have been to school throughout the snowy period, as have my children who attend two different schools. That despite the fact that the teachers in my school live at least 10 miles away from our very rural village primary.
I think the fault lies with parents who think nothing of ferrying their children miles away to the school they consider better than their local one. Also, schools today are terrified of opening in case the same said parents’ little darling slips on the snow.
Once upon a time teachers could report for work at their nearest school to work when the snow came down, but with current laws their CRB check is invalid when working outside of their own school.
I for one would have relished a day playing with my children in the snow, however this notion of looking after your own children is one which has sadly disappeared with the current parent generation!
By: Disgruntled teacher. on February 4, 2009
at 7:30 pm
The teachers are a public service paid for by tax payers. Do the police have days off for bad weather the fire brigade Ambulance crews no they don’t. Schools should open if only to offer child care so normal people can still get to work in these trying times we face.I bet if there job was on the line they would make that extra effort.
By: pete evans on February 9, 2009
at 7:58 am
Why is Harriers shut again?
The Banbury roads are clear and most other schools are open.
If Chacombe Primary School and other rural schools in the countryside can manage to open today, why can’t Harriers – this really is not good enough.
Once again parents have to stay off work, even though the roads are clear and we can easily get to work. We now have to look after the children who should be at school.
Please please investigate this further to make this school think about the parents of the children. Most Banbury schools are open, why not Harriers?
By: Parents of Harriers on February 9, 2009
at 10:00 am