Parents criticise school snow closures (From Southend Standard)
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Parents criticise school snow closures
5:34pm Monday 21st January 2013 in Echo News By Melissa Hills
Children at Wickford Junior School have fun in the snow
DOZENS of primary and secondary schools across south Essex shut their doors despite criticisms from parents and the road being clear.
Most main roads across the county were treated by Essex County Council gritters before the heaviest of the snow fell and they worked hard to keep main routes including the A127 and A13 clear.
Despite main routes being quiet and clear due to the lack of school traffic many schools in Basildon, Southend and Castle Point closed.
In Basildon James Hornsby School in Laindon had senior teachers in at 5am monitoring the snow situation and they also invested in a snow blower to help clear paths and the car park.
Stuart Reynolds, interim headteachers at the Leinster Road school, said: “We were monitoring the situation from last week and made sure teachers who live near the school came in early.
“As a parent I understand the frustration of parents whose children cannot go to school if it is shut. School is the best place for children and I don’t see why a school wouldn’t open.
“We do all we can to stay open and invested in a snow blower to do the work of several people. Our caretakers were on site on Sunday clearing the paths as it snowed and also got in really early on Monday.
“All of our staff managed to get in and that’s how we were able to open. The only reason I can see for schools not opening is if their staff cannot get in or for health and safety reasons.”
While the Basildon Academies, which has sites in Timberlog Close and Wickford Avenue, stayed open just down the road Woodlands School and De La Salle School in Basildon both closed their doors except for students in Year 11 taking exams.
While many primary schools in Basildon shut their doors most schools in Wickford opened apart from Bromfords School.
In Billericay Mayflower School in Stock Road stayed open and assistant headteacher Jonathan Rowland updated the school website at 5.40am.
He said: “I was up from 5am monitoring the situation and we were lucky to have some contractors on site who helped clear the snow quickly so we could make the site safe.”
Billericay School in School Lane closed because contractors could not get on the school site on Sunday to use the snow plough because of the large scale building work taking place.
In Castle Point the snow fiasco continued King John School in Shipwrights Drive, Thunderlsey stayed open and the Deanes School in Daws Heath Road, Thundeslsey which closed.
In Southend Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School stayed open and Porters Grange Primary School in Lancaster Gardens, which are just 200m apart, closed.
Eastwood Academy in Leigh closed its doors while Chase High School, in Westcliff, was forced to close at 10.30am after its boiler broke down.
A school spokeswoman said: “We had to call parents because it was getting very cold and the pupils couldn’t stay in the school.”
Gavin Dixon, 51, who is the church leader at Kings Church Southend and has a 17-year-old son in sixth format Southend High School for Boys which stayed open was annoyed that some schools opened and some shut.
He said: “It seems that some schools make the decision too quickly on if they are going to open or not. You can understand with special schools because the situation is different.
“My son’s school Southend High for Boys has a policy where it never closes and instead of walking today he got a bus.
“It is very strange how some schools open and some schools do not when they are in such close proximity of one another. “The roads are in very good condition this time round.”
Comments(51)
Rich{Carole
says...
6:06pm Mon 21 Jan 13
What would they have done if they were teaching in 1963 when we had the worst uk weather in history. From boxing day into march we had arctic weather and the all the brave corragous teachers who had a backbone made sure the schools stayed open and parents of kids got there kids there ontime. I was in my final year at 15 years old and our school was open and we kids and the teachers trudged our way through 2 foot of snow not 2 inches like we had today.
Come on teachers, headmasters and head-mistresses and authorities please ask santa claus for a backbone and stop being pathetic, just gety on with it and stop moaning.
I love Essex
says...
6:08pm Mon 21 Jan 13
I will say however, I feel that mostly the 'good schools' stay open whatever the weather. By that I mean they have a large core of local staff that want to work there. Not having to be accumulated from further a field. Also, if I fell over as a kid and broke my arm, my parents wouldn't dream of 'taking action' against whoever. Some parents out there would make your eyes water! Just my view.
mys842
says...
6:24pm Mon 21 Jan 13
caroljb
says...
6:24pm Mon 21 Jan 13
EssexBoy1968
says...
6:25pm Mon 21 Jan 13
I love Essex
says...
6:26pm Mon 21 Jan 13
caroljb wrote:Agree!
and yet the same parents think nothing of taking their little darlings out of school for a holiday during term time!! AND believe me, if their child falls over or gets hit by a snow ball, they complain to Essex County Council and try to sue for compensation!!!
woolstone
says...
6:54pm Mon 21 Jan 13
the citizen
says...
7:05pm Mon 21 Jan 13
mys842 wrote:Not true I think. Yesterday evening I tracked a gritter on my PC coming east along the Arterial up to Tesco's then going along Cherry orchard lane and back through Hockley. Tracking gritters is everso slightly geeky I know, but I was interested to see how it worked and where they went. Try it! http://www.essexhigh
No mention of Southend Borough Council who have to clear the roads for the largest majority of readers of this paper! I've witnessed Essex gritters stopping at the Welcome to Southend sign and turning back around. A lot of the closures are down to Southend council simply not gritting areas around schools. As an example the new Hinguar school in Shoebury is in Gunners Park but the majority of parents walk via the Garrison. Not a single path or road has been gritted leading to it from the high street or station as the council refuse to adopt the roads. The place is a death trap and yet they still opened!
ways.org/Winter-Main
tenance/Track-the-gr
itting-lorries.aspx
Hours of fun :-)
the citizen
says...
7:09pm Mon 21 Jan 13
the citizen wrote:....unless of course he wasn't gritting the Southend roads and just getting access to the Hall Road. I've just checked and he's there right now.....it's just so exciting, better than the tv :-)
mys842 wrote:Not true I think. Yesterday evening I tracked a gritter on my PC coming east along the Arterial up to Tesco's then going along Cherry orchard lane and back through Hockley. Tracking gritters is everso slightly geeky I know, but I was interested to see how it worked and where they went. Try it! http://www.essexhigh
No mention of Southend Borough Council who have to clear the roads for the largest majority of readers of this paper! I've witnessed Essex gritters stopping at the Welcome to Southend sign and turning back around. A lot of the closures are down to Southend council simply not gritting areas around schools. As an example the new Hinguar school in Shoebury is in Gunners Park but the majority of parents walk via the Garrison. Not a single path or road has been gritted leading to it from the high street or station as the council refuse to adopt the roads. The place is a death trap and yet they still opened!
ways.org/Winter-Main
tenance/Track-the-gr
itting-lorries.aspx
Hours of fun :-)
Max Impact
says...
7:25pm Mon 21 Jan 13
mys842 wrote:Your not one of these people that expect every road and every path to be gritted are you?
No mention of Southend Borough Council who have to clear the roads for the largest majority of readers of this paper! I've witnessed Essex gritters stopping at the Welcome to Southend sign and turning back around. A lot of the closures are down to Southend council simply not gritting areas around schools. As an example the new Hinguar school in Shoebury is in Gunners Park but the majority of parents walk via the Garrison. Not a single path or road has been gritted leading to it from the high street or station as the council refuse to adopt the roads. The place is a death trap and yet they still opened!
if you watched the Southend twitter feeds such as @mysouthend & @ yoursouthend you would have seen how many people were tweeting about how many roads HAD been done, all the major roads were running clear.
Why should areas around schools take priority if they are not on main roads or the hospital surely they are more important.
Buy slip on snow spikes for yourself and the kids they are a few quid each and work wonders, just remember to take them off when you hit the concrete otherwide you sould like a tap dancer!
As for school closing those that can't teach apart from when it snows then they stay in bed.
rayleigh123
says...
8:12pm Mon 21 Jan 13
So if the head teacher shuts the school - no problems.
The real villian is ESSEX EDUCATION for years we asked them for a definitive, legal response. but alas they are incapable of giving an answer , We received a 1000 word document which passed the buck to the head teacher, the health and safety side is a myth but everyone is frightened of getting sued.
EssexBoy1968
says...
8:18pm Mon 21 Jan 13
the citizen wrote:As I have commented elsewhere, I have driven to & from London for work this weekend (working nights) & I can assure you that the A13 within Southend Borough does not appear to have been gritted at all. The difference is marked as you pass into Hadleigh en route to London & the same as you enter Southend in the opposite direction.
the citizen wrote:....unless of course he wasn't gritting the Southend roads and just getting access to the Hall Road. I've just checked and he's there right now.....it's just so exciting, better than the tv :-)mys842 wrote: No mention of Southend Borough Council who have to clear the roads for the largest majority of readers of this paper! I've witnessed Essex gritters stopping at the Welcome to Southend sign and turning back around. A lot of the closures are down to Southend council simply not gritting areas around schools. As an example the new Hinguar school in Shoebury is in Gunners Park but the majority of parents walk via the Garrison. Not a single path or road has been gritted leading to it from the high street or station as the council refuse to adopt the roads. The place is a death trap and yet they still opened!Not true I think. Yesterday evening I tracked a gritter on my PC coming east along the Arterial up to Tesco's then going along Cherry orchard lane and back through Hockley. Tracking gritters is everso slightly geeky I know, but I was interested to see how it worked and where they went. Try it! http://www.essexhigh ways.org/Winter-Main tenance/Track-the-gr itting-lorries.aspx Hours of fun :-)
This evening the roads in Southend were better, no doubt due to the volume of traffic.
Yes, you can track Essex County Council's grtting lorries, but they do (& state so on their website) treat any roads in unitary authorities such as Southend.
& no, I don't expect side roads etc to be cleared, but I do expect trunk roads & major bus routes to be.
DogsMessInLeigh
says...
9:40pm Mon 21 Jan 13
shoeburyboy
says...
9:51pm Mon 21 Jan 13
There again Southend wont accept the challenge
Will they
H.79
says...
10:51pm Mon 21 Jan 13
caroljb wrote:Hear hear!
and yet the same parents think nothing of taking their little darlings out of school for a holiday during term time!! AND believe me, if their child falls over or gets hit by a snow ball, they complain to Essex County Council and try to sue for compensation!!!
Antonius
says...
10:56pm Mon 21 Jan 13
rayleigh123 wrote:Has any school ever been sued because a child slipped over ?
I used to be a school governor and we have had this problem before, the real problem is the new american compensation culture, we have all seen the adverts if its not your fault we will fight your claim on a no win / no fee
So if the head teacher shuts the school - no problems.
The real villian is ESSEX EDUCATION for years we asked them for a definitive, legal response. but alas they are incapable of giving an answer , We received a 1000 word document which passed the buck to the head teacher, the health and safety side is a myth but everyone is frightened of getting sued.
All it needs is a minister to state that schools cannot be sued. In the same way that a householder cannot be sued if someone slips over on a path they have cleared.... Which was another urban myth.
H.79
says...
10:58pm Mon 21 Jan 13
DogsMessInLeigh wrote:Can I just point out that it's not actually up to the teachers' to make the decision as to whether the school opens or stays shut - as someone working in a primary school I can guarantee you that we're all in the same position as the parents on the morning of snow fall - waiting for a call to inform us of a decision. Furthermore, if the school is closed, teachers are instructed to go to their nearest open school to teach a and believe me, they do! So it's not quite a case of laying in bed all day and being lazy!
I'll wager that all the teachers that failed to turn up at school got around easily enough on Sunday.
the citizen
says...
8:23am Tue 22 Jan 13
H.79 wrote:Totally agree that we cannot blame the teachers for the decision to close. But as for teaching at their nearest school?.....Now THAT would be an interesting survey for the Echo to carry out.
DogsMessInLeigh wrote:Can I just point out that it's not actually up to the teachers' to make the decision as to whether the school opens or stays shut - as someone working in a primary school I can guarantee you that we're all in the same position as the parents on the morning of snow fall - waiting for a call to inform us of a decision. Furthermore, if the school is closed, teachers are instructed to go to their nearest open school to teach a and believe me, they do! So it's not quite a case of laying in bed all day and being lazy!
I'll wager that all the teachers that failed to turn up at school got around easily enough on Sunday.
Antonius
says...
11:55am Tue 22 Jan 13
Or should I say, the local education authority made that decision ?
Eric Whim
says...
12:50pm Tue 22 Jan 13
OBL
says...
5:07pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Rich{Carole wrote:Teachers back then lived locally to the school where they worked, many would spend almost their whole career working in one local school. Things are very different these days, with teachers often travelling 30 or 40 miles to and from their places of work and therefore in the hands of those in charge of our road or rail networks.
The teachers today are nothing like the older teachers as these modern teachers and headteachers are pathetic.
What would they have done if they were teaching in 1963 when we had the worst uk weather in history. From boxing day into march we had arctic weather and the all the brave corragous teachers who had a backbone made sure the schools stayed open and parents of kids got there kids there ontime. I was in my final year at 15 years old and our school was open and we kids and the teachers trudged our way through 2 foot of snow not 2 inches like we had today.
Come on teachers, headmasters and head-mistresses and authorities please ask santa claus for a backbone and stop being pathetic, just gety on with it and stop moaning.
If there wasn't such a "claim" culture, then I'm sure more schools would stay open, however with the current predisposition to slapping in a compensation claim for the slightest injury when ever possible, they are protecting themselves by closing. Senior schools in particular may be spread over a number of buildings so there is a huge safety issue at lesson changeover times.
Also, if people actually behaved like good citizens and cleared the pathways at the front of their houses then perhaps routes to and from schools would be less hazardous for people to walk on, and it would therefore be easier to walk children in to school during such weather?
Of course teachers are still paid if their school is shut, they can still work on lesson preparation and planning from home on their laptops. It might mean they actually get to leave school on time for a while as they've got everything in hand for once! People really don't have any realistic view of how hard teachers DO work, and no, I'm not one, but I have been a Chair of Governors in a school, and was a Governor for some 12 years!
Antonius
says...
5:32pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Surely that is their choice ? Maybe they should either move, or get a job locally ?
I bet they would get in if they were not paid for non attendance. Or if they were self-employed.
hitmanclan92
says...
5:51pm Tue 22 Jan 13
OBL
says...
5:55pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Antonius wrote:Teachers don't stay at one school, they move on after a few years to further their careers and for "professional development". That is why so many travel. The school I work in (in Benfleet), has staff coming in from Braintree and Brentwood, as well as Southend! The TAs and office staff tend to be local, but very few, if any, teachers live within walking distance. I know at one senior school nearby that some teachers travel down from London on the train!
"......Things are very different these days, with teachers often travelling 30 or 40 miles to and from their places of work......"
Surely that is their choice ? Maybe they should either move, or get a job locally ?
I bet they would get in if they were not paid for non attendance. Or if they were self-employed.
I expect that the profession is a lot different to what it was when you were at school!
Stoko66
says...
6:59pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Stoko66
says...
7:01pm Tue 22 Jan 13
caroljb wrote:Agree, but this should be addressed right the way through the board. This compensation society is ridiculous!
and yet the same parents think nothing of taking their little darlings out of school for a holiday during term time!! AND believe me, if their child falls over or gets hit by a snow ball, they complain to Essex County Council and try to sue for compensation!!!
BASILBRUSH
says...
8:10pm Tue 22 Jan 13
That and the also mentioned but not insignificant litigation culture that is now rife in our society.
Having said all of that, we have staff members that made it in from across the Thames and North Essex. ;)
The main roads were free running and nice and quiet too.
I was shocked at the amount of Schools that were closed and can only imagine the impact that has on parents that need to get to work....
daninorth
says...
8:19pm Tue 22 Jan 13
BASILBRUSH
says...
10:06pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Its just a shame in this day and age something more cant be done for the few annual days of Snow and ice.
Like you say, damned if the do and damned if they dont.
Letmetryagain
says...
11:11pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Yes, years ago teachers tended to stay with one school for most of their working life, and were part of the community.
We had some very good teachers !
daninorth
says...
7:01am Wed 23 Jan 13
Nebs
says...
8:23am Wed 23 Jan 13
Eric Whim wrote:Can't do that as it would damage the economy. People have more days out, and spend their money, in the summer compared to the winter. This spending would reduce.
do as others have suggested have the six weeks holiday in winter when there's the chance of weather disruption then they can go during the end of July, through August and into September instead
How about a fixed two week summer break, and let the schools decide when they want to take the other 4 weeks any time in the year. And if they have to close for a day because of snow then it comes off the 4 weeks. The majority would still choose summer, but it might spread the summer holidays over a longer period thereby stimulating a bit of growth in the economy.
Or even have no school holidays at all, and give every pupil a leave allowance like workers, to take when they like. Book your leave, teacher gives you homework to do covering the topics to be covered in that subject when you will be away, and when the work is done to the satisfaction of the teacher then the holiday is approved.
paulatepc
says...
11:05am Wed 23 Jan 13
I cannot remember my school ever being closed in bad weather - you just walked through the snow.
Letmetryagain
says...
12:47pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Ok, let those parents who are worried about their precious darlings, keep them cocooned at home, but let the rest get to their place of learning.
Parents don't seem to mind if their kids are careering down a hillside on a toboggan, where they are far more likely to hurt themselves. I bet half of them don't even bother to clear their own paths and driveways.
As I've said before, if schools call a snow day, make it up at the end of term. That might concentrate the minds a little more ? After all, the teachers have already been paid for them
haz3131
says...
1:25pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Making it up at the end of term would have hardly any benefit, the last day of term in schools are always very relaxed and care free.
Holidays are breaks, and with the stress of exams and revision in secondary schools holiday time is very valuable to both pupils and the school.
Many people are unable to clear their pathway because they have higher priorities such as working and childcare.
Letmetryagain
says...
3:46pm Wed 23 Jan 13
I think most people who are fit enough, are more than able to clear their paths and driveways of snow, and put some salt down. Especially if safety is one of their priorities, theirs and their postman.
If a day or two were added to the end of term. they would still get that "last day" A couple of days taken from a six week break shouldn't be too stressful.
Many schools in the US seem to cope with this formula.
haz3131
says...
6:32pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Secondary school children are more than capable of looking after themselves for 5 hours hours, it won't do them any harm.
It's not just a question of being fit enough, it's also a question of time, if they are that "busy" that there child cannot have a day off school to enjoy the snow then how on earth do you expect the to have time to clear snow when they have spent a busy day at work.
Extending the term would only create problems and it's guaranteed that secondary school children will not turn up for those 'extra' days.
Snow only happens once or twice a year why not stop complaining and just enjoy.
daninorth
says...
7:27pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Local yachtsman
says...
10:20pm Wed 23 Jan 13
haz3131
says...
10:38pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Local yachtsman wrote:agree!
Schools have always closed if teachers can't get to school. I had days off in '63 and '67 because of the snow but it was never for more than a day or two The problem is simple, if the schools cannot maintain a minimum teacher to student ratio they are breaking the rules and have little choice but temporary closure, but it never lasts for long, as soon as the roads are gritted and passable things get back to normal. Don't know why you lot are complaining.
Letmetryagain
says...
11:45am Thu 24 Jan 13
Someone would rather look out of their window and say that they can't get their car off their drive, than actually get a shovel and shift the snow.
Especially if they know they have to be out early the next morning.
I cleared my drive twice on Sunday. Come Monday morning it was totally snow free, as were the roads.
It doesn't really take a lot of effort. Just a bit of forward planning
HK9597
says...
1:29pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Letmetryagain wrote:I have already booked My Summer holiday.
If both parents are working, and it meant one of them losing a day's pay, I think they would have very good grounds for complaining. I think most people who are fit enough, are more than able to clear their paths and driveways of snow, and put some salt down. Especially if safety is one of their priorities, theirs and their postman. If a day or two were added to the end of term. they would still get that "last day" A couple of days taken from a six week break shouldn't be too stressful. Many schools in the US seem to cope with this formula.
Will you pay for my families flight / hotel changes? £1000 should cover it.
Thanks in advance.
Letmetryagain
says...
2:19pm Thu 24 Jan 13
If it were written into the rules of the school, people would then be aware of the consequences of missing in term days. Both teachers and parents.
If parents have to miss work because a head teacher thinks little jimmy or jemima might slip over, they make. Will they get their lost wages reimbursed ?
HK9597
says...
3:05pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Letmetryagain wrote:So for which dates can I book my holiday? Only week 2 onwards, just in case first week is extended term? Great news for the travel business who already massively overcharge. Or will the first week of summer be cheaper?
Ho, Ho, Ho, OBVIOUSLY something like this couldn't happen immediately. If it were written into the rules of the school, people would then be aware of the consequences of missing in term days. Both teachers and parents. If parents have to miss work because a head teacher thinks little jimmy or jemima might slip over, they make. Will they get their lost wages reimbursed ?
The US vacation culture is completely different to the UK.
Letmetryagain
says...
7:41pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Nebs
says...
10:54pm Thu 24 Jan 13
HK9597 wrote:You can take out insurance.
Letmetryagain wrote:I have already booked My Summer holiday.
If both parents are working, and it meant one of them losing a day's pay, I think they would have very good grounds for complaining. I think most people who are fit enough, are more than able to clear their paths and driveways of snow, and put some salt down. Especially if safety is one of their priorities, theirs and their postman. If a day or two were added to the end of term. they would still get that "last day" A couple of days taken from a six week break shouldn't be too stressful. Many schools in the US seem to cope with this formula.
Will you pay for my families flight / hotel changes? £1000 should cover it.
Thanks in advance.
Letmetryagain
says...
5:11pm Fri 25 Jan 13
Letmetryagain
says...
5:13pm Fri 25 Jan 13
Pay by Visa and you are covered anyway.
HK9597
says...
11:17am Sun 27 Jan 13
Letmetryagain
says...
10:52am Mon 28 Jan 13
Antonius says...
5:44pm Mon 21 Jan 13
The health and safety aspect, is I believe an urban myth. Or is it that with teachers missing, schools aren't able to reach their teacher/pupil ratio ?
Do teachers still get paid if they don't go in ?, and do parents get paid if they have to stay at home with children ?
Personally I like the idea adopted in many US schools, where if days are missed due to weather conditions, they are made up at the end of term.