Exceptional weather and emergency closures

The school may need to close due to exceptional circumstances (e.g. poor weather, or a disruption to utilities). School closure for exceptional or emergency reasons are covered by the school policy. An outline of the school’s procedures in the event of emergency, including extreme weather conditions, is shown below.

All closures

The school website will be updated regularly with information. We shall also post information on Twitter and Facebook and will inform local radio stations that we are closed.

Closure prior to the start of the school day

If an emergency, such as heavy overnight snow, should occur and it is judged that this will cause disruption and danger for students and staff, then a decision will be made as early as possible to close the school. A message will be posted on the school website, Twitter, Facebook and local radio, and a text message will be sent to parents. Staff will be contacted via a telephone call.

Should any student arrive at school we will look after them and make contact with parents to arrange for them to get home safely.

Closure during the school day

If it is judged necessary to close the school once the school day has commenced, a message will be posted on the school website, Twitter and Facebook, and a text sent out to parents/carers informing them that the school is having to close, including time for closure.

Students will go to their form classes and be given the opportunity to make contact with parents/carers via mobile phones. Form tutors will check that this contact has been made before allowing any child to leave school. We will not allow students to leave until we have a definite arrangement for them to get home safely and students will be looked after at school until this is in place. Please ensure that your child and the school have an emergency contact number to cover this eventuality.

Sixth Form students may collect younger siblings and take them home.

Note: Please be aware that bus services may not be available if emergencies occur during the day.

Public examinations during a closure

Should an emergency occur during a period of public examinations every effort will be made to keep the school open at least partially to enable these examinations to take place where it is judged safe to do so. Information regarding this will be posted on the website, Twitter and Facebook, and included in any texts.

Re-opening school after the closure

The school website will be updated regularly and as soon as the decision is made to re-open it will appear on the website, Twitter and Facebook, and a text will be sent out to parents/carers and local radio.