Emergency Closure Procedure

Decisions to close the school are not taken lightly.  The school will be kept open in whole or in part for as long as is reasonable.  The main consideration in these situations is always the health and safety of the pupils and staff, especially in respect of travelling to and from school.

In the rare event of weather conditions deteriorating to such an extent that the school needs to close before 3.20 p.m., parents will be informed by phone.  One parent once contacted may be asked to alert others in their immediate area to speed up the process.  No child will be sent home unless we are sure that there is someone to receive them at the other end.

The more common situation is one where weather conditions deteriorate overnight causing uncertainty as to whether school will be open in the morning.  In the event of school being closed for the day, a notice will be posted on the gate and the school phone will be manned.  In addition to this, once Shire Hall have been notified of closure they will inform Severn Sound and BBC Radio Gloucester.  Normally these stations broadcast information regarding school closures immediately following their news bulletins at 7.00 a.m. and 8.00 a.m.

Information regarding the following day will normally follow the 7.00 p.m. news bulletin.

Under no circumstances should parents telephone direct either the local radio station or Shire Hall for information on an individual school.  They do not have the manpower to provide such a service and it is important that the telephone lines should be kept clear for use by the schools during such an emergency.