Snow Rules

At Moorside we talk about snow rules.

This means that you're not allowed to touch the snow and it works well. All kids enjoy playing in the snow, but in a crowded school environment it can get out of hand.

Not that we've had to impose snow rules lately.

In fact, the snow has been ruling us. So much so that we've only managed to open for two days out of the past seven which must have had a drastic impact on learning. That equates to a whole week of schooling or, to put it another way, every pupil has missed 25 lessons, including those in year 11 who are working hard towards their GCSEs.

Of course, extreme weather conditions are nothing new in Consett. Moorside’s 800 feet above sea level and totally exposed to the north wind. Every year we can assume that we're going to lose two or three days to the weather, but that usually happens in January or February - not at the end of November. So we've already more than used up our quota before winter has really started.

And here's another thing.

Deciding to close a school, even for just one day, is a huge matter. We all know that there's a very strong connection between attendance and achievement. I've no doubt that a crucial factor in the steep rise in standards at Moorside is the increase in attendance from 90 to 94%. And we know that the very highest performing schools in the country often have annual attendance rates of 95% and over.

So I guess that deciding to close because of the weather leaves me open to accusations of double standards, especially from those parents with whom I've done some straight talking about booking holidays in term time or allowing their children to stay off school for no good reason. I say repeatedly in reports and in conversations, “We can’t teach them if they’re not here.”

Well, just for the record, this loss of learning is why I find the decision to close because of snow one of the most difficult aspects of headship.

So I don’t do it lightly.

This is what happens.

It's often hard to make the call in advance so I rely on a 6.00 am phone contact with Niqui McConnell in Consett to check out the conditions. Then I'll consult the state of the roads on line and on the radio as well as the weather forecast for the rest of the day. I have to bear in mind whether buses can reach the site and also whether or not staff are going to be able to make it because without them we can't function. I also need the views of the premises staff about the condition of the site (which has been engulfed in snow for the past week and latterly blocked by abandoned cars). Over the past few days, Janet Price, our assistant caretaker has been voluntarily on site from 4.30 am in arctic conditions and on Thursday morning her dedication was rewarded with a nasty bang on the shoulder when she fell on the ice.

There's always the risk that deciding to close is followed by a day of fine weather when it would have been perfectly possible to open. Thankfully, that hasn't happened up to now. Indeed, once the decision's made to close, the Moorside professionalism kicks in with everyone playing their part in Christine Connolly's telephone tree. It's so efficient that the message can reach everyone in less than ten minutes and that includes parents and the local media.

Anyway, I'm writing this on Sunday afternoon trying to take my mind off watching West Brom put three past the boys in black and white. I keep looking at the sky trying to guess what the clouds will bring over night. I’ll be sleeping with my fingers crossed, hoping that we can have a Monday which is something close to normal.

Not that the weather on Tyneside is much of a guide to the Consett micro climate.