School closures - fastest off the mark?

[silverfox]

2.25pm - call from St Anthony's to say school closing at 3pm. Why? Why close half-an-hour early?

When asked about tomorrow told they don't know. How are parents supposed to plan and juggle commitments?

[cookie]

Kingsdale are allowing pupils home from 2:10pm if authorised by parents. No news on tomorrow yet.

[Otto]

Dulwich Hamlet said no consideration of closing as all children are within walking distance...

[trident]

Sydenham High closed at 12.30pm, DC around the same sort of time

[Otto]

Dcps texted at 130and said they were staying open and were running clubs until the usual times but if you felt you would like to collect early...

[Pam50]

It's such a difficult situation when the weather turns nasty and no one really knows what's going to happen. A brief glance at the posts today show how buses, trains and cars can be affected and how suddenly things can deteriorate. Not all members of a school community live within walking distance and school managers have to bear the responsibility of ensuring the health and safety of all. I received the same phone message today and thought it reflected a caring concern that all should get home safely.

[cmck83]

My school closed a little early today, but should be open tomorrow if any public transport is running.

Earlier all the public transport in the area (Croydon area) had started shutting down (including buses) and they didn't want everyone to be stranded. They contacted all parents first though (texts to year 10-12, and ringing/emailing each child's parent in KS3 apparently, a huge job!)

The thing is, teachers very rarely live near their school. You'd be mad to live in the same catchment area as the kids as you would never get left alone! We have teachers coming from Hove, Brighton, Tottenham, West London, Sutton, Caterham etc and they would all find it very hard to get home if the trains are off. I know it took some of my friends who live further South East 2-3hrs to get home.

Lots of jobs let people work from home or leave early in weather like this for the same reasons to be fair. Obviously it can be annoying for parents with jobs but a lot of my colleagues had the same problem today and just had to collect their kids on their lunch breaks and bring them back to work with them.

Surprised schools around here were shut though! The snow around here is not half as deep as it is further South East! Buses seemed fine.

Anyway, back to the lesson plans...

[Dodo1]

obviously the weather is different here then the rest of southwark as schools in rotherhite were open!

[womanofdulwich]

st dunstans did a full day (tu)

[Mick Mac]

womanofdulwich Wrote:

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> st dunstans did a full day (tu)

you will pay for that....

[womanofdulwich]

i have already;-)

[happyED]

Just got text messages from schools this morning:

Kingsdale is closed.

Goodrich is open.

[suniil]

SilverFox: Any news on St.Anthony's today? thanks

[ed_pete]

The Charter plans to open at 10:00am.

[clare]

Charter open at 10 pending update at 9,30

[dimples]

any news on heber ?

[womanofdulwich]

st dunstans open as usual.(tu)

[Eddie M]

Mr Block (Headteacher) has confirmed that Heber is planning to open as usual. Parents will be texted if this changes.

[venice]

I have spoken to the HT and St Johns and St Clements is closed today, the travel problems from the weather mean not enough staff are able to get in

[Fliss]

I've just phoned - St Anthony's is open.

[suniil]

Thanks. I rang up and got an automated announcement stating the same.

Fliss Wrote:

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> I've just phoned - St Anthony's is open.

[Vik]

DKH open as usual.

[mrs.lotte]

Goose Green open as usual. As of 9am only 2 staff hadn't arrived but they were on their way. Top marks to the teachers and the caretaker. I do hope the council prioritise gritting the roads around the schools, I think pick up might prove treacherous/embarrasing!

[James Barber]

So summary seems to be:

DKH - OPEN (has Xmas fair this Friday 3 December 3.30-5.30pm)

Goodrich - OPEN

Goose Green - OPEN (first school in Southwark to achieve Every Child Matters standard)

Heber - OPEN until 2pm, no afternoon nursery, 4pm meeting for new parents is going ahead.

St.Anthony's - OPEN

St.Johns/Clements - CLOSED

Village Infants - OPEN

Dulwich Hamlet Junior School - OPEN until 12.15!

Charter - OPEN from 10am

Harris Boys - OPEN

Harris Girls - CLOSED

Kingsdale - CLOSED

[cmck83]

My school did close in the end, Croydon seems to have been hit very badly with the weather.

Just been to Tesco's, it seems ok around here to be honest (well, the main roads anyway).