Closure Routine

SEVERE WEATHER & EMERGENCY CLOSURE ROUTINE: INFORMATION FOR PARENTS & PUPILS

In the event of extreme circumstances, such as adverse weather conditions, it is possible that the school may have to close for the day. In this case a decision will be taken usually early in the morning. However occasionally, if conditions seriously deteriorate during the course of the day (as has been the case during heavy snowfall or the floods of July 2007), a decision may be taken to close school early to ensure that students and staff get home safely.

Please read the information below carefully and ensure that you keep it in a safe place.

EARLY MORNING SCHOOL CLOSURE DECISIONS

The decision about closure will be made by the Head and students should not decide for themselves that school is “closed”. When deciding whether to close the school the following are taken into consideration:-

• Which buses, if any, are running (this decision is made by the bus companies and not the school).
• Whether sufficient staff will be able to get to school to supervise pupils safely.
  
• The probability of conditions worsening so making journeys home very difficult, eg buses unable to collect pupils.

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If we do need to close the school, there are three methods by which we will make an announcement.

1. The first of these is by sending parents a text message to the mobile number they have designated. For those parents who have not provided us with a mobile phone number, an automated voicemail version of the text message will be sent to your home landline number.

2. We will also make an announcement on the school websitewww.princehenrys.worcs.sch.uk. The announcement will be clearly visible on the home page. When reading this information, please check the date carefully. It is unusual for us to know the day before that the school will definitely be closed and the decision about closure is usually made on a day to day basis by 7.30 am.

3. A message will also be put on the school switchboard’s answerphone.

You are also advised to listen to the local radio stations listed below, who at regular intervals give details of school closures.

BBC Hereford & Worcester – 104FM
Free Radio (formerly Wyvern FM) – 102.8FM
Touch FM – 102FM

Notice of the closure will also be placed on Worcestershire County Council’s website – www.worcestershire.gov.uk – on their school closures page.

STUDENTS TAKING PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS

Even if school buses are not running and school is closed we will make every effort to put on special arrangements for students taking public examinations eg A Level Modular exams, Year 10 and Year 11 modular GCSE exams. If at all possible these students are asked to make private arrangements to come into school to sit the examinations as they cannot be rescheduled.

CLOSURE DURING THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL DAY

If a decision is taken to close early (after consultation with bus companies and, if appropriate, the Local Authority), we will send a text message out as a matter of priority. A bulletin will also be posted on the homepage of the school website advising that the school will be closing and at what time. Local radio stations and Worcestershire County Council (see above) will also be advised.

TRIAL TEXT MESSAGE TO ALL PARENTS

To ensure that the procedures outlined in this letter will be as effective as possible, we need to make sure that parental emergency phone information held on our system is correct. Therefore, on Monday 26th November, we will send a trial text message to the contact number (usually the mobile) held for primary parental contact for each student, as held on our SIMS database.  If you do not receive a text from us by 5pm on this date, please notify the school office.

DESIGNATED PHONE NUMBERS

As the text messaging service is now a key part of the communication process from school to parents, I would like to remind parents of the importance of keeping us informed as soon as possible of any changes to phone numbers. This system can only work when we have a clearly identified designated phone number in our system. Any such changes should be confirmed by telephone (01386 765588) or via email to Mrs S Jennings in the school office at enquiries@princehenrys.worcs.sch.uk.

DR A EVANS, HEADTEACHER
21st November 2012