The school I work at has 1600 pupils between 11-18, and the majority of the staff (teachers and senior staff) live out of the area. Most of the support staff (like myself) are more local, and would therefore be able to get to work, but who would want their children "taught" by unqualified people, in large groups?
I am perfectly capable of acting as a cover supervisor, but would still require the necessary work to be set for each lesson to keep the children on track for the national curriculum. It seems pointless getting the students into school just to give them word searches etc to fill in the day.
One of the main reasons why schools are closed (I believe) - it is just not safe for staff to travel long distances (as warned on the news), or for buses full of children, to be out and about on icy roads. It is just too risky (health and safety again). We have all been warned to venture out "in emergencies only". There are too many people about today who just can't wait to put in a claim against the school if anything goes wrong. [|)]
On the news earlier, they said that a lot of schools were closed today to keep traffic to a minimum, to give them a chance to grit roads (like they didn't know the snow was coming!!!)
I thought it was the local council, as well as the Head, who decide whether or not schools should open, but I could be (and probably am) wrong!!
I know some people will say that years ago children used to walk to school. Some of our pupils live up to 10 miles away, and I, as a parent, wouldn't want my kids to be walking to school for more than a couple of miles maximum, and even then, not at 11 years of age, when it's barely light at 8am.
Maybe the older pupils could make more effort and be covered by skeleton staff, especially those about to sit GCSE's or A levels [?]
(
It's still nice though having a couple of unexpected days off!!
)