What to do in severe weather

 
It is the responsibility of parents or carers to decide if a pupil should attempt to travel to school, by transport or on foot, in adverse weather conditions.  The Education Authority encourages full attendance at school but in severe weather conditions the safety of pupils is much more important.  Parents and pupils are often concerned that important examinations may not be missed, but this should not over-ride good judgement.  Schools normally make alternative arrangements for missed examinations.

The school updates its procedures for adverse weather closure annually, therefore:-

• parents should advise schools of an alternative address, as close as possible to the school, which may be used by their children in emergencies.

• the school will advise parents of normal local arrangements for school transport and any special arrangements in the advent of adverse weather.

• the school has established a system of communication with parents and transport operators and has ensured that parents are fully informed of the arrangements.  This includes an 0870 telephone information service, whereby parents wishing to enquire about school closures in adverse weather can telephone Highland Council number 0870 054 6999 and enter the school’s pin number 04 1880 when prompted.

• you can also visit the Highland winter weather web site for information about school closures

When weather conditions are poor:-

·         Local radio stations issue news and weather bulletins on traffic conditions and school closures.  Transmissions may not cover all households and may be subject to re-scheduling but should be helpful.  Parents are advised to remain ‘tuned in’ to ongoing road, weather or school information updates.

Broadcast times

BBC Radio Highland

6.55am – 7.00am
7.50am – 8.00am
12.55pm – 1.00pm
4.55pm – 5.00pm

In extreme conditions Radio Highland will interrupt radio Scotland transmissions, usually on the hour, to carry emergency bulletins.  Nevis Radio will carry bulletins at roughly ten minute intervals between 7.00am and 8.00am and Lochbroom FM at quarter-hour intervals between 7.15am and 8.45am.

Moray Firth Radio

Normally hourly news bulletins and half-hourly summaries will carry local information on weather, roads and conditions affecting schools.  In severe conditions normal programmes will be interrupted more frequently to carry emergency bulletins.

Please do not telephone local Radio for advice but listen to appropriate broadcasts.

For pupils using school transport

·         Parents should advise their children on how long they should wait at the pick-up point for their transport.  This will depend on the prevailing weather conditions and the availability of shelter at the ‘pick-up’ point.  During adverse weather conditions no pupil is expected to wait longer than twenty minutes past the normal ‘pick-up’ time.

·         Parents should note differences between contract vehicles and public service vehicles.  Drivers of contract vehicles are advised not to drop off children where there is any doubt that they may not safely reach home or other place of shelter.  Drivers of public service vehicles must travel their normal routes and cannot make special provision for individual pupils.

·         Where parents are concerned about weather conditions at ‘drop-off’ points, they should contact the school as early as possible.

When weather conditions are poor, parents should arrange to have children met at the ‘drop-off’ point, especially where public transport is used.