It’s a widely known fact, that when the weather starts to take a turn for the worse, some schools close their doors. When the conditions are too snowy or icy, it can be very difficult for students and teachers alike to make their journeys to get into school. Furthermore, the weather can be disruptive at the least and at worst can lead to serious injury. It makes sense, then, that some schools choose to give days off in these conditions but the difficulty is always in making that decision.

So, what goes into it? Well, the Department for Education says that, "Head teachers should use common sense in assessing the risks and keep their schools open whenever it is safe to do so.” However, the decision made by these head teachers can have quite profound impacts and effects on communities and families.

Parents usually have one of two stances on the matter, some get anxious about the safety of their children and would prefer to keep them at home, safe. On the other hand, some are frustrated when school closes, as they are put in a difficult situation regarding childcare arrangements if nobody is at home to look after the child: especially in cases with younger children.

These are some of the reasons why simply closing down a school due to bad weather can be much larger and more difficult of a decision than it can seem. So, that returns us to the question: when is it right to close a school? How much bad weather is too much?

By Farhan Hussain.