By Community Correspondent Benjamin Cook

Earlier this month the country was covered in a blanket of snow and for a few days the area came to a complete standstill. We all know that the snow caused schools to be closed and traffic chaos across the area, however, people’s views on the snow and its effects vary from it being regarded as a much-needed break to an unwelcome nuisance.

Mr Boucher, an English teacher at Wallington County Grammar School for Boys which was closed for one day and operated two half days said that the snow had an extremely negative effect on education. “By missing one day of lessons it will take students two weeks to catch up.” He said and that the “snow could not have come at a worse time as key-stage five were in the middle of exams.” Mr Boucher reflected the views of his peers as throughout the teaching community the closure of schools was seen as a large hindrance as he said, “A forty-five minute journey took two hours only to find that I had to teach four pupils out of a class of thirty.”

Surprisingly, the group with the most divided opinion is students. Many students saw it as an opportunity to break out of their routine as one student called it a, “welcome rest from the usual school week”. However, a large number of students viewed the snow as an annoyance as opposed to a saviour as many had to fight their way through traffic jams and along icy pavements to reach lessons and examinations. One such student said they found it, “infuriating that it took me an hour and a half to travel to school only to find out it would close early.”

However, it was not just those in the education sector who were affected by the snow and ice as numerous train and bus services were delayed causing havoc for commuters as many found themselves trapped in transport hubs such as Sutton Station. Joanna Peel, one such commuter said, “While at first I enjoyed the snow I began to hate it as it just seemed to never go away.”

In the end, it seemed nobody could escape the effects of the snow and though some welcomed it with open arms others just wanted it to end showing that it wasn’t all sleigh rides and snowball fights.