By Community Correspondent Anita Chagar

Schools across the London Borough of Hounslow are preparing themselves and their students for yet more snow forecasted to come our way this week. With most weather channels concluding that more snow is definitely on its way, preparation begins. Covering the school grounds with grit to prevent any dangerous accidents, requesting supply teachers to cover lessons for those teachers who are unable to come in, and updating the school website to inform parents and children of the status of the school, are just some of the areas the school must cover to get through the snow day successfully.

During the past few weeks, the snow has fallen enough to close several schools, leaving pupils to spend their new-found free time as they please. So what did some of them get up to? One year eight student said, ‘I made the most of the two days we were given off by spending some of my time outdoors. I tried to make a snowman with my sister, although we didn’t get very far. I had a snowball fight with her and my cousin also-I got him right in the face! When I wasn’t outdoors, I was either sleeping in late or playing play station. I had a lot of fun, but once we were back at school, it was difficult to concentrate because it was so cold and when walking around the playground it was really slippery'.

However, there were many schools which were not closed during the snow days. These included the Green School, Gumley House and Tiffins Girls School, which is located in Kingston - they are all girls' schools...wonder if that's a coincidence! They may have had to spend their snow time being taught in lessons, but at least they had a chance to have snowball fights with their school friends! One of the reasons for keeping schools open may have been that a sufficient amount of staff arrived to school, allowing students to be taught, therefore having less disruption to the daily routine both teachers, students and parents/carers have.

The greatest fear for most schools in the borough was the matter of GCSE and A-Level Public Examinations. If students were unable to make it to school because of the snow, the exams would not be able to go ahead. Fortunately, most of the students braved the snow and came in, allowing all examinations to run effectively.