Winter Update!

This morning I sat and answered many phone calls asking if the school would be open due to the snowfall. Surprisingly, some parents thought that school should be closed but most hoped it would be open. A text message was sent at 8am to inform our families that school was open as normal. I will always endeavour to open school. Of course, my hand would be forced if the fire exits were blocked, the heating broken or the kitchen unable to provide food but a standard sprinkling of snow would not close our school.

Having made the decision to remain open as normal, I clicked onto the Bolton News to see if any schools had shut for the day. They had updates of school closures and indeed, several schools were closed. I noticed that underneath the article there was a raft of comments from the general public. They were calling teachers lazy and suggesting that they would use any excuse to take a day off work. I don’t think they realised that no decision to close a school is ever made by a teacher; it is made by someone like me who has to balance the practicalities and safety issues that are presented by adverse weather. I always want to keep our school open and will do everything I can to do so but there may be a day that it is simply not possible. This will never be a decision I will take lightly.

I find it very distressing and unfair to see teachers being accused of laziness. I am sure you will agree that all the staff at St William’s go the extra mile for every single child. They are dedicated professionals who are here early every day and work long after the children have left in the evening. Much as I try to make them have a break in the holidays, I will come into school to find many of them in classrooms, preparing for the weeks ahead. They attend Church services, Christmas Fairs, residentials, school discos etc. all in their own time. They take children to events, run after school clubs and stay to offer after school tuition, all because they are so committed to our school community. I am very grateful to them all and know that very single one if them is quite the opposite of lazy.

Thank you for your continued support. I will keep an eye on the forecast and say a prayer for sunshine.