“Schools should, wherever possible, stay open in severe weather. They play a key role in their communities and by staying open help both their pupils and parents.
Department of Education
Every winter brings the possibility of snow and ice. Extreme bad weather can cause widespread and prolonged disruption. Schools are often affected and it can be difficult to maintain an education service.
As a fundamental principle, every effort must be made to keep schools open, even if only limited numbers of pupils can attend. However schools may close due to ‘unavoidable’ circumstances. Those circumstances being that it is no longer safe for staff or pupils to be onsite.
We recognise that it is important that our school remains open so parents are able to work and pupils can continue to learn. Oakley Cross Primary will make every effort to prepare for severe snow / ice this winter by gritting pathways, clearing access points etc.
How will we let you know if the school is closed?
However, if we do experience severe snow / ice resulting in hazardous conditions, the Headteacher may have to take the decision to close the school. Once this decision has been made we will notify parents via the Durham Closures website. To determine whether Oakley Cross Primary School is open or closed please visit School Closures. Search for the school in the search box. The Durham Closures website can also be used to find out if other services in Durham are open or closed, such as nurseries, children’s centres and libraries. We also recommend parents sign up for SMS / Email alerts on the Durham Closures website. The service will send an SMS or email alert to let parents know if Oakley Cross Primary is closed. Parents can also check our school Facebook page, expect a text message from school or listen to local radio stations to hear if the school has closed.
