Extreme Weather Guidance

Bad weather (particularly snow) is a rare event for Christ’s school. However, when it comes, it can be very disruptive.  Understandably many parents may try to contact the school if snow starts falling, but this can be unhelpful and frustrating as we have a limited number of lines and may be using them ourselves on calls monitoring the local situation. In such circumstances we would ask parents to be patient and to wait for us to contact you via EduLink parent app, text and/or email. We will also update information on the school website (www.christs.richmond.sch.uk) regularly in such circumstances and will also change our status on Open check www.opencheck.atomwide.com. We may also use social media (Twitter and Facebook) on occasion.

Please always assume that school is open unless you receive information to the contrary. Students should make additional allowance for travel time if roads and pavements are slippery but passable and should not seek to excuse themselves because they did not allow for the conditions. We would ask parents to ensure that students leave home on such mornings or when cold/poor weather is forecast in appropriate footwear and suitable additional clothing. If transport is severely disrupted or you feel your child’s safety is genuinely compromised we would ask you to notify us of lateness or absence in the normal way.

If snow has fallen overnight, or conditions are deteriorating in the morning, a decision as to whether the school will be closed will usually be made and broadcast to you by 7.30am. Please do not call the school switchboard at this time as it is unlikely to be manned or we may be using all the lines. If a decision has to be made to close the school during the day after students have arrived but before the normal closing time, we will contact you and keep you updated as described and, in extreme
circumstances only, may allow the students to make supervised contact with you from their own mobile devices regarding transport home. We will make every attempt to ensure all students make contact with parents or a suitable family member; students should not leave school unless a family member has been contacted and we will keep students safe on the premises until they tell us they have been able to contact home. As far as possible we would ask you not to travel to pick up your child if you would not normally do so as this may contribute to additional problems and delay on nearby roads.

Please be assured that the safety of the students is of paramount importance, so we will be on top of the situation and seeking reliable advice from local transport providers and other schools in the area on a continuous basis, so we ask you please to NOT anticipate closure by contacting your child by phone or text as they are not allowed to use their phones during lessons.

January 2023