SCHOOLS are preparing to reopen their doors to pupils on Tuesday – after snow forced more than 30 schools and colleges across Swindon to shut.
Most schools expect to be open, although with plunging temperatures overnight many have said they will make a final decision tomorrow morning.
Abbey Meads headteacher Bob Buckley said of his decision to start school at 10am tomorrow: “Along with other local schools, we have decided to avoid the cold and dark early morning with slipper footpaths and the rush hour with cars on slippery roads. This measure allows both children and staff to get to school more safely.”
Nicky Mills, headteacher at St Leonard’s CE Primary Academy, Blunsdon, thanked parents for their help shovelling snow off school paths, adding in a letter: “The forecast for overnight is for the temperatures to drop to around -5 degrees, resulting in the possibility of icy/treacherous conditions, much worse than they were today.”
Elsewhere, it is expected that school dinners could be off the menu – as kitchen staff struggle with the icy roads.
Bishopstone Primary School told parents: “I was informed this morning that the dinner service does not think they will be able to get out to us tomorrow. Consequently, all children must have a packed lunch with them. If not, little tums will be hungry.”
Swindon Borough Council said that its education transport service would not run tomorrow, citing safety grounds.
We expect most schools to be open tomorrow, but this list could change. Check your school’s website for more details.
Which primary schools will be open?
Abbey Meads Community Primary School – open from 10am
Beechcroft Infants School – no update
Bishopstone CE Primary School – open from 9am
Bridlewood Primary School – open at 10am (KS1 production for parents delayed until 10.30am)
Brook Field Primary School – no update
Bradon Forest School – expect to be open as normal
Catherine Wayte Primary School – no update
Chiseldon Primary School – open from 10am
Colebrook Infants and Junior schools – no update
Covingham Park Primary – open as normal (but no children on site before 8.45am)
Drove Primary School – open from 10am
East Wichel Community Primary School – registration at 10.15.
Eastrop Infants School – open from 10am
Eldene Primary School – open as normal (any update will be posted online at 7.30am)
Even Swindon Primary School – open from 10am
Ferndale Community Primary School – open from 8.30 (no breakfast club)
Goddard Park Primary School – open as normal
Gorse Hill School – open from 10am
Grange Infants and Junior Schools – no update
Greenmeadow Primary School – open from 10am (review by 9am)
Haydon Wick Primary School – open as normal
Haydonleigh Primary School – aim to open as normal
Hazelwood Academy – no update
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School – no update
Holy Family Catholic Primary School – open as normal
Holy Rood Catholic Primary School – open from 9am
King William Street CE Primary School – no update
Lainesmead Primary School – open from 10am
Lawn Primary School – open as normal
Lethbridge Primary School – no update
Liden Primary School – open from 10.30am
Millbrook Primary School – no update
Moredon Primary School – open from 10am
Mountford Manor Primary School – open from 10am
Nythe Primary School – open as normal from 8.40am
Oakhurst Primary School – open as normal (performance of A King is Born postponed to 6.30pm on Wednesday)
Oaktree Primary School – no update
Oliver Tomkins Infants and Junior School – no update
Orchid Vale – no update, expected open as normal
Peatmoor Community Primary School – no update, expected to be open as normal
Red Oaks Primary School – no update
Robert Le Kyng Primary School – no update, expected to be open as normal
Rodbourne Cheney Primary School – open from 10am
Ruskin Junior School – open as normal (breakfast club cancelled)
Seven Fields Primary School – open from 10am
Shaw Ridge Primary School – no update, expected to be open as normal
South Marston CE Primary School – no update
Southfield Junior School – open from 10am
St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School – no update
St Francis CE Primary School – no update
St Leonard’s CE Primary Academy, Blunsdon – open from 10am (final decision taken at 8am)
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School – no update
Swindon Academy Alton Close and Beech Avenue – expected to be open as normal
Tadpole Farm CE Primary Academy – open (but no drop off before 8.50am)
The Croft Primary School – open from 10am
Tregoze Primary School – open from 10am
Wanborough Primary School – open at 10am (parents can come in from 9.40am)
Westlea Primary School – expected to be open as normal (will text parents in the morning to confirm opening)
Westrop Primary School – open from 10am
Wroughton Infant and Junior schools – open as normal
Longleaze Primary School – open as normal
St Mary’s CE Primary School, Purton – open as normal
St Bartholomew’s Primary Academy – open as normal
Which secondary schools will be open?
Abbey Park School – open as normal
Commonweal School – open as normal
Dorcan Academy – open from 11am
Highworth Warneford School – open as normal
Kingsdown School – open from 10.30am for 11am start
Lawn Manor Academy – expected to be open as normal for progress review day
Lydiard Park Academy – open as normal
Nova Hreod Academy – open as normal (Year 11 Geography field trip going ahead)
St Joseph’s College – open from 11am
Swindon Academy – open from 10am
Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College – open as normal
UTC Swindon – open as normal
Royal Wootton Bassett Academy – open as normal
Which special schools will be open?
Brimble Hill Primary School – open from 10am
Crowdys Hill School – open as normal
Nyland Campus – no update
St Luke’s School – no update
The Chalet School – closed for KS1 and early years
Uplands School – open as normal
Which colleges will be open?
New College – expected to be open as normal
Swindon College – open as normal
Got an update? Let us know: call 01793 501806, email newsdesk@swindonadvertiser.co.uk or message us on Facebook.
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