School closures were mentioned... don't get me started! I work in a school (as some of you know) and I tend to get in very early, whether there's floods or snow or whatever. I think I've had two snow days "off" in nearly twenty years, so it isn't as common as most of the local papers make out. I'll spend an hour answering the phone tomorrow saying "We're open," before taking my place at 8:45 with 500 kids in the hall, playing mass mathematical bingo
until colleagues arrive in one's and twos to take their classes away.
We often just need a delayed start, rather than a closure, because half the staff are gridlocked in the town - many of them with their own children in their cars. If a primary school shuts, there's a cascade effect of people (not just teachers) being delayed by childcare issues. The closure decisions are taken very early and by 10am those decisions often look silly.
As mentioned above, the increased dependency on cars, and the larger commuting distances and the fear of a "Health and Safety " issue all tend to make headteachers take a more cautious approach.
