The colder weather is arriving and with it the possibilty of a school closure during a school day due to severe weather. It has only happened twice in my 10 years here so it is a small possibility, but we need to have procedures in place in case.

We are following the same procedures as in previous years. All pupils have been spoken to and issued with a letter at assemblies this week (S4 next week). In summary, in the event of a closure:

• The health & safety of all pupils will be our first concern.
• Parents will be notified by a text to the main contact’s mobile number if the school is closing
• no pupil can leave school without being accounted for first
• S1/2 pupils will be kept in school until we have a contact from a parent/carer on the day
• S3/4 pupils can be given permission in advance by parents to leave school school on the day without further contact; otherwise they will be kept until parental contact is made
• S5/6 pupils can leave on the day without parental contact unless you tell us otherwise

On the day, parents can make contact by

• phoning direct to the school (although lines will be busy!)
• text  to their son/daughter’s mobile giving permission to leave, which can be shown to a teacher
• phoning their son/daughter’s mobile and speaking to a teacher
• coming into school to collect their son/daughter

Any action required NOW

• parents only require to return the tear-off slip if they think the school may not have the correct mobile number for the main contact (other than S3&4 – see below)
• parents of pupils in S1&2 do not need to do anything else
• parents of pupils in S3&4 should sign the return slip if they wish to give permission to leave in advance
• parents of pupils in S5&6  do not need to do anything else unless they do not want their son/daughter to leave on the day without them being notified first

Copies of the letter are in the quick links on the left of the website.

Mr Sinclair