When the cold hits and the prospect of severe weather warnings increase, we like to ensure our families are informed of our procedures. During extreme weather conditions, we remain proactive rather than reactive with communication. We therefore ask that, if contact details (email, mobile number or home address) change throughout the year, we are kept informed for such events as this.

Over the years, there have been very rare occasions when the school has had to close as a result of extreme weather conditions. Extreme weather extends from severe hot weather, where building interiors and sheltered outdoor areas may not be suitable for the temperatures, to extreme cold weather conditions whereby staff and students are unable to travel to the school site or heating issues within the site are not suitable for the school community. As such, in the event of extreme weather, we operate a ‘Snow Plan’ which ensures that all the students are looked after and are safe.

Procedures during a school closure

Closures before a school day

As soon as a decision to close school is taken, information will be posted:

• On our school website,
• On our social media platforms,
• A message will be sent to parents via the West Hill School app and/or an email for those without the app.

This will occur as early as we can, to inform families after our risk assessments are complete. Regular updates will be posted on the school website and on the school’s social media feeds.

Closures during a school day

When the decision to close the school is taken after the start of the school day, we are unable to contact all parents directly to seek individual permission to send their son(s) home. We will:

• Update our website/social media platforms,
• Message parents via the West Hill School app,
• Ensure all boys are given a letter explaining the circumstances.

Parent/carer action – in advance of a closure

Parents and carers should discuss with their son(s), the actions to be taken in case this situation occurs. By doing so, parents/carers and students will be fully aware and confident about what will happen, and where their son(s) will be, in the event of an extreme weather closure.

• Parents/carers should inform their son(s) where they must go if they are sent home from school. This could be home or to a relative or friends. In addition, parents/carers should emphasise to their son(s) the need to act sensibly and not endanger others.
• If parents/carers wish their son(s) to remain in school until someone can pick them up, then we will look after them. Students can discuss this with their Form Tutor, who can arrange supervision until collection.

Learning plan during a closure

Once home, students can immediately switch to remote learning through our online platforms for communication (West Hill app and student email addresses).

Where the school is closed prior to the start of a school day, learning will switch to our home-school blended learning model. To support this, students are expected to check their emails and the West Hill School app for information at 8.40am and 3pm each day and, using their timetable, follow the work sent and set by their class teacher via the West Hill app and school email addresses.

Details of this provision are all found within the Remote Access section of our website.