Parents were puzzled today after being told to keep their children at home due to the bad weather, even though those at the school next door were in lessons.
The headteacher of Waddesdon Village School near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire blamed black ice for the closure.
But pupils at the neighbouring senior school, Waddesdon Church of England School, managed to make their way in on the same road.
The headteacher of Waddesdon Village School (right) in Buckinghamshire blamed black ice for the closure. But pupils at the neighbouring senior school, Waddesdon Church of England School (left), managed to make their way in on the same road
Health visitor Henna Mayo (centre), 39, was at home today looking after her daughters Holly (centre right), eight, and Beatrice (far right), five, along with those of a sick friend, sisters Amelie Bennett (centre left), who was celebrating her 9th birthday on a snow day, and Harriet (centre right), seven
Courtney Vickery, eight, and her brother Kye, five, pose next to a snowman after they got the day off school in Waddesdon. Their mother Carley, 30, said: ‘It’s daft. It doesn’t make sense for one school to be open and the one next door shut’
Caretakers at the senior school were up at 5am today clearing footpaths. One source said: ‘The junior school only has one part time site agent and he hasn’t cleared the paths. That’s the real reason they’ve shut.’
Parent Carley Vickery, 30, who was looking after her two children Courtney, eight, and Kye, five, said: ‘It’s daft. It doesn’t make sense for one school to be open and the one next door shut.’
Ms Vickery, who works as a full time carer, added: ‘It may be that the staff couldn’t get in. Some live a distance away in High Wycombe and Northampton.
‘It’s a shame for the children who were supposed to be going to a pantomime and a Christmas party.
‘The school is fast enough asking us why we have kept a child at home. Perhaps they shouldn’t tell them to stay at home so quickly.’
The primary school, which has 200 pupils, was given an outstanding grading by Ofsted in 2011.
Headteacher Laura Forchione said on the school’s website today: ‘I very much regret to inform you that the Chair of Governors and I have decided that the school will be closed again today.
‘This is solely due to the extremely hazardous driving conditions on the access road to school. With many of the children and staff needing to travel along small rural roads the safety needs for all must be taken into consideration.
Mother Nicki Harper, 38, who was looking after her daughter Evie, six, said: ‘It seems odd that the school for the older children is open, but they say the road has been like an ice rink’
Caretakers at the senior school (left) in the Buckinghamshire village of Waddesdon were up at 5am today clearing footpaths
‘We have inspected School Lane – it is very dangerous as is the school car park and playgrounds. Black ice is causing us serious concern. Unfortunately, this does have an impact on the pantomime trip scheduled for Year 1 and 2 today.
‘We will reschedule if possible, if not parents will be reimbursed. I understand that this is far from ideal however, the safety of all children and staff is my priority.
‘I am sorry for the inconvenience and disruption that I know this will cause. The weather forecast for Tuesday late evening onwards of warmer conditions and rain makes me very confident that we will be open on Wednesday. Once again, my apologies.’
A spokesman for the senior school, which has 900 pupils, said ‘The school was shut on Monday, but opened today after the site was cleared and buses were running.’
Health visitor Henna Mayo, 39, was at home today looking after her daughters Holly, eight, and Beatrice, five, along with those of a sick friend, sisters Amelie Bennett, who was celebrating her 9th birthday on a snow day, and Harriet, seven.
Ms Mayo said: ‘I can’t believe it. I am shocked that one school is open, but the other one next door is not.
‘Perhaps they have more teachers at the school for the older children, but it causes a lot of problems for parents who either have to take time off work or take their children in with them.
Buckinghamshire County Council said decisions to open and close schools were a matter for the headteachers
The primary school in Waddesdon (right), which has 200 pupils, was given an outstanding grading by Ofsted in 2011
‘I work in Oxford, which is quite a trek, but fortunately they’ve been great about it.’
Another mother, Nicki Harper, 38, was looking after her daughter Evie, six. Ms Harper said ‘It’s not affected me too much, because I am a stay at home mum.
‘It seems odd that the school for the older children is open, but they say the road has been like an ice rink.
‘We thought the school would be re-opening this morning, but it wasn’t until 7 o’clock when we checked on the website to see they’d shut it.
‘It’s a shame because Evie was supposed to be going to Aylesbury with the school today to see Snow White. They are hoping to re-schedule it.’
A spokesman for Buckinghamshire County Council said decisions to open and close schools were a matter for the headteachers. Waddesdon Village School did not return a request for comment.
Hundreds of schools across Britain were closed for a second day today as the cold weather continues to cause disruption.
All council-run schools in Birmingham were shut yesterday following the hazardous conditions, but the blanket closure was not in force for today.
Hundreds of schools across Britain were closed for a second day today as the cold weather continues to cause disruption
Company policies should cover what parents should do if schools close and they have no alternative childcare, the TUC said
Nearly 80 schools are listed as closed in Staffordshire, with many citing untreated paths and fears that snow will have compacted into ice as reasons for keeping the gates closed.
Gloucestershire, which saw around 200 schools closed yesterday, had 80 schools closed today, while more than 90 were closed in neighbouring Herefordshire.
Pupils at 123 primary schools and 25 secondary schools in Shropshire had a second day off owing to the weather, while in Wales hundreds of schools were shut today, with Caerphilly and Powys particularly affected.
The TUC has called on employers not to force staff to make hazardous journeys into work, saying firms in areas of the country affected by the snowy conditions should have put out advice to their staff on what they should do when snow, ice and a lack of public transport prevents them getting in.
Policies should also cover what parents should do if schools close and they have no alternative childcare, said general secretary Frances O’Grady, adding: ‘It is essential that employers don’t force staff to make dangerous journeys for the sake of presenteeism.
‘For many employees the bad weather will have made their commute virtually impossible, but thankfully many bosses now have ‘bad weather’ policies so staff know what is expected of them.’
