As a headteacher of a closed school, I felt it important to briefly write and outline an alternative point of view.

While I have great admiration for Simon Billings, headteacher at St John’s Green Primary School, who I know personally, and heads like him who remain open in weather such as we had last week, this is not always practical.

Firstly, headteachers never take a decision to close a school lightly.

They consider the impact of this on the children’s education, but also have to weigh up a number of equally important factors, such as pupil safety, access to their site, staff transportation concerns, staff availability (which is compromised when other schools and nurseries close) availability of school meals and so on.

On a day such as Friday, I can guarantee that several of my staff would not be in school due to the inability to get there or the need to remain at home in order to care for their own children.

When we did open in similar circumstances last year, only about 50 per cent of the pupils attended.

Mixed messages are passed around estates and parents often believe a school is closed simply because another in the area may be.

Quite simply, it is never an easy decision to close a school nor one that heads want to take.

Finally, schools are about educating young people.

When, as in the situation I have just outlined, a school does open to a much smaller number of pupils than normal, are we then really educating or fulfilling a different role?

I fully accept that my views may not be those of my colleagues, but I felt the need to air them with you.

Bill Aylett
Headteacher
Montgomery Junior
School
Colchester