Hundreds of schools across southern coastal regions are closed today as Storm Ciarán continues to bring heavy rain and 90mph winds across the area this morning.
More than 100 schools have shut in Devon, one of the worst-affected counties, with more closures and delayed openings in Cornwall, Dorset, East Sussex and Hampshire.
An amber weather warning for wind had been issued by the Met Office for Thursday for the south-western and southern coastal regions, indicating that “very strong north-westerly winds associated with Storm Ciarán could disrupt travel and utilities, and may cause some structural damage”.
Dan Morrow, chief executive of Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust in Devon, told Tes that all 16 of his trust’s schools are closed for the day and moving to online learning “due to the unpredictability factor”.
Mr Morrow said that the move was necessary to guarantee safety for staff and students, adding that lots of trees had already come down across the area on Wednesday evening.
Devon County Council had told Tes yesterday that schools “will make their own decision about whether to close”.
However, a Southampton City Council spokesperson said it had advised schools in the city to close on Thursday in order to “ensure the safety of staff, pupils and parents” .
Somerset County Council has similarly advised schools to “ensure that they have plans in place for any potential disruption caused by the weather” and consider the possibility of “flooding on school sites”, “travel disruption preventing pupils and staff from getting into school safely” and “potential closures”.
Safe travel ‘the priority’
In Hampshire, the council advised headteachers and governing bodies to make a careful assessment of the local expected conditions as a result of Storm Ciarán prior to making the most appropriate decision for their school.
“The presumption is always that schools should open, but the priority is that children, young people and staff should be able to travel to and from school safely and be safe while on the school site,” a Hampshire County Council spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, several schools in East Sussex are closed or have delayed opening for today and Friday owing to the storm, according to the council.
The Department for Education said it expects individual schools and local authorities to have policies in place for adverse weather conditions, adding that it is confident schools are best placed to know the conditions and cover off any safety considerations for pupils and staff.
Providing remote education does not change the imperative to remain open, or to reopen as soon as possible, the DfE said.
