Early Closure During the School Day

Early Closure during the School Day

On occasion, we may be advised to send students home early due to weather conditions that are likely to cause major problems. If parents are likely to be at work during the day, please make sure that your child is clear about where he or she needs to go. Although weather reports are not always accurate, you should be able to predict when emergency arrangements might be necessary. Any early closure will be confirmed on our website – students should not contact their families directly in anticipation of such an event.

Appropriate Clothing

Please ensure that your child wears warm, waterproof clothing. If your child walks to school we suggest they wear appropriate footwear for this and they change into their school shoes once in school. This will prevent school shoes becoming wet or uncomfortable.

Snow Behaviour Policy

Ponteland High has a behaviour policy designed to keep everyone as safe and comfortable as possible during snowy conditions when school is open. It also applies to students as they walk to school and home again. Experience has shown that the guidance outlined in the policy will help to ensure that our students avoid any form of disruption to their studies caused by wet clothing, injury, etc. The policy includes the following:

NO SNOWBALLING

PontelandCommunityHigh School is a no-snowballing site. This is to avoid:

• Injury
• Damage to property
• Wet clothing in classrooms, posing a risk to health and affecting concentration in lessons
• Fun turning to confrontation
• Bullying and intimidation.

Students should not snowball on their way to and from school. This is to avoid:

• All of the above
• People in the community becoming caught in the crossfire.

We expect our students to be on their best behaviour, acting with maturity and consideration for others, at all times.

WHEN IT SNOWS

Students must either:

• Stay indoors at break time and at lunch time
• Stay within the area bordered by H Block, K Block, L Block and the main school building, if they need to get around.

SANCTIONS

Any students who break these rules face an after-school detention with the Head of Year/Director of Key Stage 4 or Duty Team Leader. They could face more serious sanctions if they continue to ignore them, or if their behaviour causes significant problems.

Yours sincerely

Kieran McGrane

Headteacher