School Update - 3.45pm Thurs 9 January 2025

UPDATE: MESSAGE TO PARENTS

Dear Parents

After walking around the site today and particularly walking on the car park, I am optimistic it will be safe to open tomorrow. Even though the forecast is for it to be freezing this evening, as long as we do not get further rain, hail or snow, it should be fine. Clearly this is dependent on inspecting it again tomorrow morning which I will do at 6.30 in order that a timely decision can be made and communicated to you all.

If we are in school tomorrow and you are worried about surrounding pavements, I am happy for pupils to come into school in trainers and change into their school shoes when they get here. 

Many thanks for your patience and support on this matter.

Mrs Gaunt
HEADMISTRESS

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School Closure Update - Thursday 9 January 2025

Dear Parents,

We will be unable to open school again today. This is a really difficult decision which I can assure you I do not take lightly. While the vast majority of the site is accessible, the bottom car park is treacherous and cannot be accessed. This is despite being industrially gritted last night as the ice is so thick. The inaccessibility of this area means we could not carry out a fire evacuation and would not have anywhere to evacuate to as the tennis court is also inaccessible. 

Staff will either be holding live lessons or setting work on Google classrooms and therefore no loss of learning should occur. Pupils should log on as if a live lesson will be taking place and if it is not, they should access the material provided. Their teachers will be available via their Google classroom spaces to answer questions.

I will update you later today.

Regards

Andrea Gaunt

Headmistress

Upton Hall School FCJ