Edinburgh City Council has defended its policy of continuing to close schools to some pupils after a week of wintry weather. Some children will be having a fifth day off school tomorrow due to the adverse conditions.
City Education Leader Cllr Marilyne MacLaren said that reasons for the school closures have been "overwhelming".
“This week we’ve seen unprecedented snowfall so there’s been no choice," said MacLaren. "We are gradually getting schools open again and, although not every pupil will be able to get to school, we want to provide the best service we can for parents in these difficult circumstances."
Tomorrow (3rd December), all secondary schools are set to open for some pupils and 44 primaries are set to open on Friday.
As on previous snow days,staff are being asked to to report to work, or nearest City of Edinburgh Council school.
Home to School contract bus companies are scheduled to provide transport for registered students, assuming weather doesn't impact the service.
Although the Council reported yesterday that teacher attendance rate has only dropped by a fifth during the whiteout, MacLaren said the unpredicatable nature of the situation made planning even a few hours ahead difficult.
“Where there are partial openings, this is largely because we can not be sure that there will be enough staff for all classes. We prioritise older pupils for these partial openings in secondary schools because these students have significant exams during the year. Also, secondary catchments cover larger areas and, if pupils need to be sent home because of worsening weather, senior pupils are better equipped to cover the distance home than young children."
Earlier in the week, some parents were caught out by the sudden decision on school closures. MacLaren explained that decisions, are made "as early as feasibly possible" dependant on the input from Head Teachers from the various schools.
"Head Teachers know about their neighbourhoods and the situation at schools and we have vital information about transport, gritting, meals as well as access to the latest flash weather forecasts," she explained.
- Secondary Schools
- Primary Schools
- Nurseries
- Community Centres
- Other Children and Family Services
- Weather and transport updates
All secondary schools are set to open for some pupils. Details as follows:
- Balerno S4-S6 – No transport for pupils who take private bus from Livingston & Mid-Calder
- Boroughmuir S4-S6
- Broughton S4-S6
- Castlebrae S4-S6
- Craigmount S4-S6
- Craigroyston S3-S6
- Currie S4-S6
- Drummond S4-S6
- Firrhill S4-S6
- Forrester S3-S6
- Gracemount S3-S6
- Holy Rood RC S4-S6
- James Gillespie’s S4-S6
- Leith Academy S1-S6
- Liberton S4-S6
- Portobello S4-S6
- Queensferry S5-S6
- St Augustine’s RC S4-S6
- St Thomas of Aquin’s RC S4-S6
- The Royal High S4-S6
- Trinity Academy S4-S6
- Tynecastle High S4-S6
- Wester Hailes Education Centre S3-S6
No lunches will be provided – pupils may wish to bring a packed lunch.
The following 44 (of 87) primary schools will be open on Friday as well as the nursery at Clovenstone. Clovenstone Primary will be closed.
- Abbeyhill
- Balgreen
- Broomhouse
- Broughton
- Bruntsfield
- Castleview
- Clermiston (No nursery class)
- Corstorphine
- Craigentinny
- Craiglockhart
- Craigour Park (No breakfast club)
- Dalry
- Davidson’s Mains
- Ferryhill
- Flora Stevenson
- Forthview
- Granton
- Gylemuir (No nursery class)
- Hermitage Park
- Holy Cross RC
- James Gillespie’s
- Leith
- Leith Walk
- Lorne
- Murrayburn (No nursery class, no language classes)
- Oxgangs (No nursery class)
- Preston Street
- Roseburn
- Sciennes
- Sighthill
- South Morningside (Cluny and Fairmilehead annexes closed, no nursery class, no breakfast or after school clubs. P1 and 2 to be collected at 12 noon.)
- St John’s RC (No nursery class)
- St Joseph’s RC
- St Mary’s RC - Edin
- St Mary’s RC - Leith
- St Peter’s RC
- Stenhouse
- Stockbridge
- The Royal High (No nursery class)
- Tollcross
- Towerbank
- Trinity
- Victoria
- Wardie
No lunches will be provided – pupils may wish to bring a packed lunch.
The rest will remain closed
All special schools with remain closed with the exception of the Panmure St Ann's service.
The following nurseries will be open on Friday:
- Cowgate Under 5's Centre
- Tynecastle
- Calderglen
- Balgreen
- Stanwell
- Cameron House
- St Leonard's
- Grassmarket
- High School Yards
- Hope Cottage
- Princess Elizabeth
- Greengables
- Lochrin
Other Council nurseries are closed.
The following City of Edinburgh Council community centres will be closed:
- Ratho
- Roseberry Hall
- Inch
- Jack Kane
- Bingham
- Castleview
- Magdalene Rannoch
- Kirkliston
- Norwood Wing
- Craigmount Wing
- Juniper Green
All other Council community centres will be open. Day and evening adult education classes are cancelled for the rest of the week.
Other Children & Families services
All Child and Family centres will be open with a reduced service. Please contact the centres direct for information.
Anyone looking to attend external events normally hosted in schools, e.g. councillor surgeries or community groups, should check if they are going ahead.
Edinburgh weather and traffic updates