- Mobile site
- E-Newsletters
-
- News feed
- Find us on Twitter
@Bradford_TandA
All the latest news and views from the T&A
@tandasport
All the latest sport from the T&A
@TandABusiness
Latest business headlines from the T&A
- Find us on Facebook
The Telegraph & Argus
Like us on Facebook
Events cancelled as spring blizzards hit Bradford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting TANEWS to 80360, or email
Events cancelled as spring blizzards hit Bradford
7:00am Saturday 23rd March 2013 in News
By Kathie Griffiths, T&A Reporter
Blizzard conditions continued to wreak havoc in the Bradford district today with the cancellation of major events across the weekend.
Victims of the heavy snow and freezing temperatures include the Reflections day-long arts festival to mark the first anniversary of the official opening of City Park and Bradford City FC’s home match against Bristol Rovers.
And organisers of the Epilepsy Action Bradford 10k run due to take place tomorrow were forced to postpone the charity fundraiser until next month due to underfoot conditions in the city centre.
It all added to the chaos caused yesterday – particularly at schools of which more than 170 were shut across the district leading to the councillor in charge of education to demand that head teachers be held more to account for making the decisions to close. Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Council’s executive member responsible for children and young people’s services, said: “We can't tell schools whether they should open or not. It is up to the individual head teacher but we can try to hold them to account.
“We have got some disparities here about the number of schools shut in Bradford, there weren't many open.
“It does seem to depend on where teachers live and if they can get in. We tried last year to get schools to have a Plan B and make alternative arrangements such as organising other activities in case of bad snow but people are more worried about getting themselves through the next Ofsted.
“If it's not safe, it's not safe but we do need to have a little more clarity about why schools decide to shut.”
Bradford Council crews were continuing today to work round the clock in 12- hour shifts gritting and ploughing all major routes. All resources from the Council’s cleansing and parks departments have also been used to support the clearing of roads and footways.
The snow and icy conditions have been forecast to continue until well into tomorrow with March set to be the coldest for 50 years.
Councillor Andrew Thornton, Bradford Council’s executive member for environment, sport and sustainability, said last night: “We closely monitor the weather forecasts and even in March our gritters are on standby to react to the conditions. I am aware the snow has affected some refuse collections in the district. We will, weather permitting make arrangement to collect any missed recycling collections on Monday, March 25, and any missed refuse bins and residual waste on the next Friday collection date which is March 29.
“Our staff work really hard to ensure the district's roads stay as safe as possible. We still have plenty of grit stocks left so all our 26 wagons will be out concentrating on the primary routes to try to keep traffic flowing.”
One of the few Bradford schools that defied the snow to keep its doors open yesterday was Bradford Academy in Teesdale Street, West Bowling.
Office manager Samantha Taylor reported every member of staff had successfully made it in – even those living in Rochdale and York.
She said a high number of pupils had also turned up for class on time with lessons running to a normal timetable.
“We will always endeavour to open for our pupils as long as we can give them access to education, a warm building and a hot meal – we’re happy to let the world know that its something we will absolutely do our best to achieve - as long as it is safe,” she said.
In Leeds only 27 of the Council’s 263 schools were closed including some in Yeadon, Guiseley and Otley.
In Calderdale there were 18 confirmed closures out of its 101 schools – however Kirklees schools were also hit hard with 150 out of 200 shut because of the return of wintry conditions.
Comments(34)
Joedavid
says...
10:05am Sat 23 Mar 13
BigFigure
says...
10:22am Sat 23 Mar 13
Truth77 wrote:Errr....a lot more snow in Bradford...next?
170 schools closed in Bradford but only 27 in Leeds?
Explain that.
PeterBooth
says...
10:41am Sat 23 Mar 13
JAtkinson
says...
12:02pm Sat 23 Mar 13
Closing a school is not done lightly, nor is it done by teachers. It is done for the welfare and safety of students.
Silsdenman
says...
12:29pm Sat 23 Mar 13
Joedavid
says...
12:31pm Sat 23 Mar 13
I agree Silsdenman.
Steve30d
says...
12:47pm Sat 23 Mar 13
PeterBooth wrote:Perhaps ask the heads of all the schools how they assess the risk.
Well done to Bradford Academy for setting an example and opening as normal and particularly to the staff who traveled in from such far away places. Maybe Councillor Ralph Berry should formally ask all the heads of all the schools which didnt open to express their views on that. Absenteeism in the public sector will always be higher than in the private sector, its just a culture thing.
And don't say risks are always taken seriously by schools. know of a parent down south who received an unathorthised absence/parentally endorsed truancy after being forced to abandon the walk to school due to flash flooding and streams bursting banks across route. Reasoning "the school stayed open so of course she could have made an effort." Shouldn't take much to figure out how dangerous it would be for an adult to be in 1 foot deep fast flowing flood water, let alone a kid in their first year of school
Mr Blondе
says...
1:05pm Sat 23 Mar 13
They don't decide whether to close the school or not, they are just employees after all.
Not so simple
says...
1:43pm Sat 23 Mar 13
dellorri
says...
2:40pm Sat 23 Mar 13
BigFigure
says...
3:49pm Sat 23 Mar 13
Joedavid wrote:My school was closed for a fortnight back in the winter of 1963...sledging all day every day...ACE!!!
"In all my years at schools they NEVER closed for a single day "
I agree Silsdenman.
Stevie-C
says...
4:23pm Sat 23 Mar 13
Silsdenman wrote:Brilliant post. Well said that man. Maybe the teachers should not be paid for snow days, as they already get 13 weeks hols per year...
In all my years at schools they NEVER closed for a single day nor were we ever even sent home early.It's just a lazy lack of conscience by teachers citing health and safety as an excuse for a day off. Other workplaces don't close, it is only ever schools with a total disregard for the inconvenience and cost it causes to families.
June Oh
says...
4:32pm Sat 23 Mar 13
Stevie-C wrote:They get paid when they not turn up!
Silsdenman wrote:Brilliant post. Well said that man. Maybe the teachers should not be paid for snow days, as they already get 13 weeks hols per year...
In all my years at schools they NEVER closed for a single day nor were we ever even sent home early.It's just a lazy lack of conscience by teachers citing health and safety as an excuse for a day off. Other workplaces don't close, it is only ever schools with a total disregard for the inconvenience and cost it causes to families.
sambasue
says...
8:23am Sun 24 Mar 13
PeterBooth
says...
8:41am Sun 24 Mar 13
Mr Blondе
says...
10:54am Sun 24 Mar 13
Avro
says...
12:06pm Sun 24 Mar 13
So what about all the students that do not arrive via bus?
Avro
says...
12:12pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Mr Blondе wrote:Can tell you don't have school age kids.
Why does everyone blame the teachers?, They don't decide whether to close the school or not, they are just employees after all.
Head Teachers make the call to close the school or not!
Avro
says...
12:13pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Avro wrote:And just so you hear it for a second time here it is again numpty!
Mr Blondе wrote:Can tell you don't have school age kids.
Why does everyone blame the teachers?, They don't decide whether to close the school or not, they are just employees after all.
Head Teachers make the call to close the school or not!
Mr Blondе
says...
12:56pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Why does everyone blame the teachers?, They don't decide whether to close the school or not, they are just employees after all.
You're right on one thing though you clown....my kids are well above school age now.
Mr Blondе
says...
1:00pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Avro wrote:That's nice. :)
Avro wrote:And just so you hear it for a second time here it is again numpty!
Mr Blondе wrote:Can tell you don't have school age kids.
Why does everyone blame the teachers?, They don't decide whether to close the school or not, they are just employees after all.
Head Teachers make the call to close the school or not!
Avro
says...
1:30pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Mr Blondе wrote:If Head Teachers are not Teachers, then what are they?
I know it's the Head teachers who call the shots numbnuts, so once again to try an penetrate that thick skull of yours........ Though I reckon I'd have a better chance of Sh!tting £10 notes........
Why does everyone blame the teachers?, They don't decide whether to close the school or not, they are just employees after all.
You're right on one thing though you clown....my kids are well above school age now.
What you find in your excrement is your problem, maybe you'll find some brains one day which will be more use to you!
wobbley-bob
says...
2:06pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Avro wrote:Mr Blond does have a point though.
Mr Blondе wrote:If Head Teachers are not Teachers, then what are they?
I know it's the Head teachers who call the shots numbnuts, so once again to try an penetrate that thick skull of yours........ Though I reckon I'd have a better chance of Sh!tting £10 notes........
Why does everyone blame the teachers?, They don't decide whether to close the school or not, they are just employees after all.
You're right on one thing though you clown....my kids are well above school age now.
What you find in your excrement is your problem, maybe you'll find some brains one day which will be more use to you!
The moaning element on here do tend to blame ALL teachers when schools close, when it is the decision of the HEAD teacher and/or caretaker. Do head teachers actually 'teach' these days?
I don't think Mr Jones the woodwork teacher, or Miss Smith the music teacher calls the shots re. closing the school, do you, so why all the hatred of teachers in general?
Maybe you should all become teachers & get all those snow days off & 3 months 'paid holiday' a year,or is the lack of intelligence holding you back? :-)
Avro
says...
3:22pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Unfortunately the Head has to make the decision, damned if they do close, and damned if they don't.
Its the crap that comes with the job.
RollandSmoke
says...
4:54pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Silsdenman
says...
8:51pm Sun 24 Mar 13
RollandSmoke wrote:I think I have plenty of logic and common sense thanks, my schools taught me that, because I was always there.
As lots of kids now are driven to school even when the sun is cracking the flags, when the police are advising people not to drive unless it is absolutely essential would it be fair for headteachers to keep the schools open thus forcing the yummy mummies onto the road? How far is it acceptable to walk your child in freezing or blizzard like conditions? How do they get the child's younger siblings who are still in pushchairs through a foot of snow, or should they be left alone at home while mum is walking the child to school? All those saying they never missed a day when they were at school, how did the schools fail so badly to teach you logic and common sense?
Obviously it may be difficult for some people, either pupils or teachers to get to school and some may have more legitimate reason (or lame excuse) than others for choosing not to have their child educated to be conscientious and trying their best to get there. For that reason the school has to be open to give those who can get to school to chance to do so. There are plenty of teachers (probably the majority) who will make the effort to get there but there are some lazy ones who won't and that includes heads.
For the record my other half is a teacher, as is my Mum.
Silsdenman
says...
8:58pm Sun 24 Mar 13
sambasue wrote:This is an oft quoted invalid argument. If children are at school all day it is not unreasonable for their parents to find ways of passing their days doing things such as working and presuming that school is looking after their kids.
I do fear that many people see schools as baby sitters. Teachers do not choose to close the schools. I hope all those who came to Bradford Academy got home safely again. I wonder how many pupils actually came in and now what happens to those who didn't and who missed the normal timetabled lessons.
It is not reasonable for that facility (which is obligatory to attend) to not be available so that the parent has to make expensive alternate arrangements. Unlike teachers, not everyone enjoys the benefit of full pay when not attending work.
The school makes plenty of fuss if the parent doesn't send their child to school as so-called unapproved absence.
RollandSmoke
says...
9:49pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Silsdenman wrote:So we teach our children not to listen to the advise of the police, the health and safety and the Headmasters judgement so as they can be further indoctrinated by one day into a system that has nothing to offer them when they leave school. You may think you have plenty of logic but you fall short when it comes to critical thinking. The excersise they will have got playing in the snow will benefit them much more than the days worth of what you call education ever will.
RollandSmoke wrote:I think I have plenty of logic and common sense thanks, my schools taught me that, because I was always there.
As lots of kids now are driven to school even when the sun is cracking the flags, when the police are advising people not to drive unless it is absolutely essential would it be fair for headteachers to keep the schools open thus forcing the yummy mummies onto the road? How far is it acceptable to walk your child in freezing or blizzard like conditions? How do they get the child's younger siblings who are still in pushchairs through a foot of snow, or should they be left alone at home while mum is walking the child to school? All those saying they never missed a day when they were at school, how did the schools fail so badly to teach you logic and common sense?
Obviously it may be difficult for some people, either pupils or teachers to get to school and some may have more legitimate reason (or lame excuse) than others for choosing not to have their child educated to be conscientious and trying their best to get there. For that reason the school has to be open to give those who can get to school to chance to do so. There are plenty of teachers (probably the majority) who will make the effort to get there but there are some lazy ones who won't and that includes heads.
For the record my other half is a teacher, as is my Mum.
Silsdenman
says...
11:26pm Sun 24 Mar 13
RollandSmoke wrote:I am not telling children to ignore anyone, I'm not telling them anything, I'm discussing this with you and I'm saying that the schools are wrong to close. I was not indoctrinated like the kids of today, it was education in 60s and 70s and it's to do with common sense, a concept you quoted earlier and which worked for most people at the time, unlike today. Children aren't being given time off so that they can play in the snow for exersise (sic), they are off school because the schools won't open when they should.
Silsdenman wrote:So we teach our children not to listen to the advise of the police, the health and safety and the Headmasters judgement so as they can be further indoctrinated by one day into a system that has nothing to offer them when they leave school. You may think you have plenty of logic but you fall short when it comes to critical thinking. The excersise they will have got playing in the snow will benefit them much more than the days worth of what you call education ever will.
RollandSmoke wrote:I think I have plenty of logic and common sense thanks, my schools taught me that, because I was always there.
As lots of kids now are driven to school even when the sun is cracking the flags, when the police are advising people not to drive unless it is absolutely essential would it be fair for headteachers to keep the schools open thus forcing the yummy mummies onto the road? How far is it acceptable to walk your child in freezing or blizzard like conditions? How do they get the child's younger siblings who are still in pushchairs through a foot of snow, or should they be left alone at home while mum is walking the child to school? All those saying they never missed a day when they were at school, how did the schools fail so badly to teach you logic and common sense?
Obviously it may be difficult for some people, either pupils or teachers to get to school and some may have more legitimate reason (or lame excuse) than others for choosing not to have their child educated to be conscientious and trying their best to get there. For that reason the school has to be open to give those who can get to school to chance to do so. There are plenty of teachers (probably the majority) who will make the effort to get there but there are some lazy ones who won't and that includes heads.
For the record my other half is a teacher, as is my Mum.
Just because we don't agree does not mean that I fall short on critical thinking. Maybe that's because on the day the national curriculum said you should learn the definition of critical thinking there was too much snow to teach you and so you built a snowman instead.
RollandSmoke
says...
1:59am Mon 25 Mar 13
Silsdenman wrote:So if you were a headteacher with responsibility for the safety of the children and there had been a tragic incident as someone battled through the snow to get their child to your school. How would you explain your decision to make that an essential trip when the police were advising us not to use the roads unless it was? If the Headmaster has ignored police advise then there could be legal liabilities. If you've ignored health and safety guidelines the same may apply.
RollandSmoke wrote:I am not telling children to ignore anyone, I'm not telling them anything, I'm discussing this with you and I'm saying that the schools are wrong to close. I was not indoctrinated like the kids of today, it was education in 60s and 70s and it's to do with common sense, a concept you quoted earlier and which worked for most people at the time, unlike today. Children aren't being given time off so that they can play in the snow for exersise (sic), they are off school because the schools won't open when they should.
Silsdenman wrote:So we teach our children not to listen to the advise of the police, the health and safety and the Headmasters judgement so as they can be further indoctrinated by one day into a system that has nothing to offer them when they leave school. You may think you have plenty of logic but you fall short when it comes to critical thinking. The excersise they will have got playing in the snow will benefit them much more than the days worth of what you call education ever will.
RollandSmoke wrote:I think I have plenty of logic and common sense thanks, my schools taught me that, because I was always there.
As lots of kids now are driven to school even when the sun is cracking the flags, when the police are advising people not to drive unless it is absolutely essential would it be fair for headteachers to keep the schools open thus forcing the yummy mummies onto the road? How far is it acceptable to walk your child in freezing or blizzard like conditions? How do they get the child's younger siblings who are still in pushchairs through a foot of snow, or should they be left alone at home while mum is walking the child to school? All those saying they never missed a day when they were at school, how did the schools fail so badly to teach you logic and common sense?
Obviously it may be difficult for some people, either pupils or teachers to get to school and some may have more legitimate reason (or lame excuse) than others for choosing not to have their child educated to be conscientious and trying their best to get there. For that reason the school has to be open to give those who can get to school to chance to do so. There are plenty of teachers (probably the majority) who will make the effort to get there but there are some lazy ones who won't and that includes heads.
For the record my other half is a teacher, as is my Mum.
Just because we don't agree does not mean that I fall short on critical thinking. Maybe that's because on the day the national curriculum said you should learn the definition of critical thinking there was too much snow to teach you and so you built a snowman instead.
I can see the reports now "She didn't want to drive, it was madness going out in that weather, but she had to get little Jonny to school" The right to education must come secondary to the safety of children. In order to become conscientious the child needs to remain conscious
Silsdenman
says...
9:46am Mon 25 Mar 13
RollandSmoke
says...
3:57pm Mon 25 Mar 13
Silsdenman wrote:If you are happy to load up your car with children to venture out regardless of the weather then I think a level of control to stop you taking such risks with their safety is appropriate. I may be taking extreme examples and making sweeping generalisations but if the Government and media are happy to do exactly that and the population are happy to swallow it then I don't see why I shouldn't apply the same logic in this case
Discretion should be used by all concerned but if the schools are closed the parents cannot make their own decisions. In fact they are then being controlled by the authorities who do not consider them fit to make decisions about their own kids. So who is indoctrinating? It seems to me from reading some of the stuff above that the powers that be are indoctrinating the masses into believing that every little thing that is out of the ordinary can cause great harm. I would be very surprised if there are any less accidents because kids are not at school.
Silsdenman
says...
9:55am Tue 26 Mar 13
Truth77 says...
10:02am Sat 23 Mar 13
Explain that.