Very occasionally, severe weather can create conditions which affect the ability to keep the school open. A decision to close may need to be made in the following circumstances:

• Severe weather occurs when the school is already open and the severe weather incident occurs or is forecast for the middle of the day;
• The night before a severe weather incident has been forecast;
• Early morning after or during a severe weather incident.

The main considerations in making decisions to close are:

• Health and safety of students, staff, and visitors travelling to and from and around the site;
• Travel delays at the start of the day causing supervision issues in the school;
• Ability to provide food for students and staff during the academic day;
• Effects of the extreme conditions on the school site; and
• Travel considerations later in the day for a safe journey home.

Whenever there is a school closure, parents/carers will be contacted in the following ways:

• Via this website (on the front page);
• local radio stations.

Only the Headteacher can make the decision to close the school. All Headteachers in the Felixstowe double pyramid have pledged to work together to co-ordinate opening / closure in severe weather across the town.

The only definitive guide to school closures is the Suffolk County Council School Closure Website.