Closures at a click (From Gazette Series)

Closures at a click

A NEW system for alerting Gloucestershire parents about emergency school closures was launched this week.

The automated system will mean that headteachers just need to ring one telephone number, giving details of their school and Gloucestershire County Council's website will be updated. Almost simultaneously, email alerts will be sent to radio stations across the county and over county borders.

Mark Rickard, programme manager, said: "The system has been developed to speed up the alert system so that parents are informed of emergency school closures in good time. It will also free up time for headteachers as this system is much more straightforward and reliable.

"We ran a test mass emergency school closure last week and it appears that it went very smoothly. Headteachers and radio stations commented about how easy it was to use.

"We have been working on the system for some time now and we are confident that it will be of benefit to everyone concerned, especially parents who have to make other childcare arrangements if their school is closed."

Cllr Joan Nash, cabinet member for schools, said: "I am pleased that this system has been put in place. The closure of schools can cause problems for families and the sooner the information can be released, gives more time for parents to make arrangements for their children."

Parents are asked not to ring the radio stations directly but to listen to broadcasts and/or log on to the county council's website www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/closedschools and refresh it regularly.