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22/01/2013
'Schools Should Be Open' Says Education Secretary
As the continuing bad weather closed more than 5,000 schools on Monday the Education Secretary has said that "everything can and should be done" to keep schools open during the wintry weather.
However, he added that schools would not be penalised if students could not attend.
It is thought that around one in six schools, and tens of thousands of pupils have been affected by severe weather, but pupils taking A-level and GCSE exams have continued to do so despite the difficult conditions.
The final decision on whether to close a school is taken by the head teacher with schools and councils using websites and social networking to keep parents informed.
"Thanks to changes that this government has made, no school which ensures that it is open will be penalised if individual students cannot make it to school on that day," the BBC reported Mr Gove as saying.
Adding: "I hope as a result that more and more schools will recognise that while the decision on whether or not to remain open or closed is a matter for the headteacher, everything can and should be done in order to ensure that all children get access to a good education."
(H)
However, he added that schools would not be penalised if students could not attend.
It is thought that around one in six schools, and tens of thousands of pupils have been affected by severe weather, but pupils taking A-level and GCSE exams have continued to do so despite the difficult conditions.
The final decision on whether to close a school is taken by the head teacher with schools and councils using websites and social networking to keep parents informed.
"Thanks to changes that this government has made, no school which ensures that it is open will be penalised if individual students cannot make it to school on that day," the BBC reported Mr Gove as saying.
Adding: "I hope as a result that more and more schools will recognise that while the decision on whether or not to remain open or closed is a matter for the headteacher, everything can and should be done in order to ensure that all children get access to a good education."
(H)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A dry day with any low cloud and mist clearing during the morning leaving long spells of warm sunshine. Breezy at times around the coast. Maximum temperature 20 °C.Tonight:A fine end to the day with some sunshine, then clear spells overnight. Low cloud could form around some Irish Sea coasts later in the night. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
