4:45pm Friday 8th January 2010
By Elizabeth Pears
A FURIOUS parent has accused Fortismere School of using the snow as an excuse to extend the Christmas holiday.
The concerned parent, who asked not to be named to protect her children, said she and her husband had been left feeling guilty about having to leave their two children at home because of work commitments.
The mother attacked the school in Creighton Avenue, Muswell Hill, for it's three-day closure while neighbouring schools such as Highgate Wood, in Crouch End, and Alexandra Park School, also in Muswell Hill, had taken the decision to remain open or partially open.
A message from headteacher Aydin Onac on the school's website said the school had closed for health and safety reasons which included staff shortages owing to the number of its staff who "live on the outskirts of greater London" and were unable to get to work.
Mr Onac added the school, one of Haringey's highest-achieving, would re-open on Monday depending on the level of snowfall predicted this weekend.
In a letter to the headteacher, the mother accused teachers of being paid to sit at home to do nothing.
She said: "Most children have access to the internet, is it really beyond the realms of credibility that the teachers, at home, stranded in the outskirts of 'greater London' could not dust the snow off their laptops and mobiles and communicate with their classes by phone or internet and set some revision or home study?
"If my children knew they were going back to a test or had to hand a worksheet in, it would focus them a bit, and occupy them during the day when I have to be at work.
"Perhaps a plan could be put in place...such as a place on the website where pupils can go to download a worksheet, project or revision list?"
The criticism follows London mayor Boris Johnson's plea to schools to show that London was still open for business and education despite the snow.
Mr Johnson said: "There are times when it is obviously not safe to carry on as usual but I do urge headteachers, governors and education authorities to consider the consequences of school closures on parents who are then prevented from going to work."
He added that school closure had a "disproportionate impact" on women and can be devastating for single parents when no alternative childcare arrangements can be put in place at short notice."
Haringey Council's cabinet member for education said credit was given to schools and its staff who struggled into work but maintained that schools should have the autonomy to choose whether or not to stay open depending on their circumstances.
Councillor Lorna Reith said: "Of course, we would like schools to stay open where possible but we must trust the leadership of headteachers to decide what is right for their school. We sympathise with parents who may be forced to stay home."
Ms Reith said the local authority had "looked into" opening up email communication between pupils and staff so that work could be set during snow days, but that the proposal had raised issues surrounding the safeguarding of children.
She added: "It seems like an ideal solution in the first instance, but having a direct line of contact between pupils and staff when neither are not on site can be dangerous such as the sending of inappropriate emails.
"It might seem simple, but it is really quite complicated to set something like that up".
Fortismere was one of four Haringey secondary schools which were closed today including St Thomas More, Woodside High, both in Wood Green, and Park View Academy, Tottenham.
Highgate Wood, Hornsey School for Girls, in Hornsey, Northumberland Park, Tottenham, and Alexandra Park were closed in the afternoon.
A total of 13 primary schools also remained closed.
Are you a Haringey parent who is angry about school closures? Or a Haringey teacher who believes the profession is being unduly criticised? Email haringeynews@london.newsquest.co.uk
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/trade_directory/