Headteacher's Welcome
COMPASS
Severe Weather Arrangements
We will, of course, endeavour to keep the school open if at all possible, but severe weather conditions could make it necessary to close the school if it were dangerous or reasonably difficult for;
​
For students or sufficient numbers of staff to reach school and provide an adequate educational service
For students or staff to journey to, and return from, school safely and without undue delay.
Website
To check whether the school is going to be closed, please visit the school website. A warning message will be clearly displayed on the home page. In addition, Dorset County Council also has a website for schools to register with if they are closed due to severe weather. A member of staff will update this as early as possible if we are to close. This should be done by 7.30am. The Dorset for You website will show schools/colleges that are open and closed.
Radio
Dorset Council also advise radio stations on the school’s behalf, so please listen to our local radio stations for more information if you do not have access to the internet.
Greatest Hits Radio (97.2FM) will mention us ONLY if we are closing.
Phone
A Pararentmail willl be sent to all parents via mobile phones to inform you of the school closure so it is really important that we have your up to date details on file. If conditions permit, a member of staff will endeavour to get into the office but it would be appreciated if you could avoid ringing the school directly except in extreme circumstances, to avoid ‘blocking’ the line.
Closure During the Day
It is obviously possible for ice/snow conditions to worsen during the day making an emergency closure necessary. At this point, Parentmail and telephone calls will be made to parents and the Compass website will flash the information.
Taxi companies will be contacted and best arrangements made for departing students requiring such transport.
If closure happens then the emergency instructions parents gave on the students contact form will be followed. This means that the student will be dismissed from the Compass to go home or to a friend’s/relatives house or remain at Compass in our Emergency Centre until collection or dismissal is possible.
Once it is decided to close the Compass, parents may collect their children at any time.
Should any unforeseen emergency occur necessitating Compass closure, arrangements will be based on the above procedure.