Schools in Edinburgh – all secondary schools open tomorrow (for some)

All staff should continue to report to work. If staff cannot report to their usual place of work then they should go to the nearest City of Edinburgh Council school. Staff should not go to Prestonfield Primary.

Home to School contract bus companies will provide transport for registered students. This is of course subject to change if the weather impacts on the service.

With colder temperatures and more snow expected, the situation remains changeable so parents are urged to continue checking the Council’s website and Radio Forth for updates.

School Opening/closure decisions

City Education Leader Cllr Marilyne MacLaren on how we decide to open or close schools:

“The Council provides an education service and it’s our aim to do all we can to continue to provide it even in difficult circumstances. The assumption is that schools will open unless there are overwhelming reasons not to. This week we’ve seen unprecedented snowfall so there’s been no choice but to close schools. We are gradually getting schools open again and, although not every pupil will be able to get to school, we want to provide the best service we can for parents in these difficult circumstances.

“Where there are partial openings, this is largely because we can not be sure that there will be enough staff for all classes. We prioritise older pupils for these partial openings in secondary schools because these students have significant exams during the year. Also, secondary catchments cover larger areas and, if pupils need to be sent home because of worsening weather, senior pupils are better equipped to cover the distance home than young children.

“At all times we are in touch with our Head Teachers with whom we come to a decision as early as feasibly possible about whether to open – it’s a team effort. We then communicate this to the public immediately. I’ve been impressed with the way our schools and Children & Families staff have worked together. Head Teachers know about their neighbourhoods and the situation at schools and we have vital information about transport, gritting, meals as well as access to the latest flash weather forecasts.

“We’ve put in significant resources to try to ensure schools can open safely, and that teachers and students have safe routes to school. With any severe weather situation there is no easy option and, regrettably, there may be inconvenience to staff, students, parents and employers whatever decisions are taken.  We’ll continue to do our best to provide our service, whatever the weather.”

The current situation

Secondary Schools

All secondary schools are set to open for some pupils.  Details as follows:

Balerno S4-S6 – No transport for pupils who take private bus from Livingston & Mid-Calder

Boroughmuir S4-S6

Broughton S4-S6

Castlebrae S4-S6

Craigmount S4-S6

Craigroyston S3-S6

Currie S4-S6

Drummond S4-S6

Firrhill   S4-S6

Forrester S3-S6

Gracemount S3-S6

Holy Rood RC S4-S6

James Gillespie’s S4-S6

Leith Academy S1-S6

Liberton S4-S6

Portobello S4-S6

Queensferry S5-S6

St Augustine ‘s RC S4-S6

St Thomas of Aquin’s RC S4-S6

The Royal High S4-S6

Trinity Academy S4-S6

Tynecastle High S4-S6

Wester Hailes Education Centre S3-S6

No lunches will be provided – pupils may wish to bring a packed lunch.

Primary Schools

The following 44 (of 87) primary schools will be open on Friday as well as the nursery at Clovenstone. Clovenstone Primary will be closed.

Abbeyhill

Balgreen

Broomhouse

Broughton

Bruntsfield

Castleview

Clermiston (No nursery class)

Corstorphine

Craigentinny

Craiglockhart

Craigour Park (No breakfast club)

Dalry

Davidson’s Mains

Ferryhill

Flora Stevenson

Forthview

Granton

Gylemuir (No nursery class)

Hermitage Park

Holy Cross RC

James Gillespie’s

Leith

Leith Walk

Lorne

Murrayburn (No nursery class, no language classes)

Oxgangs (No nursery class)

Preston Street

Roseburn

Sciennes

Sighthill

South Morningside (Cluny and Fairmilehead annexes closed, no nursery class, no breakfast or after school clubs.  P1 and 2 to be collected at 12 noon.)

St John ‘s RC     (No nursery class)

St Joseph ‘s RC

St Mary’s RC – Edin

St Mary’s RC – Leith

St Peter’s RC

Stenhouse

Stockbridge

The Royal High  (No nursery class)

Tollcross

Towerbank

Trinity

Victoria

Wardie

No lunches will be provided – pupils may wish to bring a packed lunch.

The rest of the Council run primary schools will remain closed.

All special schools with remain closed with the exception of the Panmure St Ann’s service.

Nurseries

The following nurseries will be open on Friday:

Cowgate Under 5’s Centre

Tynecastle

Calderglen

Balgreen

Stanwell

Cameron House

St Leonard ‘s

Grassmarket

High School Yards

Hope Cottage

Princess Elizabeth

Greengables

Lochrin
Other Council nurseries are closed.

Community Centres

The following City of Edinburgh Council community centres will be closed:

Ratho
Roseberry Hall
Inch
Jack Kane
Bingham
Castleview
Magdalene Rannoch
Kirkliston
Norwood Wing
Craigmount Wing
Juniper Green

All other Council community centres will be open.  Day and evening adult education classes are cancelled for the rest of the week.

Other Children & Families services

All Child and Family centres will be open with a reduced service. Please contact the centres direct for information.

Anyone looking to attend external events normally hosted in schools, e.g. councillor surgeries or community groups, should check if they are going ahead.

Message for locum staff