by Alan Quick

UPDATE at 9.10pm: Andy Smith, Head Teacher at Hayward's Primary School, says: "I have taken the decision to close the school this evening. Having checked the forecast and seeing no sign of the situation improving, I wanted to give you as much time as possible to make alternative arrangements."Our caretaker has been on site this evening and the streets around the school are already starting to ice over. These conditions worsening overnight, with the temperature dropping to -2, will result in the school site being too dangerous to access and create potentially hazardous journeys for those children and staff who need to travel to school."It is my hope that school will reopen on Tuesday 20th March 20. I will keep you updated."I apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause."Also announced as closing on Monday, March 19 are primary Schools at North Tawton, Copplestone, Yeoford, Winkleigh, Morchard Bishop and Okehampton College.

A NUMBER of local schools and colleges in the Crediton area have announced that they will not open tomorrow, Monday, March 19, due to the snow which fell heavily in the area today, Sunday, March 18.

Rupert Poole, principal, Queen Elizabeth’s School, in Crediton, has decided that QE School will not open on Monday.

He said: "After careful consideration I have decided to close the school tomorrow, Monday, March 19.

"The forecast is for freezing weather overnight and therefore I expect disruption to travel. My apologies for the inconvenience caused."

Chulmleigh Academy has decided to close all its schools on Monday, March 19.

Local primary schools which are to close tomorrow include Bow, Tedburn St Mary, Spreyton, Copplestone and Landscore in Crediton.

John Jolliffe, Executive Headteacher, Exe Valley Federation Schools, said: "In view of the current snowfall and the forecast of more snow overnight and freezing conditions first thing in the morning, we have decided that all the Exe Valley Federation Schools will be closed tomorrow.

"This is always a difficult decision  to make and is based on what the forecast says will happen in the morning. We are expecting to open all the schools on Tuesday as normal.

"Thank you for your support for closing the schools last time and let’s hope this is the last lot of bad weather we have this year."

TO BE DECIDED

Andy Smith, the head teacher at Hayward’s Primary School in Crediton, said he will probably make a decision on whether the school will open on Monday early that morning.

On the school’s website he announced: "With the amber alert being in place and the heavy snow scheduled to continue falling until the early hours of the morning, I will need to make a decision about the school opening tomorrow.

"I will inform you of this decision as early as possible but it is likely to be first thing in the morning. As last time, I will post this on the website, contact the local radio station, publish it on the Friends of Hayward’s site and send a notification out on parentmail.

"With the threat of freezing temperatures, we will need to judge how hazardous the conditions are for travel to and from school.

"Many thanks for your understanding with this matter."

Sandford School is still to make a decision.

For the full listing of school closures in Devon, visit the website: new.devon.gov.uk/schools/closure .