Council leader 'disappointed' with teachers as snow closes scores of schools in city

Sheffield Council unveiled its scheme earlier this year in response to mass school closures in the city during heavy snow which crippled much of the region.

But yesterday council leader Paul Scriven said he was "disappointed and frustrated" that almost 70 city schools had closed again, with teachers unwilling to turn up to work at different schools.

Coun Scriven said: "Quite a number of teachers in Sheffield did put on their wellies and dig out their cars and made an effort to get to work."

However, he added: "But there is much more that we can do to keep schools open and I am very frustrated that the new policy where teachers report to their nearest school is still not being enacted."

The council leader laid the blame for yesterday's school closures with the trade unions, who he said had been "reluctant" to subscribe to the new policy which was agreed by the council's ruling Lib Dem cabinet.

He also said some of the problem lay with the authority's own officers, who had not "pushed it as hard as they could before the winter weather arrived".

Coun Scriven added: "Each school has to take its own decision whether to open or close under the law.

"But I believe staff could be much more flexible.

"As council leader I am out to ensure as many schools as possible stay open and I want to see the idea taken up."

Teaching unions including the NUT have dismissed Sheffield Council's policy as unworkable, saying teaching staff cannot simply transfer from one school to another.