Bad weather 'will not affect attendance statistics'

July 14 2010

Schools in Wales that choose to stay open during periods of bad weather will not see their attendance statistics negatively impacted, it has been revealed.

Education minister Leighton Andrews made the announcement after it was suggested that some may have closed during the snow earlier this year in order to keep their figures up.

He said headteachers will no longer be given a "perverse incentive" to shut.

"Performance statistics are an important part of an effective education system, but I do not want schools to be shut and pupils' education curtailed in order to protect a statistic," Mr Andrews commented.

He added that the decision to close should be based around whether teachers and pupils can get there, not what is best for attendance figures.

Figures released by the Welsh Assembly Government show that 74 per cent of schools closed for more than two days due to bad weather throughout December and January.

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