THE HEADTEACHER of a snow-hit high school has defended her decision to cancel lessons for the week.

Parents have hit out against Colne Valley High School after pupils were told to stay at home for the fifth day running yesterday.

Heavy snow forced most Kirklees schools to close on Monday and Tuesday as the flakes came down.

By Wednesday, some had re-opened, with the majority following suit on Thursday.

But at Colne Valley, only pupils in Years 10 and 11 – less than a third of the school – were able to return to lessons yesterday.

A Linthwaite mum, who did not want to be named, was angry her Year 8 daughter was missing so much school.

She said: “I’m outraged about it. I work at the hospital in Halifax and have been managing to get there all week.

“It depends how much effort you want to put into it.

“This culture we have got is just health and safety gone mad.

“It seems if there is any excuse, they don’t bother.

“It makes it hard work for the parents, having to ship kids off to their grandparents.”

But headteacher Carol Gormley said hazardous conditions across the school’s ten-acre grounds left her with no choice, despite using school funds to pay a private contractor to help clear the snow.

She said: “In a situation like this we have to balance the risk to staff and students.

“It is our priority that conditions are safe and manageable. When you factor in 1,500-plus students, it becomes a serious responsibility.

“The site is tricky with hills and slopes.

“We made our decisions during the week balancing the risk to staff and students being on site and travelling in hazardous conditions.

“We are now watching the weekend forecast anxiously and hoping the weather is kinder to us next week.”

She said schools maintenance company Hochtief – responsible for the grounds at Colne Valley – had worked tirelessly against the snow all week.

Clr John Smithson, Cabinet member for schools, said the sheer volume of snow clearing in Kirklees meant nothing more could have been done.

He said: “It has been extreme this time.

“I know schools are very careful because they don’t want to lose a day of schooling if it can be avoided. But if there are concerns, there is no option.

“Years ago, people would struggle on through the snow but with the compensation culture, headteachers are responsible and don’t want to run the risk.

“It has been a difficult time for everyone.”