Oulton Academy Closure Extended to 9th January

We regret to inform you that Oulton Academy will remain closed tomorrow, Thursday 9th January, due to ongoing hazardous conditions on our site. Our dedicated site team and volunteers have been working tirelessly over the past few days, starting as early as 5:30 AM, to clear and grit the icy pathways and ensure the safety of our community. Despite their best efforts, the unique challenges posed by the layout and location of our school have made this task exceptionally difficult. 

Unfortunately, as you will be aware we are still awaiting our DFE endorsed new build which would be of great advantage in these circumstances, with the educational areas and all facilities being available within one building. Our current school site has extensive outdoor spaces that students must cross to access various buildings and facilities and unfortunately these areas continue to remain treacherous. Additionally, Oulton Academy site is on a descending incline (slope) which is contributing to the continued flow of melting snow onto the grounds, over the areas that have already been cleared and gritted. The drainage systems on the school site are also overflowing, further increasing the amount of excess water on site. This continues to exacerbate the situation as the temperatures drop, currently forecast several degrees below zero overnight. This cycle has rendered our efforts to maintain safe access temporarily ineffective.

Oulton Academy is committed to excellence in all we do and as such the decision to close the school is not one we take lightly and has only been made as an absolute last resort. However, the health and safety of our students and staff is of paramount importance. This decision has been made following further site inspections by Mr Higgins and following advice from external professionals, and whilst every alternative scenario has been considered in an attempt to open the school, it has been deemed that the site remains too unsafe to open to students or staff.

A significant portion of our student body relies on buses and other transportation to reach the academy. Ensuring these services can operate safely is another critical factor influencing our decision and we must inform the bus services as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Education Transport cannot accommodate a change of times for the service, so a later start is also not feasible. Senior staff have assessed the local area and roads, and while main roads are clear, conditions on Oulton Academy site unfortunately remain unsafe, primarily for our students and staff but also for vehicles (including buses) in the main car park.

We understand the inconvenience this closure may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging period. The educational progress of our students is one of our highest priorities and to support students’ learning, staff are setting work on our online platforms - Seneca, Sparx and Educake. We encourage all students to access and complete the assigned tasks during this time where possible.

Unfortunately, the weather forecast predicts continued freezing temperatures overnight, which may intensify the existing issues on-site. Please rest assured that we are doing everything within our power to reopen the school as soon as conditions allow and will continue with our efforts to make the site safe and accessible for all.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate these difficult circumstances. The health and safety of our school community remain at the heart of every decision we make. We will update again tomorrow for Friday.

Oulton Academy Leadership Team