Search Mobile

collapse

already registered?

Please sign in with your existing account details.

Email address

Password

need to register?

Register to access exclusive content, sign up to receive our updates and personalise your experience on brownejacobson.com.

Privacy statement - Terms and conditions

Forgotten your password?

collapseSign

Browne Jacobson home

Education home

Insights

Blogs

Election forces school closure

election forces school closure

15 April 2015

Schools are popular places for polling stations and whilst some larger schools are able to operate on election day, many smaller schools are forced to close.

Parents and schools are unhappy – a day of lost teaching and additional childcare costs for parents is not ideal. Ironically, missing a day’s education in this manner goes against the government policy on attendance where "every day in school matters".

There are no conclusive statistics for how many schools will close but online lists show that some areas rely heavily on schools for their polling stations. Some local authorities are making use of alternative facilities but schools are often chosen as they are free, have disabled access and are 'tried and tested'.

Publicly-funded schools (including academies) cannot legally refuse to be used as a polling station nor can they charge for the privilege. Some schools and parents will need to plan ahead for school closures on 7 May.

related opinions

School uniform under media spotlight

The new academic year has started with controversy over school uniform. Last week, a government inquiry heard evidence that costs for parents are being exacerbated by compulsory branded uniform, including clothing with school logos, and operating contractual arrangements for the supply of these items with single retailers.

View blog

Education Secretary confirms DfE 'backing' for exclusions

Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has confirmed that head teachers who take “the decision to either suspend or expel a pupil because they need to do it in order to be able to enforce proper and full discipline in their school, and making sure that they're protecting the whole interests of the school, will always have my backing".

View blog

Welcome news for sixth form colleges looking to academise

The Government has accepted calls from sixth form colleges to reopen the option to become academies.

View blog

RSE guidance issued - but do teachers feel ready?

In our previous blog we updated you on the new requirements to teach relationships, health and sex education (elements of which are phase specific) which will become mandatory in September 2020.

View blog

View all blogs