Wind problems...

School was closed today due to some freakish English weather. I have never known such a day in the 7 years I have been teaching.

There were rumours last Friday that this would be the case, but none of us really believed it since a day off that doesn't provide extra work somehow seems impossible. Usually if you're out on a course one day, rejoicing the fact that you're missing some challenging groups, you have to set cover before you go, mark it when you get back and deal with the group who inevitably presented their 'challenging behaviour' to an unsuspecting cover teacher.

I woke up about 5am this morning to find a veritable hurricane blowing outside. For some reason I became quite excited about this and started watching the news and looking up teletext to find reports of 80mph "gusts" blowing across Southern England. I was a bit worried at this point as the winds must be 40mph for school to shut apparently and I wasn't sure where "gusts" would figure in that. I looked at the Metcheck website and found 34mph winds were forecast for Poole.... 6 mph short of the target!

Anyway, I was then unable to sleep, totally overexcited at the prospect of not having any pupils to teach. I put on 2CR through my computer and found, to my amazement, that school was indeed shut. It was the only school closure reported at this time. Unable to believe my luck I continued listening for the next 2 hrs, a smile crossing my face as the news was confirmed every 30 mins or so.

Staff had discussed the possibility of a closure on Friday and how that word 'closure' doesn't really relate to us as we are still expected in if at all possible. Nevertheless, I left earlier than I have done in years and arrived to find an almost deserted site. I did spy one poor unsuspecting pupil in uniform walk by the window but assume they were dealt with quite swiftly!

As soon as people arrived they frantically began discussing the possibilities: would we be given work to do? Would we be allowed 'some' time for planning/marking etc? We all assumed we'd be around for the day, it was just a matter of what we might have to do during that time. It was a member of my department's birthday yesterday and she'd brought in a lovely chocolate cake. 3 of us had some for breakfast to celebrate our freedom!

A meeting was called for 9am. We all trudged in, expecting the Headmaster to explain how this day was to be used. I fully expected lengthy meetings and policy reviews. I couldn't believe it when he said we should stay till 11.30am then leave. Apparently the weather was due to worsen later in the day. I nearly let out a little whoop of joy! Even better there was no 'set' work to do, we could use the time as we saw fit.

We all embarked on 2 hrs of work, finally having chance to sort out niggling problems and have those little discussions with people we needed to have. Some dived into marking while others commandeered the phone to arrange work experience visits. 11.30am was soon upon us.

As I was battling with the printer (some things never change, it knows when you need to get something finished) I had some odd thoughts. Why were we all so delighted at the prospect of not having any children to teach today? I love my job and (most) of the little cherubs I come into contact with. I enjoy planning lessons and even find satisfaction in marking. So why were we all so happy today?

I can only conclude that, as teachers, we quite enjoy dealing with the unusual and having to cope as unexpected situations are thrown at us. Lessons and days at school in general rarely go as planned. Someone steps out of line (removing you and him/her from the classroom to deal with the problem while merry hell is unleashed within), the printer doesn't work (bane of my life), or the technology fails and you have to rethink your lovely Powerpoint display and start scribbling the essential on the whiteboard. Alternatively, a teacher might be absent and the cover either doesn't turn up or has a tough time so you have to jump in. Whatever the case, school keeps its staff on its toes every single day of the week. It did today too, but as I got into my car technically at the end of break, I still thanked God for Hurricane Johanna. There's a possibility that school will be shut again tomorrow but surely I'm out of such luck for the next 7 years? At least there's still some of that chocolate cake in the fridge...