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Storm Amy Chaos: Schools Closed Without Minister's OK
28 Nov
Summary
- Education Authority closed schools without ministerial approval.
- Late notifications caused significant disruption for students.
- Review found communication failures and procedural concerns.
Schools were closed during Storm Amy without the prior approval of Education Minister Paul Givan or senior officials. The Education Authority (EA) decided to close schools in four counties at midday on Friday, October 3, due to an amber weather warning issued by the Met Office. However, a review by the Department of Education (DE) found this decision was made without consultation.
The review highlighted significant procedural and communication failures. Some schools received closure notifications very late, causing confusion, including inconsistent closures within the same county. Communication breakdowns occurred between the EA and the DE, with key department officials missing critical calls and voicemails regarding the closure decision.
Twelve recommendations have been proposed to prevent similar situations, including informing schools of proposed closures by 8:00 pm the night before. Despite some criticism, school principals praised the collective action and decision-making during the storm.
