FENLAND: Like the Windmill Theatre this is a school which proudly boosts- we never closed!

SNOW and ice failed to close a Fenland primary school which boosts the same record as the famous London theatre The Windmill which proudly claimed We Never Closed! It was the blitz that threatened the Windmill during the last war and it s been one of th

SNOW and ice failed to close a Fenland primary school which boosts the same record as the famous London theatre The Windmill which proudly claimed "We Never Closed!"

It was the blitz that threatened the Windmill during the last war and it's been one of the worst winters in recent years that saw hundreds of Cambridgeshire schools shut their doors during the recent bad weather.

But not at Cavalry Primary School in March where head teacher Val Spriggs prides herself on never closing the school because of bad weather during her 12 years at the helm.

While other schools in March and throughout Fenland told pupils to stay away Mrs Spriggs took the decision to keep her school open.

Mrs Spriggs who has to travel into March from Wisbech said: "If the head of a school can get in then at least parents have a choice and can make a decision about their own children.

"I always do my best to get in and then leave it to parents to make their decision. If the head doesn't get in then there is a problem."

Mrs Spriggs said she would never expect staff or parents to put lives at risk in adverse weather conditions.

She said: "Last Thursday we had between a third to a half of the pupils in school. We made hot chocolate and played in the snow but everyone read, did writing and maths. We had a really lovely day."

In Cambridgeshire head teachers are allowed to make their own decisions over the closure of schools. In some counties local authorities make the decision.

Mrs Spriggs said: "I cannot see the rationale behind that. Heads have to look at their own situations and see what staff can get in but you can join classes together and usually do something.