Headteachers have defended their decision to close for two days last week after heavy snow fell on Thursday.

All but six of Barnet's 118 nursery, primary, secondary and special schools were closed on Thursday after snow fell in the morning. Most reopened the next day, but more than 40 remained shut - half because of the icy conditions; half for teacher training. Potters Bar schools were similarly affected.

East Barnet School, in Chestnut Grove, East Barnet, was one of those which was shut on Thursday and Friday, even though roads were clear on Friday morning and no further snow settled.

Headteacher Nick Christou said on Friday: "We received information yesterday from Barnet Council and weather forecasters that driving conditions would not be good and the school has a number of staff who travel from far away. We couldn't guarantee they would be able to come and supervision of pupils would have been at risk.

"I took the decision late last night and pupils were informed by text message. Only a couple turned up this morning. We waited until the last minute to make the decision. The safety of the children comes first."

Summerside Primary School in Crossway, North Finchley, closed on Thursday but was open on Friday as usual. Speaking on Friday, headteacher Laura Allen said: "The decision was based on how many staff I could get in. Many of them live in Hertfordshire and couldn't get in, but they all did today, as did the vast majority of pupils."

The council's cabinet member for children's services, Councillor Fiona Bulmer, said the council provided schools with comprehensive weather forecasts from the Met Office, but it was up to each school to decide if it should open. Pressed as to whether schools ought to have shut on Friday, she said: "My personal view is I think maybe some headteachers have been overcautious today.

"The gritters have been out on the roads and pavements and have done a good job. I think headteachers should not have had any concerns about that. Maybe their concerns were about the state of their playgrounds and staff who live a long way away."

The closures meant children and teachers enjoyed an early start to the half-term holiday, which began on Monday.

A council spokesman said there were no plans for schools to make up the lost days later in the year.

Meanwhile, refuse collection, public transport and parking controls were similarly affected. No household waste was collected on Thursday and there was only a partial collection on Friday.

The council said those homes which missed out on those days would have a double collection this week, on their normal collection day.

The borough's roads were relatively clear on Thursday with many people choosing to stay at home.

There was no such luck for Northern Line commuters in the Thursday morning rush hour, with no service between High Barnet and Archway, or between Edgware and Golders Green.

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