ROFL……… don’t really know what to say, but thanks for the post!…… Anyone for a risk assessment...?

RayRapp, I was waiting to see the ‘up the chimney’ quote, thanks for not disappointing me - lol!

Just as long as this is not a regular activity??

Reeve Here are some thoughts, right or wrong, regarding your queries: 1. The caretaker might well have been off-duty at the time, having completed a full morning shift which very probably began well before 7am and included re-gritting all the external walkways at the school. In my experience, school caretakers are vital (like good headteachers and good school secretaries), but much of their work tends to be unseen, unrecognised and taken for granted! 2. Most school closures due to snow are probably made because insufficient numbers of their staff are able to get to school by car from wherever they live. However, "the H&S of pupils being paramount" looks/sounds more plausible. 3. What's the actual likelihood of 9-11 year olds falling and breaking their legs while snow clearing? Probably quite low. Adults are probably more at risk. Anyhow, for kids and adults, falling and breaking a wrist or elbow is the more likely outcome. In connection with this, do forum users involved with schools know/care if their caretakers and other site staff have ice grip footwear and suitable warm clothing for treating walkways, often alone, on freezing dark winter mornings?!! Furthermore, how easily can they summon help and from whom if they do fall and suffer incapacitating injury? 4. Perhaps the kids doing the snow clearing got some exercise plus some non-academic education about co-operating/working together - and hopefully were told why they were doing it. Even so, it's worth asking the school why they were doing it. If you do, please could you let us know what answer is given by the school?

At last - let kids be kids. SBH

It's a shocking suggestion that the kids might have wasted time throwing snowballs instead of getting on with the business of clearing snow: If they did, surely they needed to learn self-discipline about not being distracted and getting the task completed in reasonable time! However, the above observation is tongue-in-cheek. For those who don't recall it, HSE's Myth of the Month topic in December 2008 at http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/dec08.htm dealt with the misperception that children aren't allowed to throw snowballs. To expand on this I reckon children should be told/reminded that throwing snowballs at other participants is fine but not at anybody's face or non-participants (including cyclists and motorists) and best not to use hard snowballs made of wet slushy snow. In other words, children should be enabled and encouraged to have fun with snow - and also to combine it with appropriate responsibility!

Now, when the School are a bit short in the kitchen, you might have better reason for concern!

Ah yes modern curriculums brought on by this fine government That’s why I send my children to Private schools they train children to go to university. This is obviously a comprehensive school were they train children for manual labour and factory work

Cardboard to clear snow? Wrong tools. Much better for the big kids to roll the little ones around and form massive snowballs then push them down the hill. Great exercise for all and still gets the snow cleared. Great lesson in the physics of water/ice, heat conduction, gravity, work/energy. To the OP, I think it is you!

Interesting use of the word "train"!

...........obviously I must have been educated via the state - given the poor grammar and incorrect spelling in my last post!

In my primary school (pre 1960) they held an igloo-making competition one snowy day. That was real fun.

ehhhhh. im confused - thats exactly what I am saying Johnny! Read all my posts........................state schools provide generally high standards of edcuation, some pupils decide to go to university as a result, others decide to go straight into business. Attending private school doesnt necessarily provide for any higher a standard of education than private schools.

Then again, a scan of the grammar standards on this thread suggests maybe we should spend more time in the classroom.............................! ;-)

How did the people in this thread manage to get from "kids clearing snow" to a debate on the differences between private and state education. Must be the weather or is it Friday afternoon already!!!!!!

The only negative thought that I have is; - afterwards where do the kids get warm and dry and dry their cloths? As in many if not most UK schools the facilities for such things are poor compared to other northern European schools where such activities are a regular thing so drying cloths etc is catered for Other than that negative thought I say let them get on with it noting that the biggest problems in schools that children face is parents driving very badly snow or no snow!

I wonder how much snow went in the direction of the teachers? As for levels of education etc. do you understand what school your kids go to - Community, Voluntary Controlled, Voluntary Aided, Foundation, Acadamy, Free School? The control, curriculum and aspirations are politicallky changing towards non-state education. Less young people 'hiding' in universities away from the depressed job market whilst Local Authorities ditch 10's of thousands of LEA staff. Bring back manufacture, skills of head and hand, real apprenterships and the university of life not one of toffs and fags. Come the revolution!