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Exception closure days

Advice and guidance on the use of optional and exceptional school closures.

Circular 2005/08-School optional and exceptional closure days PDF 41 KB

Optional days

School authorities have discretion to close a school for up to a maximum of five days. These days are classed as optional days and may be counted toward days when the school is required to be in operation. Schools are required to be in operation for 200 days less five optional days, leaving a total of 195 operational days.

The provision for optional days is designed to cover closings for reasons that might arise throughout the year. School authorities should therefore hold in reserve a number of the possible five days to meet such cases, for example

  • the death of a person connected with the school (other than a teacher or pupil);
  • when a school will have had advanced notice, for example; moving premises, building work is being carried out or schools are amalgamating.

Exceptional closures

Only in exceptional circumstances, where the closing of the school is out of the control of the school authorities, will the Department be prepared to consider proposals for a reduction in the required number of days (195) on which a school should be in operation.

It will, for example, be prepared to consider applications where a school has closed due to:

  • power cut;
  • adverse weather conditions;
  • burst pipes and/or flooding;
  • security activity in the area;
  • use as a polling station;
  • funeral of a teacher/pupil at that particular school.

Exceptional closure days should be supported by the Education & Library Board (ELB) in the case of controlled schools and Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) in the case of maintained schools.

Curriculum Support Team must be informed in writing of the reason for an exceptional closure day of a school either by the school/ELB/CCMS.

School development days

Schools may take a number of days for purposes connected with school improvement matters during the school year.

Enquires about these days should be addressed to the Department of Education, Standards & Improvement Team at our Bangor office using the contact us button on the bar above.