College attendance plummets after BBC gets it wrong

A late oil delivery this week forced the school to close for a day but when a list of school closures was announced on BBC on Friday morning the college was incorrectly listed as being shut instead of reopened.

School Principal Paul Carlin, who said the college has not been otherwise affected by the recent bad weather, told the Leader Friday’s attendance suffered after the announcement.

“The BBC announced the school was closed on Friday morning rather than on Thursday which meant many children didn’t attend thinking the school was closed,” said Mr Carlin.

“Although I must say the BBC were very good to correct the announcement when I contacted them to inform them of the mistake.”

While most pupils have been able to make the trip to school since the beginning of the new term, Mr Carlin said some rural pupils have faced difficulties.

“Some of the pupils travelling from further afield have been delayed as buses have struggled to travel on country lanes,” he said.

“But overall most people have been able to get into school ok.”