Berkeley Primary School in Gloucestershire temporarily closed its doors on Tuesday, January 6, due to an electrical fault that left the building without heating or electricity, raising health and safety concerns. Pupils were sent home early after having lunch at 1:20pm, as the school asked parents to collect their children promptly.
The school communicated the closure and updates primarily through Facebook, explaining that phone lines and internet were also down. A statement from the school emphasized that such decisions are never taken lightly but were necessary to ensure everyone’s safety.
“We arranged an early lunch for the children, and staff remained on site to assist any families who experienced difficulties collecting their children,” the school said. “Please do not arrive before 1:20pm as managing pickups earlier would compromise safeguarding measures.”
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Gloucestershire County Council later confirmed that repairs had been completed, and the school would reopen as usual on Wednesday, January 7. In a follow-up message, the school expressed gratitude to the community for their understanding and swift cooperation.
“Thanks to the quick work of electricians within our trust, the fault was fixed by afternoon, allowing the school to resume normal operations tomorrow,” the school announced on Facebook. “We truly appreciate everyone’s flexibility, especially the staff and kitchen team, who managed to provide meals despite the challenging circumstances. This experience has highlighted the incredible teamwork within our school community.”