Letter: Not that simple
Commendable as this sounds, his school's own website boasts a staff to pupil ratio of about one to nine. Such a ratio would easily allow those teachers who have turned up to supervise extra pupils, should colleagues be absent, and still be well within the minimum staff-to-pupil ratio legally required to keep a school open.
Many state schools operate on staff-to-pupil ratios of about one to 25, and, consequently, any staff absence has a greater impact on the ability of these schools to stay open. It is not as straightforward as the "willingness" of staff determining whether a school gets closed.
(MRS) JENNIFER SHEARER
Cargilfield View
Edinburgh