UK weather: ‘I was snowed-in overnight with 400 of my students’

Heavy snowfall across the UK caused rush-hour disruption, as all regions recorded their lowest temperatures of the winter so far.

As severe weather warnings told motorists to expect treacherous conditions on roads, students at Callywith College in Bodmin, Cornwall, found themselves unable to get home.

Mark Wardle, the college’s principal, has told Sky News of the snowy night he ended up stranded at the premises with around 400 of his students.

I can honestly say I’ve never had a night quite that like that in my career.

I have seen many difficult situations during my 20 years in education, but I’ve never had to go to Asda and acquire £800 worth of bedding to give students somewhere to sleep.

LIVE: Fresh weather warnings as snow closes airports and 1,000 schools

The problems started at around 3:15pm when heavy snow started making it difficult for motorists on the roads.

There are about 14 buses that serve the college and some of them could make it here and others couldn’t.

Those that did make it here weren’t prepared to go back.

Many of our students live in rural, isolated or faraway towns such as Bude, Holsworthy and Callington, and gradually getting home for them was out of the picture.

The college is for students aged between 16 and 18, and we had 400 around of them staying overnight.

Some of them had wanted to get home at first, but once it was clear we were stuck everyone embraced it.

We had roughly 25 members of staff looking after the students, and the first thing we had to consider was feeding them all.

We had to raid the fridge and freezers and managed to rustle up sausages, chips and beans for tea.

Cheese toasties were served for supper, and this morning we had yoghurt, fruit and brioche.

My main feeling and priority throughout the night was that the students were safe and their parents were reassured.

The teenagers were having a good time and in high spirits – it’s definitely a night we’ll talk about for years to come.

Some of them did coursework, while others watched films such as Hot Fuzz and Madagascar in the college theatre.

Some just relaxed and chatted – doing what teenagers do.

It was of course important the students had somewhere to sleep, and luckily we were able to walk, or should I say trek, to Asda just over the road.

We planned to buy lots of bedding but they kindly donated us £800 worth.

We made up a massive bedded area in the sports hall and that’s where the teenagers slept for the night.

Many were still here at 9:30am this morning as the buses came one by one to take people home.

(c) Sky News 2019: UK weather: ‘I was snowed-in overnight with 400 of my students’