It’s SNOW problem…

‘Big Daddy’ with the Hopwood Hall College team that helped keep both College campuses open throughout the recent heavy snowfall

While most of the country came to a standstill, with chaos on the roads and schools and colleges being forced to shut, Hopwood Hall College bucked the trend thanks to lots of grit (literally), determination and the power of ‘Big Daddy ‘– a recently acquired ex-council gritter with plenty of oomph!

This is the third year running the College has managed to battle through winter without losing one teaching day. Keeping both campuses open - especially the 72 acre Middleton campus - during heavy snowfall is a huge challenge. But this year the College started planning in early October, purchasing 40 tonnes of grit salt and investing over £13k in a 17 tonne gritter supplied by Worldwide Plant.

Saf Arfan, Director for Corporate Services, said: “Our students and staff have high expectations and we aspire to be outstanding. Given this, we strive hard to keep the College open for teaching 12 hours per day and most weekends for community use.

"A team of 20 dedicated staff are devoted to this cause all year round, but when it’s snowing they often start clearing from 5am, continuing throughout the day until 9pm when night classes are finished. Without this unrivalled dedication, planning and the right type of equipment, like ‘Big Daddy’, the job would be impossible.

"The whole operation is a credit to all College staff, students and parents who are determined to brace the weather and put up with a little inconvenience, in order to keep education going. It’s far too easy to take the easy option and shut-up shop, but we all need to prepare and adapt”.