London Schools Wrestle With Day of Chaos

The chaos caused by the terrorist bombings in the heart of London on July 7 prompted some schools in the area to close for the rest of the week, while others chose to stay open in a bid to avoid further disruption.

Ian Comfort, the chief education officer for the City of London school district, which includes eight schools and about 5,000 students in central London, said in an interview with Education Week that all but one of his schools remained open the day of the terrorist strike, which killed more than 50 and injured hundreds at railway stations and on buses.

However, he said one primary school in his system—located about 100 yards from the Ald Gate East railway station, where the first bomb exploded while school was in session—was evacuated Thursday. The 250 students there walked to other primary schools in the area under the supervision of police and their teachers. The children’s parents were notified that they were transferred...