What do you think about school finishing early for the football?

[RequestInUse]

That really. This letter comes home Monday saying this;

*"Football is like marmite..... From time to time.... Very Important matches involving the England team are held in school time and this can cause big problems for families who value football highly...... Therefor for this match only we have made these 3 options....;

1. Collect child at 1:20pm onwards so can settle as a family to watch kick off.
   
2. Collect at half time, between 2:30-3:00 so adults can watch the while of the match and still collect children.
   
3. Collect at normal time.
   
   All children in school that afternoon will have a choice of activities, either ther watch the while match or arts and crafts."
   
   *somewhat shortened
   
   I'm a bit stunned by it personally.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I thnk its great.

[honeysucklejasmine]

I think it's ridiculous. It's not the final, fgs, and even the i would think it was stupid.

Do they mean to suggest there are parents out there who would not collect their child because they were watching a football match?!

[Muddlingalongalone]

Excellent - and no doubt after 1:20 they've done afternoon registration so no attendance issues!

[crazywriter]

I can't be arsed with football but at least there's a choice. And they're telling you what they will do for the kids who will be in school. The only thing me and my parents love about when England play is that most the shopping centres are empty so we don't have to deal with people:)

[Mishaps]

Is this serious?!

[dementedpixie]

Crazy! But them I'm in Scotland and don't care about the match anyway

[littleblackno]

Primary schools around here are doing it but no option to collect early. I don't mind, but as my kids are not remotely interested I'd have liked the option to pick them up and do something else.

[RequestInUse]

Yep Mishaps

[ElizabethLemon]

I'd think it was a joke. You can't take your child out of school for one day for a holiday but they can have an afternoon off to watch some men kick a ball about 😳.

[AlmaMartyr]

I think it's ridiculous and makes a mockery of this obsession with attendance.

[alltheworld]

I would raise this with ofsted. If they want to let kids miss most of the afternoon they should at least teach those who don't want to watch football.

[honeysucklejasmine]

I would be tempted to write back that I really rather prefer tennis so shall be picking them up early each time a Brit plays at Wimbledon. In every category.

[PaulAnkaTheDog]

dementedpixie imagine what it would be like up here if we were actually in the tournament. Probably pandemonium!

[inabizzlefam]

DS1 has had to pay £1.00 as the whole school will be watching the match on Thursday in the gymnasium.
I'm not allowed to take him out of school to go on holiday because "one day out of school will impact my DCs education", but the school can demand a payment from each pupil to miss out on a whole afternoon of classes to watch a game.
Talk about one rule for them them and another for us.

[Paniniswapx3]

I think it's a great idea - wish my boys schools were offering this!

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

I'd think it was a prank. I'd complain if it were true. As a governor I'd be raising it with the head too. Ridiculous.

[honeysucklejasmine]

Nozzle what's the money for?

[scarlets]

It's just a bit of fun, and there's no obligation to collect the children early. Parents are not being put out in any way. Children who dislike football are not adversely affected, and children who enjoy it, get to see it. Win win.

The payment thing mentioned by another poster is a bit odd, though. I don't understand what it's for - the football is on the BBC not BT Sport.

[OMGBabyNo3]

Think it's fantastic and wish my kids school had provided same options

[RequestInUse]

Another dynamic is the kids who have full time working parent(s) (which our DS would be if I wasn't on mat leave) don't have the choice of early home time. Something else for them to miss out on, regardless of their like or dislike of football.

My DS had the choice of what he wants to do. He wants to be collected early and we will do something weather dependant as not fussed on football. But even if we were I still don't really get the schools choice.

[DextersMistress]

Ds's school are doing the same. They're watching the first half in school and we can pick them up at half time. I think it's great, I wish my school had done it back in the day.

[DextersMistress]

Oh, and they're all paying £1 too. They can wear football/pe kits.

[seasidesally]

i wish my son's school was doing this,he's a football fanatic and attends many premier games,seems a shame,especially as week days he's in bed for 8.30 so cant watch evening matches as he still wants to see the other team

i would let him stay up if it was an england match though

[AnneElliott]

I think it's ridiculous. Honey - I liked your response. Will suggest that to my friend whose school is also doing this.

I agree it makes a mockery of attendance rules - and it's not even the final! If we were in the World Cup final then maybe it would be worth it as s once in a life time opportunity!