School Christmas Hols - Orders from New Head Teacher

[Bookworm13]

In the scheme of things, this isn't of world shattering importance but it really annoyed me!
We live in Scotland and my two teenage sons officially finish up for the school Xmas hols on Wed 21st ...could they not have followed other areas of the UK and allowed the kids to finish up on Fri instead?!
I've lost count of the amount of frazzled parents/kids I've spoken to in the last few days and my eldest has got his Higher prelims starting on 5 Jan.
They don't seem to do much work the last few days anyway - but what was rather annoying, was that their new headteacher sent out a snotty e-mail at the end of last week, ordering parents to make their kids attend on the last day - even though the school finishes early and all they would be doing is watching a concert.
The previous HT (who was a lovely man) never issued any letters of this sort at all (and especially in that tone)
Judging by the reduced numbers of kids going into school this morning, it would seem his orders are being ignored. Even the local primary school was significantly quieter today.
My two have gone in today, have said they are going into school tomorrow but asked me if they could stay off on Wed and I said that wasn't a problem.
Why can't there be a bit more commonsense about these things - and where is the Christmas spirit?!
Sorry for the rant....! X

[DameXanaduBramble]

Not all schools finished on Friday elsewhere. Of course they must go in? Unless they're ill it's not optional.

[Zippidydoodah]

I'm pretty sure it's not up to the head what date they finish- unless maybe it's an academy? Term dates are set by the council, aren't they?

[ilovesooty]

I'd be interested to know how this email was "snotty"

Of course they should be at school - it isn't optional.

[PoptartPoptart]

I'm in the south of England and all schools I know of in my area don't finish until Wed either

[ilovesooty]

And what does the Christmas spirit have to do with attending school on the designated school days?

[AllTheBabies]

I'm in Scotland too and delighted they don't finish till Wednesday. The idea of getting all the last minute stuff done with the dc under my feet is not good!

[TheDevilMadeMeDoIt]

And then if the school is closed for a day for staff development or - God forbid - the teachers are on strike, there's much moaning about having to deal with children who are, like, at home.

But when it's Christmas, or a term time summer holiday....

No wonder teachers feel they can't win.

[Tollygunge]

In London. Finish weds.

[Whatthefreakinwhatnow]

Scrolls cannot win, don't provide the full teaching days allowance and parents lose their shit, fit them in by finishing on 21st, parents complain their poor little darlings are tired and won't send them in!

It's school, it's 3 more days. Unless they are genuinely too ill to attend then they need to suck it up and go!

Oh and it's not just Scotland by the way, DD1 doesn't finish til weds either and, shock horror, she'll be there til Wednesday!

[Tollygunge]

21sr I mean

[Scottishchick39]

Our kids finish on Thursday and not back until the 9th January, all kids have to go on the last day as their absences affects the attendance figures (not sure how that matters though).

[Whatthefreakinwhatnow]

Scrolls?! schools ffs! Bloody phone!

[Monr0e]

My 2 finish on Wednesday as well, in the North West

[gleam]

Mine finished with a half day, last Thursday!

[blackbunny]

But if they'd made Friday the last day, then wouldn't the last 2 days be games,DVDs etc, and then people would be saying it's not worth going in the last 2 days cos they don't do any actual school work?
Don't children gain something from fun and games, eg interaction with others,social skills etc?

[SheSparkles]

I'm in Scotland and mine finishes at lunchtime on Fri 23rd. Ds won't be going in (S3) as they do bugger all and I can make better use of him at home!!

[ColdTattyWaitingForSummer]

In Scotland also and our schools don't finish until Friday lunchtime :( I think ds1's school will be half empty that day though as the school bus doesn't run on half days.. Also even last week they had so many free periods that you wonder what the point is..

[Keepcalmanddrinkcoffee]

Schools in this area finish Thursday at usual time,

[gobbin]

Our school finshed Friday (training day pulled from next July) and kids were in all day Thurs with a full normal teaching week expected. We normally finish at 2pm after a final assembly/few musical items but the training day kyboshed that.

Shame you don't value the end of term concert, OP. Pupils and staff will have been working hard to put that on (and will be the last clearing up when everyone else has skipped off down the drive bitter experience )

[sirfredfredgeorge]

Any email which simply reminds people of the completely self evident is snotty, simply by definition. You impose yourself on people only when you need to, you don't email everyone saying "everyone should get up in the morning", breaking that rule makes it snotty.

[WinterWander]

Ours finish on Friday 23rd. Surprised some schools have already finished up.