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Extracurricular clubs - should they impose on school time?

7 replies

Lmdoli · 24/11/2015 16:32

My daughter is in year 3. She is a member of the school dance club. This term they are doing three shows. This involves evening performances in a theatre (usually 10 miles away) and we have to collect late at night (arrived home 11 pm after one show last week), in addition to rehearsals at the theatre during the day. My daughter seems to be struggling with her maths this term. I am concerned about how much school time she is missing. In addition to the dance club they are going to the circus next week in school time. Over the next few weeks more school time will be given over to a carol service, nativity rehearsals, Christmas party and yet I'm not supposed to take her out of school for holidays! I appreciate that it is part of building memories and I don't want to tell her she can't do something if all her friends are doing it. She has been bringing home extra maths homework to practice vertical addition and subtraction...... So I'm doing school work with her at home whilst she doesn't seem to even be on the school premises when she is supposed to be at school. I am not a teacher, so I suppose I am wondering what is a reasonable amount of time to be spent on extra curricular activities during the school day?

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tomatotoad · 24/11/2015 16:33

Arriving home at 11 p.m. bonkers. It sounds far too much.

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pieceofpurplesky · 24/11/2015 16:35

She's what 7/8? Let her be a kid around Christmas at school and do extra maths stuff at home - there are loads of fabulous and free apps for children that really boost maths. My son at that age could barely add and subtract - he left primary in a 4A and is now predicted a Level 6 (old B grade) at GCSE.

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pieceofpurplesky · 24/11/2015 16:36

And taking her out for holidays is something totally different - none of her classmates will be doing lessons whilst nativity etc being on so she is not missing leaning

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Lmdoli · 24/11/2015 16:42

Oh no.... I don't mean I'd stop her doing the nativity......it's just the boys will be in class whilst the girls are off dancing.....I didn't realise when she started dance club it would take so much time out of school. They did two displays during school time too last month.....it starred of as an hour after school one night a week..... Now they are doing 11/2 hr plus shows.....

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tomatotoad · 24/11/2015 16:59

She'll be exhausted by the time she breaks up.

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NewLife4Me · 24/11/2015 17:15

This sounds really different, is it a state school?
Most dc I have come across who do similar are involved with private dance schools, I've never heard of a school doing it.
What a wonderful opportunity for her, and I bet she loves missing classes to perform.
11pm is not unusual for performing children, nor is missing school.
I can see how it has come as a shock to you though, and am surprised a school is doing this.

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Lmdoli · 24/11/2015 23:04

It is a state school..... Two teachers very into dance..... She was attending dance lessons where they also do a show, but pulled out as was getting too much and doing dance at school. We've just collected her from a show and she was full of it!.... After talking to her on the way home it does seem that school are making allowances - she did extra maths during break time and missed spelling test (which she is good at and doing tomorrow) to work on maths