School remaining open during polling

Good! If it was closed, you'd be on here moaning! Damned if they do, etc....

I've worked in polling stations in a couple of schools now, neither have closed for the day.
In my experience, we (the polling station staff) do not have access to the rest of the school. The room chosen for it will be somewhere that can be closed off from the rest of the school easily. Most recently, we were in a music studio with an exterior door for voters to enter, and the interior door was locked all day.
There was a debate about the gate to the school grounds, school initially wanted to keep it locked and open it for each voter, but they ended up keeping it open once they realised that this was unworkable. They were happy that they could see the route from the gate to the polling station from the school office.
I'm sure that school could reassure you, as they will have considered the safety aspects, but it is a very common scenario.

I am not sure what your concern is. Access to playground? You think one of the voters may want to break in and kick a ball with your child? Why would they? Kidnap a kid or two? Why would they?
Staff running polling station does not need to be DBS checked, they are not going to be left unsupervised with the kids. Are you DBs checked? No? Do you think school should forbid you from entering the premises then?
"Research" that you and other parents are doing, does it include research into statistics of offences committed against children in similar circumstances? Didn't think so.

Any access to the main school through a door will likely be blocked on both sides so no child can wander in or adult wander out. As a retired teacher this was frequently the situation that we had and there was never a problem. All school staff will be on extra alert for the day. What are working parents to do, it’s now short notice?

I think the worrying thing here is the head refusing to share the risk assessment. Did you put that request in writing op?

Total non issue, what exactly are you worried about? So you think the teachers will be letting the children run around unsupervised in the voting area or inviting random voters into lessons?

Or are you thinking the head hasn't realized what's happening?

Such drama 🤣 you and other parents have been "conducting research"? Jesus wept, I bet the head is tearing her hair out

This is a massive overreaction. Leave the headteacher alone, OP.

Sounds fine and I can’t believe how dramatic/OTT you’re being to be honest. I’m sure the Head and staff know how to run these things far better than you. Honestly, I don’t know how some people get through the day when they panic at every little scenario.

Massive over reaction!

What do you think will happen?

They will have carried out a risk assessment which you can if you want ask to see. Lots of schools do this. I think you are worrying too much about it.

Children aren't going to be unsupervised in the voting area. Is that what you're concerned about? Or is it more that a "bad person with a weapon" might gain access via the polling station classroom and then rampage around the school? Because schools aren't Fort Knox - if a person with a weapon wanted to barge into a classroom where kids are with teachers, they could do that by walking in through reception, the school receptionist isn't going to be in any greater position to stop them than the polling station staff would be.

Our local school never closes for polling. The voters go in a side entrance to the gym and never set foot on the actual class areas. That door is firmly locked.

A DBS just means they haven't been caught......

All the schools near me are community schools with libraries, sports facilities etc open to the public. So hundreds or thousands accessing the school grounds and buildings every day.

If you want to keep your own DC at home, and you're less bothered by the unnecessary unauthorised absence than the perceived risk from voters, fill your boots. Most people here think it's a bit daft.

You're overreacting IMO. My DS's primary never closed for polling days, I had no issue with it and why miss out on a day of schooling for no good reason?

I'm sure the HT knows their job. Besides, the polling cards will already have been sent out with the school named as polling station, surely? Ours arrived last week. It's a done deal. Absolutely no point in pursuing this, OP.

Indeed.

And the Op is unreasonable to suggest the head should shift the inset day from the end of term - can't be done at this late stage.

It's fine. I really can't see the issue. There are always loads of people staffing polling stations.

I absolutely wouldn’t be bothered by this. The kids are fully supervised. I can’t see the issue at all.

I’d be more bothered if the school was closed for it. That would be a logistical nightmare for us as a family.

Sounds much safer than a school trip where they're moving around in unfamiliar surroundings with distractions. If you let them go on school trips without you there then I couldn't justify keeping them off.
The only exception I might make is if your older primary kid has additional needs and is prone to running off at speed, but I'd be more concerned about the gates being open than a kidnapper!

Have you ever been to a parents evening? Or a school play?

DDs school is always open when used as a polling Station.

This year, they are even having the added fun of the summer fair happening at the same time...

The school will have done thorough risk assessments. They are barely allowed to sharpen a pencil without one.

Oh ours will close and add an inset day on to that. Really disruptive.