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Original poster

To wonder why DS's school is closed this afternoon?

86 replies

cottonwoolbrain · 16/07/2024 15:58

It's been in the calendar since the start of term. It does not really cause us an issue as he's 11 and in year 7 and there's usually one of us working from home anyway.

But they're being very vague as to why. Usually they tell us - teacher training, planned repairs etc. but all they've said this time is school closed. DS says someone asked in registration this morning and was just told "because it is"

I can't help wondering if the staff are having an absolutely well deserved party as they reach the end of the school year - I certainly wouldn't begrudge it I'd want a break if I had to spend all year in the company of a thousand noisy kids!!

It just seems - odd Confused

OP posts:
FrippEnos · 16/07/2024 19:15

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 19:14

Also - I doubt whether it's sprung on with no notice!

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Its not been sprung on the OP

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 19:14

neonleopard · 16/07/2024 19:13

My kids school has a random 'school closed' day once a year - it's not an inset day, something to do with when they converted to an academy and teaching hours changed slightly, staff were due one more holiday day than usual term dates allowed for.... Maybe something like that, but seems an odd time to year for it!

Also - I doubt whether it's sprung on with no notice!

Octavia64 · 16/07/2024 19:14

A school near me has an inset day early December.

They then do the actual training early over a few evenings.

Staff then get the day off as a Christmas shopping day.

They've been doing it twenty years and still going.

I'm pretty envious to be honest.

neonleopard · 16/07/2024 19:13

My kids school has a random 'school closed' day once a year - it's not an inset day, something to do with when they converted to an academy and teaching hours changed slightly, staff were due one more holiday day than usual term dates allowed for.... Maybe something like that, but seems an odd time to year for it!

Rycbar · 16/07/2024 19:11

CaptainMyCaptain · 16/07/2024 19:05

The people who got into Oxford or Cambridge had already left school and didn't benefit. They had to do a 3rd year in 6th form for the Entance exam. I wasn't one of them.

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That’s fine, just stating what your original post implied and why it was easy to misunderstand.

SummerDays2020 · 16/07/2024 19:11

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 19:09

No I didn't, the point is that random days and late closures will result in the school being fined.
I've never heard of a closure for Christmas shopping since about 1983, but if folks claims it happens....

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You're misunderstanding. The 'Christmas shopping day' is a disaggregated day.

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 19:09

SummerDays2020 · 16/07/2024 19:07

Yes, I know. It was what the previous poster called Christmas shopping day - which you said wasn't allowed. I was just pointing out it is allowed.

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No I didn't, the point is that random days and late closures will result in the school being fined.
I've never heard of a closure for Christmas shopping since about 1983, but if folks claims it happens....

SummerDays2020 · 16/07/2024 19:07

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 18:59

Yes, again, that's on the calendar - you can choose to have the Training Days disaggregated into Twilights. This means that we're breaking up on Friday, rather than next Wednesday as we've done the training. Still in the calendar a year ahead, though.

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Yes, I know. It was what the previous poster called Christmas shopping day - which you said wasn't allowed. I was just pointing out it is allowed.

CaptainMyCaptain · 16/07/2024 19:05

Rycbar · 16/07/2024 16:55

the post to me reads that the children who got into Oxford or Cambridge for a day off and the poster was one of those children. So not, it’s not clear.

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The people who got into Oxford or Cambridge had already left school and didn't benefit. They had to do a 3rd year in 6th form for the Entance exam. I wasn't one of them.

CaptainMyCaptain · 16/07/2024 19:02

scarletbegoniass · 16/07/2024 16:26

I don’t think they misunderstood, you didn’t explain very well.

‘At my school we had a half day off for anyone who got into Oxford or Cambridge’. Why would anyone read ‘for anyone who got into Oxford or Cambridge’ and extrapolate that that means it was for everyone?

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Because the people who had got into Oxford or Cambridge had already left school.

Chiano · 16/07/2024 19:01

Ha, I've never worked in a school where staff would have willingly attended a party when they could just be getting on with their work so they had less to do later. There are loads of teaching threads with angry teachers frustrated at having to do well-being staff meetings instead of just being given time to clear their to do list.

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 18:59

autumn1610 · 16/07/2024 18:54

100% I think it’s for the staff. I used to live with a teacher they had an inset day which they lovingly called Christmas shopping day! So I think it will be staff related

Why is it secret?

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 18:59

SummerDays2020 · 16/07/2024 18:56

But they can have a day off if they did the teacher training after school in the afternoon and evening instead.

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Yes, again, that's on the calendar - you can choose to have the Training Days disaggregated into Twilights. This means that we're breaking up on Friday, rather than next Wednesday as we've done the training. Still in the calendar a year ahead, though.

SummerDays2020 · 16/07/2024 18:56

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 18:50

You are correct.
Times have changed. The school would be fined if it closed for any reason other than agreed INSETS.

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But they can have a day off if they did the teacher training after school in the afternoon and evening instead.

autumn1610 · 16/07/2024 18:54

100% I think it’s for the staff. I used to live with a teacher they had an inset day which they lovingly called Christmas shopping day! So I think it will be staff related

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 18:52

Inset days are most certainly not confidential, and will be on the calendar at least a year ahead.

BarcardiWithGadaffia · 16/07/2024 18:51

ReluctantSwimMum · 16/07/2024 18:46

It'll be staff training from an external provider who could only do that afternoon.

Would there be a reason to keep that secret?

Inset days aren't confidential are they?

OP are the children still getting the legal number of days in school?

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 18:51

SummerDays2020 · 16/07/2024 18:50

If it's anything like my DD's school there are no written reports! Although I'm sure there is plenty of other paperwork to do!

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You're not allowed to close the school for it.

SummerDays2020 · 16/07/2024 18:50

ACynicalDad · 16/07/2024 16:26

Leaving party for someone whose been there decades? An afternoon to finish report witing?

If it's anything like my DD's school there are no written reports! Although I'm sure there is plenty of other paperwork to do!

KateDelRick · 16/07/2024 18:50

hennybeans · 16/07/2024 16:45

At the school I worked in 20 years ago, we always had a training day in early December to get our Christmas shopping done. I doubt schools get anything fun like that anymore though.

You are correct.
Times have changed. The school would be fined if it closed for any reason other than agreed INSETS.

Heronwatcher · 16/07/2024 18:47

I can’t believe none of the parents have asked! At my school the (sharp elbowed) parents would have been all over it!

SummerDays2020 · 16/07/2024 18:46

cottonwoolbrain · 16/07/2024 15:58

It's been in the calendar since the start of term. It does not really cause us an issue as he's 11 and in year 7 and there's usually one of us working from home anyway.

But they're being very vague as to why. Usually they tell us - teacher training, planned repairs etc. but all they've said this time is school closed. DS says someone asked in registration this morning and was just told "because it is"

I can't help wondering if the staff are having an absolutely well deserved party as they reach the end of the school year - I certainly wouldn't begrudge it I'd want a break if I had to spend all year in the company of a thousand noisy kids!!

It just seems - odd Confused

That is strange and would have me wondering!

Is it Open evening tonight? Ours had a half day when they had theirs.

Incidentally, the staff at my DD's school have a Retreat every January.

ReluctantSwimMum · 16/07/2024 18:46

It'll be staff training from an external provider who could only do that afternoon.

Whippetlovely · 16/07/2024 18:43

cottonwoolbrain · 16/07/2024 16:52

Not the last day that's Friday and they finish at noon

No point phoning as phone calls nearly always drop to answer phone and they ignore nearly all messages fir at least 48 hours unless urgent.

They got their reports yesterday

It's a mystery!

I don't particularly mind I'm just intrigued!!

Maybe not enough staff, there’s a huge shortage of teachers at the mo

BarcardiWithGadaffia · 16/07/2024 18:42

Octavia64 · 16/07/2024 16:57

It won't be a staff party.

Possible it's for a funeral of a staff member and many members of staff want to go.

Staff parties are in the evening and lots of staff don't go or want to go.

Apart from the fact that it was planned wouldnt the parents be aware if such a popular member of staff had died?