Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Village Gala Day Drama

291 replies

Bronniel · 11/02/2025 22:28

I live in a small Scottish Village, every year there is a Gala Day, I imagine it is similar to a Village Fete in England, but basically It is a lot of local businesses, food vans, live music and some little rides for the kids in the local park, with a parade around the village and a fancy dress competition, it is fairly popular. Also a lot of other events in the village on the weekend surrounding it and competitions for the kids.
Every year there is a Gala Queen, plus some other big roles like crown bearer, maids etc. Basically the Queen gets crowned to kick the day off and prior to that leads the parade in a horse and carriage. It's all very much set in tradition but still popular and the kids enjoy it.
Traditionally the Gala Queen and the rest of the Gala party has been selected by the primary school in the village, and consists of P7s, the head teacher picks them and they are chosen based on behaviour/attainment etc. throughout the year. My own kids viewed it as quite a bit accolade to be chosen and it seems like a big deal to the kids. This method though has had its controversies as obviously not every child in the Village attends the village school with some going to other schools for various reasons and others going to say the catholic school or occasionally the odd who does the 30+ minute commute to a private school, it also excludes any kids who attend the schools for additional needs as these aren't in the village. However it has always been the primary schools pick.
I am on the Gala Committee and this year there is a push to change the allocation method, basically to some sort of system where any Primary 7 aged child who lives in the village or surrounding farms/one hamlet where all the kids also go to the local school, would be able to enter. The top ideas right now are some sort of essay writing competition or a competition where kids submit "evidence of excellence" be it a video of a dance they have learnt, art they have done, sports awards etc. The essay seems to be the popular choice but some fear that it will mean just the smartest kids get the chance to be part of it. It's said that either the committee would pick or we could get some locals to pick (so a panel of maybe the head teacher, the minister at the local church etc). The idea for the essay writing competition is they would write an essay on the history of the village or something similar.

However the issue is, this same year one of the most vocal members of the Gala Committee has a grandchild who is in Primary 7, but at a private school, so wouldn't be eligible under the historical system as despite living in the village, doesn't attend the local school. About half of the committee are against any changes as it is set in tradition and they feel the change is purely to benefit this members grandchild and future grandchildren. They also feel that it is unfair to ask the children of the local state school, many from lower income backgrounds to compete against private school kids on either the essay front or the hobby front. Others feel it is a necessary change as the days of all the kids going to the local school are over, and lots of the kids at the local school aren't from the village now.

It is creating quite the divide and a lot of upset so I'm looking to see what others think as we seem to be in a deadlock.

So
YABU - The traditional method should stay
YANBU - Time to update so all the kids in the village can be involved

(I know this seems trivial but it is the source of many a head ache for me right now and it is the height of village drama for our sleepy little place).

OP posts:
gavisconismyfriend · 11/02/2025 23:15

We have a huge gala court - king and queen, ladies in waiting, pages, flower girls. Main roles are P7, other roles to P5 & 6 I think. Names in a hat, draw done on Facebook live by organising committee. Think most parents secretly relieved if their child’s not chosen as there’s an automatic expectation that if your child is a member of the court that you’ll go big on decorating your house, but that’s balanced by everyone loving the honour of their child being part of the court if their name comes out the hat. Names of those wanting to be in the draw go to the gala committee so any child could be involved regardless of school, although not sure if there are any that live in the village and don’t go to the local school. Everyone seems to accept it is a lottery and everyone joins in the day regardless.

EmberAsh · 11/02/2025 23:14

Just keep the system as it is. The village school and the village gala have a longstanding history together. Preserve this tradition. If you want to do something for children at other schools to participate, look at creating new tradition that includes them.

Original poster
Bronniel · 11/02/2025 23:14

So there are 5 roles. It would be impossible to say school gets to pick 3 of these, SEN school 1, private school 1. As some years no kids in the village go to the SEN School or the Private School, plus the catholic schools and kids at random other schools.

I don't think we can logistically involve other schools, it's too unpredictable as to which schools have village kids each year.

This year we know for sure there is one child at private school and one at the catholic school, but this is only as members of the committee know these children.

OP posts:
MsVi · 11/02/2025 23:13

It’s a shame that kids who come from disadvantaged homes are being excluded because their parents don’t participate or contribute. The whole process sounds like one of favouritism towards any child or relation of the committee. The OP doesn’t seem to want to take on board any suggestions. God forbid that a child gets chosen who doesn’t fit her perfect little profile.

feelingalittlehorse · 11/02/2025 23:13

So we have the same in our village (not Scotland).
Basically, they have a selection night for the main roles which are similar to yours (but also including a few other ‘Character’ roles that are in the parade each year.
So, for example, the Gala Queen has to be a girl, living in the village who is 12 years old at the time of the event. So all girls who wish to put forward for the role go to the selection evening, introduce themselves and then a couple of lines to the panel about why they want to be that role. The panel then choose.

That’s how we’ve done it here for years, with no complaints so far. Obviously that does take an evening of people’s time but it’s a generally enjoyable evening.

mitogoshigg · 11/02/2025 23:12

Ideally kids should be nominated because they have done something particularly special, overcome adversity, raised a lot of money for charity or some other feat, not just good at essay writing which favours the brightest or those with parents willing to cheat!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 11/02/2025 23:10

TickingAlongNicely · 11/02/2025 22:31

I would counter with suggesting any child who wants to take part of the right age group is entered into a draw (separate girls and boys if necessary) and it is simply names out of a hat.
Definitely not an essay competition.

This really

Anotherparkingthread · 11/02/2025 23:09

Is there a fixed number of places? If it's 30 as an example, why not allocate say 20 to the school who have always been allowed to choose based on merit/behaviour and then make 10 places available for others, maybe with an unspoken rule that say 5 are from the private school and 5 are from the Sen school etc?

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 11/02/2025 23:07

It’s a tradition, so do it traditionally.The people who want a different festival can organise one, that will be nice, then you can have two Galas ( or seven, or however many the non traditionalists want to organise )

🧑‍🎤

FoxtonFoxton · 11/02/2025 23:07

At this stage I'd just set them up in a Hunger Games style arena and let them battle it out rather than deal with all the commitee drama (and the absolute hell of reading loads of kids essays). I live in a similar sounding Cotswolds village so I do get it and you have my sympathies. You must have the patience of a saint.
Honestly, I don't know what I'd do. Quit probably.

MasterBeth · 11/02/2025 23:07

Frankly, the whole thing sounds barmy.

You're trying to create a semblance of a meritocracy when all of the evidence suggests a meritocracy is impossible to achieve.

An essay-writing contest is a great way to judge who's the best (or whose parents are best) at writing essays. It's not a great way to find a Queen.

Of course, the only reasonable way to find a Queen is through a blood line.

And what about the boys?

Original poster
Bronniel · 11/02/2025 23:02

crockofshite · 11/02/2025 23:02

Just put names in the hat of the 'good' kids who deserve the chance of a reward.

Show quote history

Who would decide who the good kids are?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bronniel · 11/02/2025 23:02

notwavingbutsinking · 11/02/2025 22:56

I was also going to suggest something along these lines, if the names in the hat is a non starter. It's not perfect - performing a visible acts of merit, and having someone to nominate you for it, is still going to be easier to achieve for some children than others - but it's a lot closer to being inclusive than an essay writing competition, which is a truly terrible idea.

Show quote history

It's interesting everyone is so against the essay idea. One of the villages near us use this (but only open to kids in the primary school in that village) and they seem content with it, though I do see the flaws.
One of the committee members is a teacher at the local school and thinks it could be a project the whole class do, so a teaching opportunity as it happens. Then other kids could also submit.

Honestly I think it's a whole lot more stress than I care to deal with but the Gala Day is in June so we would like to get the allocation method sorted ASAP.

OP posts:
crockofshite · 11/02/2025 23:02

Bronniel · 11/02/2025 22:34

I really don't think this would be a popular choice, everyone agrees that it should be a reward of some sort, I'm not against it being a random draw but the committee is made mainly of older women In the village who definitely wouldn't like it at all.

Show quote history

Just put names in the hat of the 'good' kids who deserve the chance of a reward.

Original poster
Bronniel · 11/02/2025 22:58

Winterymix · 11/02/2025 22:52

Cross posted sorry!

No worries, it is just oddly complicate to find a way that lets as many kids as possible have a chance, while appeasing the committee (Who ultimately give up time, money and energy to make the day happen so pissing them off would just mean the day doesn't happen at all!)
It has come up in the past but now one member has 4 grandkids living in the village but at school outside it seems like saying "yeah that is annoying but this is the simplest and least controversial way" isn't going to work!

OP posts:
notwavingbutsinking · 11/02/2025 22:56

Mmmkaay · 11/02/2025 22:38

Well it also definitely shouldn't be based on essay writing or anything that allows children with access to a more privileged educational experience to win based on that! What about a nomination system where anyone in the village can nominate a child based on merit - be that caring, fundraising, acts of kindness , anything else they can think of?

Show quote history

I was also going to suggest something along these lines, if the names in the hat is a non starter. It's not perfect - performing a visible acts of merit, and having someone to nominate you for it, is still going to be easier to achieve for some children than others - but it's a lot closer to being inclusive than an essay writing competition, which is a truly terrible idea.

Winterymix · 11/02/2025 22:52

Cross posted sorry!

Winterymix · 11/02/2025 22:52

This isn't agreeing either way about who's included, but if it was opened up to another school surely the same system could be used - so the head or class teacher nominates an agreed number of kids based on behaviour/biggest improvement in a subject area? Agree that the proposed 'tests' don't feel at all inclusive.

Original poster
Bronniel · 11/02/2025 22:51

discdiscsnap · 11/02/2025 22:48

Each school that wants to participate puts forward 3 or 5 names and they draw out of a hat. All children selected must live in the village.

This would be a logistical nightmare, it is random as to what schools will have kids from the village each year and often it will be only one.
In Scotland the vast majority of kids go to their catchment school, there will be some in the village who moved during primary who keep attending their old school (could be one of say 15 schools within a 20/25 minute drive), some who go to one of two catholic schools in either direction, some who go to one of several private schools. There would be mo way of ensuring every school who had a child from the village would be told about it for sure and each year it would be different schools needing contacted.

OP posts:
discdiscsnap · 11/02/2025 22:48

Each school that wants to participate puts forward 3 or 5 names and they draw out of a hat. All children selected must live in the village.

Original poster
Bronniel · 11/02/2025 22:47

YouDeserveBetterSoAskForIt · 11/02/2025 22:45

I think it should be based on being of use to the village.

Volunteer hours signed off by approved people in the village.

Local businesses like retirement homes and animal shelters could sign up.
I'm aware there could be some logistical issues, but I think it could really work.

You would need to cater to various abilities, e.g weeding gardens or reading to people.

There could also be volunteer days at the primary school which all kids could attend from other schools. Maybe hold two or three weekends a year, and then the person is picked based on those.

The local pub already does a lot of volunteering things so we could link in with them I guess.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bronniel · 11/02/2025 22:45

Keroppi · 11/02/2025 22:43

well if random names doesn't work with the committee members

Perhaps stick with the essay on the villages history/story of the village but the essay can be spoken word poetry, video, visual art, photo collage, dance, stand up routine, a piece of drama etc just make it really ope

Could open votes to public or random from the committee

could you have more than 1 village may queen or whatever? or discuss other prizes/roles

There are 5 roles already, 3 for girls and 2 for boys. Each year at the primary school has 25-30 kids then add on maybe 5 more each year who go to other schools. So more than that just seems excessive.

OP posts:
YouDeserveBetterSoAskForIt · 11/02/2025 22:45

I think it should be based on being of use to the village.

Volunteer hours signed off by approved people in the village.

Local businesses like retirement homes and animal shelters could sign up.
I'm aware there could be some logistical issues, but I think it could really work.

You would need to cater to various abilities, e.g weeding gardens or reading to people.

There could also be volunteer days at the primary school which all kids could attend from other schools. Maybe hold two or three weekends a year, and then the person is picked based on those.

Keroppi · 11/02/2025 22:43

well if random names doesn't work with the committee members

Perhaps stick with the essay on the villages history/story of the village but the essay can be spoken word poetry, video, visual art, photo collage, dance, stand up routine, a piece of drama etc just make it really ope

Could open votes to public or random from the committee

could you have more than 1 village may queen or whatever? or discuss other prizes/roles

Original poster
Bronniel · 11/02/2025 22:43

FoxtonFoxton · 11/02/2025 22:39

Just do the kids who "qualify" into a hat then. Headteacher picks them, roles are announced and drawn.

If the head teacher picks them it still excludes any child who doesn't go to the local school though, therefore we may as well continue with the current system.

OP posts: