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Original poster

Given detention for lateness on tube strike day

484 replies

Longingdreamer · 09/09/2025 15:18

My child was given a detention today, despite there being a tube strike in London, which has caused travel chaos. They early but were apparently still late: roads are almost at a standstill it seems.

They get very upset by detentions, due to underlying neuro diversity.

Aibu to think that the school shouldn't give these on a strike day for minor lateness?

They usually give them, even if a child is only 1 minute late, but it seems wicked when it is out of their control.

OP posts:
HowamIgoingtocope · 09/09/2025 19:37

TartanBarmy · 09/09/2025 15:20

It was public knowledge there were tube strikes. Your DC should have left earlier to be at school
on time. School is practice for work. Imagine if surgeons just rolled in late because of a tube strike. Punctuality is important.

School is definatly not practice for work. When in work can't you go to the loo ( yes I know the nhs and emergency services but that unique) . When do you have to ask to urinate and when do you need permission to drink.

Regardless of the lateness that statement is from someone who thinks the school system works. When it really doesn't.

AffableApple · 09/09/2025 19:28

Longingdreamer · 09/09/2025 15:26

They did leave extremely early. It would have been quicker to walk compared to take the bus, but they cannot walk long distances.

I think those who haven't been in central London the last few days do not appreciate the chaos. The roads are absolutely gridlocked.

Show quote history

Due to disability? If so should be appealed on grounds of reasonable adjustment.

Squiggles23 · 09/09/2025 19:21

I don’t understand why people are banging on about cycling with no knowledge of where OPs house is or where the school is?

Having cycled before in London I can assure you the cycle lanes are extremely sporadic and usually are shared with busses which constantly stop meaning you have to enter the main road. There are accidents all the time in London and I have seen many people be knocked off. It’s not a good option unless you are extremely confident. Bike theft is also horrendous.

usedtobeaylis · 09/09/2025 19:14

Also school and work are fuck all alike and it's not 'practice' at all. Stop telling kids this utter bullshit.

usedtobeaylis · 09/09/2025 19:13

I haven't RTFT but I hope 8 pages doesn't mean people think it's absolutely fine when everyone knows it's unfair.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 09/09/2025 19:12

TartanBarmy · 09/09/2025 15:20

It was public knowledge there were tube strikes. Your DC should have left earlier to be at school
on time. School is practice for work. Imagine if surgeons just rolled in late because of a tube strike. Punctuality is important.

Surgeons who arrive at work late due to a tube strike don't get put in detention.

Sidebeforeself · 09/09/2025 19:11

Just3ok · 09/09/2025 18:49

How did you know given the op kept the thread “gender neutral” until final post

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OP said it in an earlier comment

Saltandpepperlife · 09/09/2025 19:10

Definitely not fair with the strikes at the moment. It’s crazy out there.

Our school are very strict on lateness and they give detentions if anyone arrives after the bell even if it’s 10 seconds after. If it’s because of travel issues parents can email the school to let them know and then the child doesn’t have to sit the detention. I have had to do it a few times due to traffic issues.

Sidebeforeself · 09/09/2025 19:09

Just3ok · 09/09/2025 18:44

I wasn’t being pedantic
I was pointing out the op is questioning whether her child was late by using the word “apparently”
so maybe there is even doubt around whether he was in fact late

but I’m sure OP relieved to have you by her side

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Cheers

augseptoct · 09/09/2025 19:05

I failed to quote, but my post was in response to the PP saying a surgeon friend had stayed in London to make sure they weren't late

Just3ok · 09/09/2025 19:01

Longingdreamer · 09/09/2025 18:53

I think it is too rigid. This just leads to resentment from pupils (my daughter's friends have said the same). They do not consider fairness when applying their punishments.

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Ok so on a broader level you don’t regard the school positively

Stowickthevast · 09/09/2025 18:53

Agree the detention is unfair. London is chaos at the moment. My daughter had to wait for 4 buses before she got one she could get on this evening - she normally gets the tube. Even if you're factoring in extra time, you can still get scuppered by the amount of traffic.

Original poster
Longingdreamer · 09/09/2025 18:53

Just3ok · 09/09/2025 18:51

This issue aside, do you view the school and its approach etc positively?

I think it is too rigid. This just leads to resentment from pupils (my daughter's friends have said the same). They do not consider fairness when applying their punishments.

OP posts:
CeciliaDuckiePond · 09/09/2025 18:52

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 09/09/2025 17:07

Guess they just have a blankets”no exceptions “ rule.

otherwise this week it’s a tube strike, next week it was a car accident, the week after it was a lengthy traffic jam. There will be late kids every day and all of them will swear blind it was due to reasons out of their control.

But the tube strike has been on the national news - it's not some random excuse of dubious authenticity.

We've had lots of people disrupted by it at work and no one is in trouble for it.

I live about 300 miles from London and I'm well aware of the impact it's had.

Schools should make allowances. If someone is late every week with random excuses, that should be dealt with as a separate issue with that individual - as would happen in most reasonable workplaces.

MsMarple · 09/09/2025 18:52

They don’t have to be so inflexible about this - there is even an official government attendance code Y2 for ‘widespread transport disruption’ especially for things like strikes.

If he is being marked as ‘late’ and sanctioned, you might put it to them that their attendance data is seriously inaccurate!

Just3ok · 09/09/2025 18:51

This issue aside, do you view the school and its approach etc positively?

Original poster
Longingdreamer · 09/09/2025 18:51

girlwhowearsglasses · 09/09/2025 18:36

Have you made your views known to school. Is there a school parent liaison group?

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Not that I know of. I have written to them asking for discretion.

OP posts:
Original poster
Longingdreamer · 09/09/2025 18:50

Just3ok · 09/09/2025 18:49

Do you have any other children op? Did they get to school on time?

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Yes, but they are primary aged and their school is around the corner. They are always in on time.

OP posts:
Just3ok · 09/09/2025 18:49

Longingdreamer · 09/09/2025 18:47

I was trying to keep it gender neutral for anonymity but clearly failed. Anyway, this might explain more why I don't want her leaving before sunrise or taking an Uber on her own (not that it's even reasonably possible to get one during a strike)

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Do you have any other children op? Did they get to school on time?

Just3ok · 09/09/2025 18:49

Sidebeforeself · 09/09/2025 18:33

The child is female.

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How did you know given the op kept the thread “gender neutral” until final post

Original poster
Longingdreamer · 09/09/2025 18:47

Sidebeforeself · 09/09/2025 18:33

The child is female.

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I was trying to keep it gender neutral for anonymity but clearly failed. Anyway, this might explain more why I don't want her leaving before sunrise or taking an Uber on her own (not that it's even reasonably possible to get one during a strike)

OP posts:
SurferRona · 09/09/2025 18:46

Poor kid. London has been a frigging nightmare so far this week and won’t get better. If the school won’t exercise any discretion OP, I would go option 1 with DC but very frankly. Sometimes schools are populated with great caring and decent teachers. Sometimes they are populated with power crazy, idiotic, computer says no despots. And your DC will meet both types throughout his life. As any other institution, sometimes there are petty and pointless rules which matter hugely to some sad inadequate individuals and the best thing to do is shrug, recognise it’s their problem, their personality shortfalls, not his. Be beatific, smile and let it go. Deep down he knows it bollocks, and his mum knows it too.

JudgeJ · 09/09/2025 18:45

Sidebeforeself · 09/09/2025 17:58

I’m glad I live Up North!

Being in the North can have it's own problems! Teaching in Leeds in 1970 there was a bus strike due on Friday, my form were asking what they could do, many lived in the outer suburbs, and I said 'You can leg it, won't hurt you for once!'. There was a look of incredulity, 'Are you serious Miss, we can leg it?'. To cut a half hour discussion short we discovered that on the proper side of the Pennines where I was from, 'leg it' meant to walk, on the wrong side of the Pennines where we were it meant the truant! I quickly clarified what I meant.

Just3ok · 09/09/2025 18:44

Sidebeforeself · 09/09/2025 18:42

Well you were being pedantic about the use of the word “apparently” so I thought I’d point out your mistake

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I wasn’t being pedantic
I was pointing out the op is questioning whether her child was late by using the word “apparently”
so maybe there is even doubt around whether he was in fact late

but I’m sure OP relieved to have you by her side

Sidebeforeself · 09/09/2025 18:42

Just3ok · 09/09/2025 18:33

🤷‍♀️ makes no odds

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Well you were being pedantic about the use of the word “apparently” so I thought I’d point out your mistake

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