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Original poster

Boarding schools - planning for Brexit?

158 replies

Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 13:14

My DD is at a UK boarding school. We are also in the UK, but hundreds of miles away.

We now have only 50 days to a likely no deal Brexit.
I've asked the Head what contingency plans are in place for the effects of a no deal. This is in the current context of expected serious food, medication and fuel shortages, the possibility of contaminated tap water, no facilities for disposing of waste, civil unrest and an increase in crime (eg looting / burglaries).
He has told me that the school has not made any plans in respect of Brexit. And that other schools haven't either (the school is in some kind of independent schools association). Apparently it is too early to be making any contingency plans. The school has not written to any parents (whether UK or international) in relation to Brexit. I imagine that some international parents will have little or no idea of what is going on in the UK.
Can I ask whether anyone else has a child at boarding school and is worried about what will happen, both in respect of the Easter holiday (shortly after Brexit), and in respect of the summer term? Have your schools made any preparations or even just plans to do so?

OP posts:
Seniorschoolmum · 08/02/2019 20:22

I think that most schools have a secure place in their local communities. They know their local suppliers, Even if there are problems getting certain foods with a short shelf life, there’s plenty of local food, frozen food, dried food etc.
So I expect schools will maintain normal service while staying in contact with the ISA for guidance, if needed.

I’d expect them to look closely at any international travel plans for their pupils during April and be prepared for delays but that’s all.

errorofjudgement · 08/02/2019 20:22

I’m sure all boarding schools (& day schools) have all sorts of contingency plans that can modified and put into action if needed. I don’t need to know what those plans are unless they need to be actioned - at which point I’m confident they’ll share them.

Dapplegrey · 08/02/2019 20:22

What do you think the school should be doing, op?

Boardercontroller · 08/02/2019 20:20

Well it’s good to compare I guess. Because you know, the reality is you’re paying a fuckload for boarding school so you want to know if your boarding school is running properly. Or if they’re taking your money and taking the piss....

Arkos · 08/02/2019 20:16

I don't understand whether it matters if my child's school is preparing or not. That's the question you keep repeating for no reason. Surely it should only matter to you if your school is🤔

TheWomanin12B · 08/02/2019 20:16

I would imagine a journey from an outlying island could take that long?

Boardercontroller · 08/02/2019 20:14

Hello hello...
I’m deffo not a brexit shit stirrer, but I think the op has a good question

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/02/2019 20:13

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 20:11

I'd be worried about an 18 year old at university too. But less so than about a child in the care of people who are ignoring Brexit.

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/02/2019 20:11

No you’re not. You’re talking bollocks.

Windyone · 08/02/2019 20:10

@ThroughThickandThin01 I think you are spot on!

Original poster
Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 20:10

I'm not a shit stirrer (nicely put). I'm a worried parent who has approached the school and been told they have no plans in place. I'd like to know whether other schools are behaving the same way, or are dealing with the situation differently. If other schools are doing something, perhaps our school can learn from that?

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/02/2019 20:08

My uni ds is all meals included. Does that not count?

Original poster
Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 20:07

Unlike university students, school children don't feed themselves. The school is responsible for feeding them. And they are children, not adults.

OP posts:
Boardercontroller · 08/02/2019 20:07

Just for the record ...... I am not a brexit shit stirrer.
I totally get concerns of parents of boarders though.

Boardercontroller · 08/02/2019 20:05

You should get your daughter early and complain to the school about their lack of planning and organisation. It’s crappy.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/02/2019 20:05

You’re just a brexit shit stirrer op. You don’t want us to worry about your situation Just to generalise. Why?

Boardercontroller · 08/02/2019 20:04

The schools should absolutely have plans in place op. Imagine a kid returning to the Uk from Asia on a chaperone flight.... with a stop at say Amsterdam. Travel chaos in the Uk , connecting flights delayed, etc etc, kid stuck in airport for a week alone . Omg it’s nightmarish.

Original poster
Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 20:04

Well if they plan to close the school down, it would be nice if they could give a couple of days' notice? My issue is not what they plan to do or not do, it's that they are refusing even to think about it.
So people think I should get my daughter home early, disrupting her education, but don't think that the school should even give 1 minute's consideration to contingency planning?

OP posts:
Boardercontroller · 08/02/2019 20:01

But really all boarding schools should have extensive contingency plans in place , especially to protect their children from overseas in the case of emergency, or transport delays. Also to ensure their healthcare and overseas nsurance policies remain valid. That isn’t craziness it’s just totally sensible.

CoachBombay · 08/02/2019 20:01

Friends children are.military children and in boarding school, no their schools have not made any massive Brexit plans.

HTH

However side note: where on earth takes 2 days travel in the UK. I've done South Wales to Edinburgh in 8hours. Do you have a reliable but slow donkey?

uer587392 · 08/02/2019 19:59

I get you OP. I want to keep my family close if it looks like going tits up. I:m thinking of asking DS to come home from uni, but I bet he won't.

Original poster
Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 19:59

This is not about what I should be doing. It's about whether your schools (if your child is at a boarding school) are doing anything or not doing anything. It's a request for information. It was put in Talk, not in AIBU. You don't need to worry yourselves about whether I have a partner or not, whether I'm a fast driver or not, why my daughter is at that particular school. You can just answer the question or ignore it, as you prefer. Are your schools doing anything? Do you think that schools should be doing nothing, and should be giving no information on Brexit issues to parents, many of whom live abroad?

OP posts:
Boardercontroller · 08/02/2019 19:57

I’m not really commenting on the Op as such. Just that there’s such a weird attitude to boarding school on mumsnet!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/02/2019 19:57

My young adult dc are boarding across the uk at universities. Does that count 😀. Nah, not worried.