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Original poster

School next door playing loud music twice a day that echoes throughout the neighbourhood

60 replies

hhy678 · 02/02/2022 14:35

I am having a nightmare with the school that I live above as every weekday, twice a day they play very loud pumping music that echoes out throughout the neighbourhood so the kids can dance at their breaktimes. I work from home and also am studying part time (I have been having to do exams from home during the many lockdowns) and the noise is so loud that I cannot concentrate, make work phone calls or do anything productive during those periods.

The school is refusing to show any consideration, saying that they are a "red" school and therefore need to find a way to help their children keep active - what ever happened to just running around and playing? I am not sure what rule allows a school to show no consideration for its neighbours but yet would crack down on me and my neighbours (plus local businesses, I imagine) if we were to subject the neighbourhood to similar loud noise.

Does anyone have any advice on this, it is proving to be an absolute nightmare and I am surprised that a school is allowed to do this?

OP posts:
Meowwwwwww · 02/02/2022 15:26

How long does it go on for each time?

Original poster
hhy678 · 02/02/2022 15:27

Meowwwwwww: an hour each time

OP posts:
Marmelace · 02/02/2022 15:29

You could go have a word. Sorry if I've missed you saying you already have, just woke up and brains still loading up. It's not a school for Autistic children by any chance. Part of my sons routine at his school is to run around and dance to music twice a day to get rid of excess energy.

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General education
Girliefriendlikespuppies · 02/02/2022 15:32

@hhy678

Meowwwwwww: an hour each time
Two hours a day of blaring music is not okay.
Original poster
hhy678 · 02/02/2022 15:32

Marmelace: I have done, but they feel they are in the right. No, it is not a school for autistic children

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 02/02/2022 15:32

Invest in noise reducing headphones to.plug in whole you are working.

Unless the noise exceeds certain decibels noone is going to be interested in day time noise.

MayThePawsBeWithYou · 02/02/2022 15:33

Is it safe for children to listen to loud music for an hour. I would get in touch with the council noise abatement team and record it, what are the db it's reaching outside.

Original poster
hhy678 · 02/02/2022 15:34

RancidOldHag: I agree, this is not normal school noise and not acceptable

OP posts:
Original poster
hhy678 · 02/02/2022 15:34

SeasonFinale: it is very loud, blasts throughout the neighbourhood

OP posts:
Original poster
hhy678 · 02/02/2022 15:35

@MayThePawsBeWithYou

Is it safe for children to listen to loud music for an hour. I would get in touch with the council noise abatement team and record it, what are the db it's reaching outside.
MayThePawsBeWithYou: not sure how to measure that
OP posts:
Marmelace · 02/02/2022 15:35

@hhy678

Marmelace: I have done, but they feel they are in the right. No, it is not a school for autistic children
Such a shame they cannot find away to at least compromise a little.
Pinkflask · 02/02/2022 15:37

I have known and worked in many schools and none of them would ever do this - I know that there is sometimes music in the yard at my DC's schools (especially as they sometimes have assemblies outside due to Covid) but I can't imagine it would ever be any louder than general playground noise. Sure it's great to get them active but it doesn't need to be blasting out - not every child wants to spend every breaktime being deafened by music! A pub, cafe or gym wouldn't be allowed to do this so why a school?

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 02/02/2022 15:37

You can get a decibel measuring app for your phone.

RedToothBrush · 02/02/2022 15:37

Is this like the people who moved into a flat above the Night and Day cafe in Manchester and then complained they had a bit of noise?

Its a school. It will make noise.

Goddam make the children whisper and ban all music for corrupting their minds.

Original poster
hhy678 · 02/02/2022 15:37

Marmelace: That's what I was hoping

OP posts:
RagzRebooted · 02/02/2022 15:38

You can get a mobile phone app that measures decibels. Not sure how accurate it is but worth a try?

YANBU though, this is well above normal expected school noise.

Original poster
hhy678 · 02/02/2022 15:38

@Pinkflask

I have known and worked in many schools and none of them would ever do this - I know that there is sometimes music in the yard at my DC's schools (especially as they sometimes have assemblies outside due to Covid) but I can't imagine it would ever be any louder than general playground noise. Sure it's great to get them active but it doesn't need to be blasting out - not every child wants to spend every breaktime being deafened by music! A pub, cafe or gym wouldn't be allowed to do this so why a school?
That's what I think, other businesses would be expected to be more considerate, as would neighbours etc
OP posts:
Original poster
hhy678 · 02/02/2022 15:41

@RedToothBrush

Is this like the people who moved into a flat above the Night and Day cafe in Manchester and then complained they had a bit of noise?

Its a school. It will make noise.

Goddam make the children whisper and ban all music for corrupting their minds.

School noise != loud music
OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 02/02/2022 15:46

find out when sats week is and get the neighbours to play loud music during that time;

Ebbie81 · 02/02/2022 15:50

Hi There, i'm an independent noise consultant. There will be a formal procedure you need to follow with your local council, the first thing on the list will be to speak to your neighbours to try and reach a resolution, which you have done with no luck. Next you will need to make a log of all incidents, times/ dates of disturbance and the time and date which you spoke to them etc. There may be a form on the council website which you will need to fill in to log your initial complaint, if not I would drop the noise team an email. There should also be some letter templates on the local authority website, which you can download and send to the neighbours, from memory I think there are three, the first one being friendly but firm and you have to give them a chance to respond. If they are continuing after the third letter then you can present your evidence to the council and they will be able to do something about it. Some local authorities will make a preliminary visit to chat to them about the situation once they receive contact from you. it's a slow laborious process but it's important that you log as much evidence as you can. Just to add, they won't take any notice of downloaded decibel meters as they are uncalibrated and the measurements would not be taken in controlled conditions by a competent person (no offence, just the terminology they use) Good luck!

Original poster
hhy678 · 02/02/2022 15:52

Ebbie81: Thanks, I appreciate the help and advice, and will start the process

OP posts:
MedusasBadHairDay · 02/02/2022 15:53

My kids old school did something similar, got all the kids in the school out in the playground, put some music on and got them all to dance/exercise. It was really good for them, especially the last couple of years because it meant they were getting fresh air and exercise after lockdown, where quite a lot of the kids had been cooped up in flats.

I lived a few doors away from the school and when I was working from home I could hear it, imagine it was a lot louder for the houses closest.

I can understand why you'd find it annoying, but can also understand why they don't want to stop it. Assume the volume is so all the kids can spread out and still hear it.

SamphiretheStickerist · 02/02/2022 15:56

I was just about to post a longish answer. But

What Ebbie said

WonderfulYou · 02/02/2022 15:58

TBH I can’t see how this is any different to a neighbour playing music in their garden during the day.

As long as it’s during the daytime then there’s not much you can do apart from get headphones/ear defenders so you can get on with your work undisturbed.

AllKnowingGerbil · 02/02/2022 16:00

That's not good, especially not for 2 hours a day! Are your other neighbours not all over Facebook and Nextdoor complaining about it?

Sounds like you've had some good advice here about escalating the complaint