Serious school meeting to be held about year 6

[Liglig]

I have just received this message from the school head and it has made me very afraid if what could possibly of happened. Has anyone ever had a message like this from a school? What could it be? Many thanks.

Dear Parents, due to a serious incident I am holding an emergency meeting in the school hall for Year 6 Parents on Friday 10/2/23 at 3.30pm. I expect all parents to attend.

I guess they need to tell parents at the same time or jungle drums start beating and you get second hand and incorrect information. If you cant make it, you cant make it. But the more people that hear it first hand the less likely you will get an incorrect version and the more people can ask questions in a timely manner. If they rang patents individually it takes hours and the first people called stick 'omg the head just called and x,y,z' on a parents whatsapp group and people cant ask question and spread it to other whstsapp groups and the story gets taller with each telling. Then those with concerns call the school and cant get through.

My children are older now but when one was at primary school we had to attend one of these meetings, it turned out the teacher had been arrested for having indecent images on the computer and it was going to be in the papers. They wanted to let us know first and reassure us no child from school was involved.

I personally would attend the meeting if you can based on my experience.

I'd be asking your child if the class teacher was in today or a TA missing? A serious incident where all parents are needed could mean there's been an incident with a member of staff and they have suspended someone pending an enquiry.

A WhatsApp or online thing would need to be a really big thing for every parent to need to come in.

Is it the kind of HT who does like a big meeting though?

Yes agree it'll be something to do with WhatsApp/social media/pictures - let us know!

Seems a tad overdramatic. Even when we had a death in secondary there as no meeting, no 'all parents attend'.

I wonder what you're supposed to do with your children during this meeting. Will they all be taken off to the after school club or a separate room with a member of staff, if you have no after school care to call on?

Those of you saying your own child doesn't/didn't have a phone - that doesn't mean they haven't seen inappropiate images/bullying on another child's phone, sadly.

Well, I'd not be able to attend a meeting in the middle of the working day and wouldn't be going. The HT isn't in a position to demand such a thing. We very sadly did lose a child to strep A earlier this year, which is about as serious as it gets, we weren't summoned into school, we were informed via a well written e mail with details as to how to contact the school should we need to.

The fact that it's tomorrow not today indicates that there's no immediate danger to anyone, and the fact that it's all parents not you personally indicates that your child isn't overly implicated (either as a victim or perpetrator). If it's a serious incident involving particular children, I would expect the relevant parents to be called in immediately, not over a day later. So I'd say it's something relatively serious, and well worth attending if you can (to make sure you get the details first hand), but that nothing of serious concern has happened to your own child so try not to worry too much.

I just thought of this too - if children will be there (especially younger siblings) it can’t be that bad if you’re not already aware.

The school probably just really want to stress the importance of something (online bullying etc.)

Given that it's a whole year group, I expect they will either come in to the meeting with their parents, or they will be kept in class with a couple of members of staff who are not involved in the meeting (lower level SLT). And if the school's any good then they will have thought to make similar provision for younger siblings.

The head must know they aren't going to have all Year 6 parents attending, so it's a bit daft to say they expect it. It's also daft to send out a message like that and not expect the school gate and local social media to go mad with speculation.

I expect all parents to attend

I'dhave to sit on my hands for a good while before replying, as my knee jerk reaction wouldn't help things!!

'Expect all you like love'
'Fuck off'
'Just email or send a video recording'
'It's not 1970, you're not the only
one that works'
'Would you be willing/able to attend this meeting at another school at such short notice?'
'Due to docked pay, which child should I not feed in half term, or at all when I lose my job?'
'What? Both parents? Why are you implying one parent can't be trusted to pass the information on to the other parent?'
'My DH should fly back from xxx at your command?'
'no'
'be serious'

arghhhhhhhhhhh

that person seriously needs some training in communication.

FFS

I would attend if I could. I wouldn't
put my job in jeopardy, or an important medical appointment etc. There will be plenty of follow up & there are parents I can trust to pass the information on. I really can't think of anything that can wait until the following afternoon, but cannot have an email sent out about it.

an invitation to attend -great.
a summons DFO

I feel sorry for the teacher who has to try and teach them tomorrow. All they will want to talk about is the meeting, what it's about, who did what etc.

Sounds like the head is a bit dramatic.

That's what I would assume/hope too, but if the OP has pasted in the whole message from the HT, no mention is made of any such arrangements. That alone gives a pretext for parents to start ringing the school office.

OP, you'll have thought of this, but the tabloids are always looking for MN threads to fill space, and this would fit their bill very nicely.

It won’t help to speculate, but for them to want everyone in very quickly it will be very important.

Gosh, do year 6's have social media and WhatsApp?! Mine is in Y5 and absolutely does not have a phone or any social media and I don't know any of her friends who do.

I expect all parents to attend

Thats a really daft thing to send with no context.

How are people supposed ask for time off at short notice with that?

”Theres a meeting at the school tomorrow, can i leave early?”

”What’s it about?”

”A serious incident”

”Oh is your DC ok, were they involved?”

”No idea…”

Yes I am not sure whether the year 6 children will be present during this meeting. Hopefully the school have a suitable plan in place if they are not to be present. Especially for parents who have younger children to collect too! I will definitely update here again when I finally do find out what all the fuss is about, just hope it's nothing too serious. I feel more calm now, seeing that message out me in instant panic and worry at first. No doubt there will be lots of gossip going about at the school gates later today!

A well drafted email and the opportunity to come and discuss tomorrow at 3.30 would have stopped speculation.

I can just imagine what is going on in WA groups and fb pages just now.

It's short notice and at a ridiculous time unless fornsomething exceptionally serious. I'd have had to take a half day of a/l to attend a meeting at 3.30pm.

Also I think teachers, especially head teachers, should be excellent role models and this one sounds dictatorial when addressing significant adult stakeholders.

Perhaps the head didn't learn her spellings for "please" and "thank you" so avoids basic courtesies in her communications.

I'd drop an email with my apologies due to the lack of notice and politely request a written update after the meeting. I'd be tempted also to remind the school's slt that many parents work full-time and receive only statutory annual leave and bank holidays. Therefore using annual leave outside the school holidays needs to relate to ctlritical matters relating specifically to individual children.

I find it ridiculous that you are complaining they are expecting parents to attend. Realistically they don’t have time to call every single parent, there are other things that need to be done during the school day which will need to take priority.

Not one member of staff in the school will want to stay behind for this either but obviously they have decided it is important enough to do so. They aren’t scaremongering, they are telling you it is serious so that you see if you can get cover at work.

If your school is anything like ours there is no way you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out what the meeting is about. It will be all over the playground at pick up!

@Iyjd they could just as easily e mail, or if they really have to deliver in person, they could set up a Teams/Zoom call which whilst still difficult if you're at work, is far less disruptive than having to attend in person. It's just not realistic to expect an entire year of parents to be available at 3.30pm in the afternoon with 24hrs notice.

Oh come on pp we are told on a thrice daily basis that teachers work from 7.30am until 7.30pm every day and throughout their weekends and holidays. Staying for half an hour after 3.30 can't possibly be an issue.

I expect all parents to attend.

What a twat.