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Original poster

Serious school meeting to be held about year 6

231 replies

Liglig · 09/02/2023 11:41

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.

OP posts:
BrutusMcDogface · 09/02/2023 12:39

This does sound scary. It could be something to do with social media etc as it’s only year 6 parents being informed. Surely if there was a death or something like that, it would be the whole school?

LolaSmiles · 09/02/2023 12:39

I would imagine it's something safeguarding related that parents need to be aware of before schools break up for half term.

It's the only thing that I can think of that would warrant a meeting over a well-written letter sent on the school comms system with the option for parents to attend a meeting at that time if they wish.

RingRingRingGoesTheTelephone · 09/02/2023 12:41

It's amusing that she expects all parents to attend a meeting with not only 24 hours notice and scheduled within the working day, but also not even a clue as to what it's about. Does she think people with jobs can just up and leave at the drop of a hat at her say so?

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CTRALTDEL · 09/02/2023 12:41

That's weird. I wouldn't bother going. A friend can fill you in??

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 09/02/2023 12:42
Hmm
Redbone · 09/02/2023 12:42

They can’t expect all parents to attend at such short notice, how ridiculous and unfair on working parents!

edwinbear · 09/02/2023 12:42

Do you think those that don't attend will find themselves in detention?😂

GrapesOfRoss · 09/02/2023 12:43

That's a dreadful message- maximum worry and drama, minimum info. I'd call them and ask what's going on.

Showersugar · 09/02/2023 12:43

Sounds like a complex safeguarding matter to me

Mirabai · 09/02/2023 12:44

Just ring them.

Newuser82 · 09/02/2023 12:44

I would imagine it's some kind of online bullying thing but I agree that if it was that serious and effected your child they probably would have phoned you directly.

Wingingit11 · 09/02/2023 12:45

Agree it won’t relate to your particular child as you would be told. Entirely unreasonable to try to mandate attendance during a working day.

StillWantingADog · 09/02/2023 12:47

I bet it will be bullying related.

does your dc know if any child or teacher is currently absent from school?

is there a (parent) whatsapp group? Someone will know sometnjnt

”I expect all parents to attend” is ridiculous though. Surely that’s totally ridiculous if a parent is in the armed forces and currently on a training exercise. Surely one parent is ok and they should just say please try your best to attend.

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 09/02/2023 12:48

I love mad-with-power heads. Unless one of the children is a serial killer it's not that urgent. Inappropriate WhatsApp stuff etc. can be easily addressed through a letter and then a Q&A (if needed) could be set up afterwards at a convenient time with more notice.

Notjusta · 09/02/2023 12:50

If it were me and I was working and unable to attend instead of being outraged and offended etc, I would a) assume it must be quite serious unless school have form for being dramatic (unlikely in my experience of a range of schools) b) email back and say "Sounds like something very serious is happening, otherwise I can't imagine you'd have set up a meeting like this with short notice in working hours. I am unable to attend in person, can I join virtually (via Teams/Zoom)? If not, can I assume you'll be sending a letter to everyone at 3:30 containing the same info as shared in the meeting?"

I agree with PP it's likely to be a safeguarding issue of some kind - probably to do with social media/whatsapp etc.

UnbeatenMum · 09/02/2023 12:50

Your child may know if it's something that happened between students online or an incident in school. We had a very vague e-mail about why a senior member of staff had resigned from my DD's school but the children knew exactly what had happened.

ColadhSamh · 09/02/2023 12:50

If you don't want or are unable to go to the meeting then don't go. I would interpret the request for all to attend is to emphasise the seriousness of whatever they intend to tell all parents.
There can be no comeback on the school if indeed it is something that turns out to be serious. They then have parents saying 'if only the school had said we should be there' Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

TeenDivided · 09/02/2023 12:51

Notjusta · 09/02/2023 12:50

If it were me and I was working and unable to attend instead of being outraged and offended etc, I would a) assume it must be quite serious unless school have form for being dramatic (unlikely in my experience of a range of schools) b) email back and say "Sounds like something very serious is happening, otherwise I can't imagine you'd have set up a meeting like this with short notice in working hours. I am unable to attend in person, can I join virtually (via Teams/Zoom)? If not, can I assume you'll be sending a letter to everyone at 3:30 containing the same info as shared in the meeting?"

I agree with PP it's likely to be a safeguarding issue of some kind - probably to do with social media/whatsapp etc.

Ah, but you are far too reasonable to be on AIBU, especially a thread about schools.

Ducksurprise · 09/02/2023 12:54

But what really is that important that it can

A. Wait 24 Hours
B. Affect all of y6 but parents are not yet aware.
C. Can't be put in an email.
D. Can be told to a group of people at once.

I would be livid if I cancelled my rounds to be told of inappropriate WA business. Even if there is a safeguarding issue, it wouldn't directly affect my child (because if it did I'd expect a 1 to1 not a meeting in a hall)

More likely they think it looks poorly on the school so don't want to put it in writing.

Bagpuss2022 · 09/02/2023 12:54

We had similar but y1 so no social media speculation it was the TA arrested for indecent images on his computer they stressed no children from the school had been involved could be something like that sadly he still lives in the village and was re arrested for similar a few years later.
ridiculous to summon all parents what if they are teachers doctors etc or just joe blogs in the local shop people can’t drop everything at a days notice

latetothefisting · 09/02/2023 12:54

Agree head sounds power mad.
Would they allow their staff to leave work early if they got a similar last minute message about their kids? Doubt it!

Surely wording along the lines of "I fully understand this is late notice but due to the severity of the incident please can parents make every effort to attend, including bringing younger siblings if you have no alternative provision/for those with younger siblibgs in the school we have made arrangements for them to be looked after by (x teacher/afterschool club etc.) if needed until meeting is finished"

Would have achieved the same sense of urgency but had head come off like less of a knob!

Hopefully they will send out another email after the meeting for those who can't make it -I understand why they didn't say they'd do that initially if they want people to attend as if they did people would likely make less of an effort.

HowcanIgetoutofthisalive · 09/02/2023 12:55

We had similar but for yr10. One of the children in the year had taken their own life. Just horrific.

MatildaJayne · 09/02/2023 12:56

Similar to a PP, one school I worked in had a Y6 teacher commit suicide after indecent photos were found!

Sleepless1096 · 09/02/2023 12:57

Not a reasonable expectation. Parents have other children to collect and look after and jobs to do. And it will not be possible or 'appropriate' for many of them to take a day off either - teachers, carers, social workers, bus and train drivers, nurses, surgeons etc. can't exactly walk out with limited notice for a meeting at their child's school. They also have regulatory/safeguarding responsibilities.

Ducksurprise · 09/02/2023 12:57

I'm sorry to hear that but I don't think that warrants a summons.

I would much rather deal with such terrible news from an email than in a hall.

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