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Original poster

If your primary school (UK) went into lockdown

86 replies

RainyWeekend · 10/07/2023 11:56

Would you do as the school suggest and go to a local named venue for information or would you go straight to the school?

An incident has happened locally and parents were urged not to go to the school. Local schools have gone into lockdown.

But seriously? I really don't think I'd be able to stop myself. Yes yes, I know it it not the right thing to do but how would you be able to keep away?

I feel sick just thinking about it.

OP posts:
FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 10/07/2023 12:17

I live on the street where DD goes to primary so I'd be right here probably within any lockdown zone, but yes I can understand your view it would be a battle of instinct between wanting to be where she is and wanting any information they may have at the authorised location.

MelonsOnSaleAgain · 10/07/2023 12:18

My intellectual self says I’d do what I was told. My heart says I would be as physically close to my children as it’s humanly possible to get

12RedRoses · 10/07/2023 12:19

I saw the police post saying not to go to the school to allow emergency service access but I can’t imagine not doing everything I could to be as near as possible. But hopefully I would park somewhere not blocking access or be on foot anyway

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Tinkietot · 10/07/2023 12:20

I would be running to the school as that’s what my heart would want. Logically I would want to follow rules but that doesn’t work when it comes to children.

CalistoNoSolo · 10/07/2023 12:20

If all the parents acted on instinct there would be utter chaos outside the school and gridlocked streets, and potentiallyput more lives at risk. Of course you stay away until told its safe to collect your child.

OhmygodDont · 10/07/2023 12:21

I can see my kids school from my house pretty much. I’d be there, it goes against every parental instinct to stay away I’d say.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 10/07/2023 12:23

Having worked in a school where an ambulance couldn’t get close because of parents parking ridiculously badly in a panic I really hope (and think) I’d go to the meeting point.

I hope that somewhere the instinct would kick in that that was the best way to protect my child/ren.

I don’t think we actually truly know what we’d do until in the situation though.

Heckythump1 · 10/07/2023 12:25

They've just shown the school on Sky News, there was a group of about 100 or so parents stood on the pavement, just gawping at the school gates... what flipping help is that?!

Nomorenonbinary · 10/07/2023 12:26

The community centre is across the road from the school anyway so I guess we would go there. Otherwise I'd find it really hard not to be physically near the school.

LacieLane · 10/07/2023 12:26

And staying away, is to help emergency services and keep you, as well as everyone else safe.

In the early stages of this, emergency services will react as if the offender is at large, unknown or maybe working with others. In this case it won't necessarily be determined if the crowd at the school risk also being stabbed.

Yours, however is an emotional response, of course. Emergency services and school leaders are acting though the planned risk assessments and procedures which are planned without the emotion or panic of a live incident.

FourChimneys · 10/07/2023 12:27

Whatever your instinct, the entrances to the school would need to be kept clear for emergency vehicles. Panicking parents could so easily make things worse.

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 10/07/2023 12:31

Knowing the road access to my dd school I hope I'd have the sense to go to the meeting point, god knows where that would be though. Not sure we have anywhere local that is suitable

littleducks · 10/07/2023 12:32

Not long ago I would have been very much follow the rules and assist those trying to work.

But since the awful incident at Grenfell towers I am not sure I have that faith in the systems anymore. I listened to those phone calls and thought I would have been very much one following official advice whereas a friend who grew up in Ukraine (before it was independent) was saying she would have immediately let and ignored the advice . Then with some if the organisation in the pandemic....I have started to become much more sceptical of those in powers making the right choices.

Worldgonecrazy · 10/07/2023 12:35

If it was my child, logic would be out of the window and I would want to be there ready to hug them as soon as the lockdown was lifted. How terrifying for the children, they are going to want their parents very badly. The police would do better having a plan in place such as ‘concerned parents should gather at xxxx’, and name somewhere close enough to allow parents access as early as possible to their children. Definitive directions would calm parents, and allow emergency access. Is it that hard to build likely and understandable human reactions into any emergency plan?

RoseBucket · 10/07/2023 12:37

littleducks · 10/07/2023 12:32

Not long ago I would have been very much follow the rules and assist those trying to work.

But since the awful incident at Grenfell towers I am not sure I have that faith in the systems anymore. I listened to those phone calls and thought I would have been very much one following official advice whereas a friend who grew up in Ukraine (before it was independent) was saying she would have immediately let and ignored the advice . Then with some if the organisation in the pandemic....I have started to become much more sceptical of those in powers making the right choices.

Many of those who died in 9/11 followed orders to stay in the towers, the reasoning was to protect from failing debris. But the collapse was unexpected.

It’s a very difficult decision but in a burning building I agree I would have left.

In the school situation it’s probably ‘easier’ to contain the danger and parents will probably just be redirected, it’s so difficult when emotions and instinct override isn’t it.

RoseBucket · 10/07/2023 12:38

Worldgonecrazy · 10/07/2023 12:35

If it was my child, logic would be out of the window and I would want to be there ready to hug them as soon as the lockdown was lifted. How terrifying for the children, they are going to want their parents very badly. The police would do better having a plan in place such as ‘concerned parents should gather at xxxx’, and name somewhere close enough to allow parents access as early as possible to their children. Definitive directions would calm parents, and allow emergency access. Is it that hard to build likely and understandable human reactions into any emergency plan?

They have.

RaininSummer · 10/07/2023 12:40

Surely if you went to the school you wouldn't find anything out if it was locked down. A point of contact makes much more sense initially at least.

dontbejealousofmyartisticflair · 10/07/2023 12:42

When you see the chaos at normal drop off and pick up time on any given day, I hope the police would manage to close every surrounding road. Parents rushing driving and parking like twat will be a disaster, nothing would have a chance to go through

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 10/07/2023 12:46

Worldgonecrazy · 10/07/2023 12:35

If it was my child, logic would be out of the window and I would want to be there ready to hug them as soon as the lockdown was lifted. How terrifying for the children, they are going to want their parents very badly. The police would do better having a plan in place such as ‘concerned parents should gather at xxxx’, and name somewhere close enough to allow parents access as early as possible to their children. Definitive directions would calm parents, and allow emergency access. Is it that hard to build likely and understandable human reactions into any emergency plan?

They have that exact plan.

The number of people still gathering at the school is behind the question.

littleducks · 10/07/2023 12:53

I suppose I would want to be in the crowd so if my child walked out I would be there immediately. Even if I couldn't collect them I would want then to know I was right there. I wouldn't want to be in the garden centre (will done them for stepping up to be a contact point) and watching my child walk out/onto a bus or whatever on my phone as the media would be at the gates (Sandy Hook footage comes to mind).

I can see why it's frustrating to see the big crowds but those parents must be horrified.

littleducks · 10/07/2023 12:57

I've just seen online info, the incident happened at secondary school (I would find it hard not to want to stand at the gates) but local primary is also on lockdown.. In similar scenario I would stay away from primary as I would imagine that school want to keep everything as normal as possible for children.

PuttingDownRoots · 10/07/2023 13:00

We had practice Lock downs when my kids were at an MOD school when we lived abroad. It goes against your instinct, but staying away let the teachers do their job

Ostryga · 10/07/2023 13:02

I’d like to think I would be sensible and follow the instructions, but I know if it was Dd that would be out the window and I’d want to get her as soon as humanely possible.

Namechangedagain3 · 10/07/2023 13:10

I’m local to this school. My child was a pupil and I have several relatives kids there. The school is on a very busy main road with limited parking at the best of times. It was chaos there this morning. There was no way parents would be allowed access with the incident ongoing and all that happened is that access for the emergency services was made worse. Thoughts are with all involved

ErrolTheDragon · 10/07/2023 13:13

Now maybe just try to think for a moment - what your child was injured and the emergency services couldn't get to them because of parents thinking the instructions didn't apply to them?

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