If you don’t live in the U.K., what unimportant thing does your school system obsess over?

[Flynnstone]

In the U.K. policing uniform takes up a disproportionate amount of time. What is the equivalent pointless thing where you’re from?

@IbnBattutu they are called "dampers" in English and I've always associated them with Australia for some reason. No idea if they are a thing in N. America but certainly in Scouts/Guides in the UK.

I don’t know if anyone’s mentioned it as there are a lot of replies but by UK I think OP means ‘England’.

It’s nothing like that in Scotland.

I have met many Danish parents complaing about playgroups sorted by the school.

It doesn’t happen in my home school education system, but I thought it was quite sweet when I encountered it when DS started school in England. His Reception teachers (job share) were lovely.

I stuck to the list religiously the 1st few years then I thought screw it they have 8 duo tangs of various colours, it's not exact but they can make it work. A 4 pack of dollar store glue sticks does the same as Elmer's. The I just winged it. Never had any complaints from school.

@AmethystDeceiver interesting you're happy with the Welsh schools than the English when they're way behind in many aspects

In fairness, (unlike some things like the way uni fees operate which are law so you can research it) you wouldn't automatically know which petty school rules were the same across the UK or just local to England or local to one area.in England. Unless you had experienced the school system in Scotland or England or had a previous discussion concerning the difference.
I was amazed when I found out that "barley" isn't an English word for stopping a game just a North West one.

My son’s secondary school (Ireland) is obsessed with uniform and shoes. We’ve just gotten a reminder last week that shoes should be black leather or leather-like and uniform listed again in case we forgot 🤣

That’s the norm in England these days too. Although I don’t think they specifically want to see the bedroom but it’s good to meet the kids where they are relaxed at home

I love this!
I try to get my kids involved in cooking and always give them a small knife to practice chopping up carrots, cucumbers, garlic and other food items. My youngest is now 5 and is really good with handling her knife and cutting (supervised). We have tried fire yet, maybe when she starts brownies 😂

Loads of parents really hated the school visit and lots of teachers question the point of it

That’s kind of my point. OP is talking about one country as if it is representing the whole of the UK, it isn’t. Far too many posters using UK to mean England.

(I mean, the visit to Home by school)

People always bang on about this knives and fires thing, but I would say this is something for parents to teach

I can't see how that can be the case as the different Laender have different school holidays. Although I suppose if it's not holidays in Bavaria and you are flying out of Munich they might say something.

We had a stationery list at my school in the UK! It was quite long but not as specific as the French one. And it was only at the very start, so what is now Y7.

It feels very controlling and a school should be able to use the hours better.

I think the class rules is perhaps quite practical and helps eg with not allowing kids to watch 18 rated films or games too early.

But the playdate thing is just mind-blowing. You have to have six kids around at the same time? And entertain them, they don't entertain themselves? It's not so bad if you have a big garden and it's good weather but otherwise it must be a right pain. Does it happen that some people are seen as undesirable so somehow the playdate at their house never happens or people find a reason not to go - kids have the dentists or something?

I remember seeing this in A Year of Living Danishly and thought that must be some kids' worst nightmare if they don't get on with their classmates if they are stuck with them from 3-18 or whatever.

Fortunately didn't happen when my son was starting school but I always think it's a way of the teachers having a good old snoop to see which naice middle class families have books around.

I wonder how many are actually native Welsh these days given how much people move around. It's a nice idea to connect all the immigrants (who could easily be from other parts of the UK by the way) to the original language of where they live. But random phrases seems a bit pointless, I would find more constructive ways of using it. Presumably all the signs and letters home etc are bilingual so that's a start.

What?! The school involve themselves in your children’s play dates?!

I bought a Schultuete for my son when he started school. I think it's a lovely custom.

Glad he was able to have a cheap bookbag though ;)

Yes, it’s been over 100 years and we need to stop harping back to 1922 and ditch Irish as a compulsory subject. It’s so last century!

Let’s focus on offering subjects and languages that are actually going to be useful to students who are leaving school in the 21st century.

True. It's a lovely day for the child. Also the child will be 6/7 so will remember.

Sorry, hadn’t read on. The Danish stuff is fascinating, thank you!