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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Slightly annoyed at head of private school...

95 replies

chilligarlic · 08/11/2011 21:30

...emailed request to 'take dd (4ys, reception) out of school for additional time before end of term (unexpexted trip to my family in oz) two days ago. No response, nor acknowledgment of email. We have reserved airline tickets and now have paid for them.

Private school, ffs should she not have a PA to deal with if too busy, failing that im being a moaning cow and my mail went into spam.

Even more pissed off as when dd started school her teacher was absent after a week leaving us to deal with 'where is my teacher' and no communication from school, she was absent for approx a week for personal reasons, no problem, but perhaps the school could have told parents, as opposed to girls going in every day not knowing if teacher would be there.

Grrrr....

OP posts:

OnlyWantsOne · 08/11/2011 21:31

MOSagain · 08/11/2011 21:34

?
And the fact that it is a private school is relevant because?

soandsosmummy · 08/11/2011 21:35

if you don't like it take your money and your daughter elsewhere (that's the beauty of the private system you can do just that). However as a rule private schools have longer holidays and are thus even stricter about whether you take children out during term time

mycherubs · 08/11/2011 21:35

how do you know she isnt having a major meltdown in any aspect of their own life - i guess we all think our issues are the most important thing in the world - as it is youve booked now already so what does it matter - glad you got it off your chest anyhow!

Yellowstone · 08/11/2011 21:37

Yes I would definitely move your DD to state; I always get a response within a day.

mnistooaddictive · 08/11/2011 21:37

Wow, just as well you choose private with that sense of entitlement.

worraliberty · 08/11/2011 21:38

Here's an idea

Why don't you pick up a telephone and speak to them?

hocuspontas · 08/11/2011 21:40

They are a bit lax if they accept holiday requests by email. Ours have to be signed by a parent or carer on a holiday request form.

SmethWitchBelle · 08/11/2011 21:42

I think you may be being unreasonable.

A two day wait on an email and a teacher absent for a week wouldn't be enough to get me complaining after one and a bit terms. Even if I was paying privately.

Teacher absent - presumably the children weren't milling about a room unsupervised for 6 hours - these things happen, teachers aren't robots - at this point everyone's new and it probably meant they got to know another member of staff teaching them - no major hassle.

2 day wait - well you're going to Oz regardless, there isn't a legal requirement for them to be at school until they're 5 - I'd have been drumming my fingers after a week perhaps - phone and chase? But two days isn't that much.

Is your daughter happy? At this stage that's the main Q I would say.

Avantia · 08/11/2011 21:42

Paying for it doesn't guarentee better service

Too late you have paid fro tickets - I would take a chill pill .

If they refuse and you take holiday - what can they do ?

Swedes2 · 08/11/2011 21:44

BIG mistake.

You either write seeking permission, and hang fire on the booking/payment of tickets until permission is forthcoming OR

You write in, informing them that you WILL be taking your children out of school early and have booked tickets.

Are you by any chance new to independent education? A Lottery winner perhaps?

Original poster

chilligarlic · 08/11/2011 21:54

mos - private not relevant, however, given possibly less 'stress' than an oversubscribed underfunded inner London school, I assumed communication with parents maybe 'constant' - ie time to deal with emails.

Soandso, wouldn't dream of taking daughter from a lovely set of friends now, when we willbe moving to oz in near future.

Yellowstone - would happily choose state, however we were allocated a fifth choice, appealed, no luck. We have a lovely girls school, very happy, just annoyed at communication - but as you say cherub, she may have her own issues, my intention to ask at office Tommorow and pass on message for her to call me.

I'd be equally perturbed if it was a state school.

OP posts:

Original poster

chilligarlic · 08/11/2011 21:58

Ok, just thought this was a forum to air annoyances. It's not major, she is 4, appreciate she doesn't have to be in school, nope not a lottery winner, just lucky to be wealthy and yes new to school in this country and only child at school. Thanks for comments.

OP posts:

Avantia · 08/11/2011 22:01

No this is AIBU - take your life in your hands

Flisspaps · 08/11/2011 22:02

Two days and they've not responded to your request for holiday? I'll be honest, it's not going to be top of the Head's 'to-do' pile. Nor will it be the top of his PA's pile.

The Deputy Head in the school I worked at could take up to two weeks to respond to a request for holiday in term time.

Swedes2 · 08/11/2011 22:09

I've heard the Head at Eton replies to holiday request emails BEFORE they're sent. Two days is a bit much.

topknob · 08/11/2011 22:09

omg seriously....get in the real world love !

exoticfruits · 08/11/2011 22:11

I never understand why people pay out money for something they are not satisfied with.

Original poster

chilligarlic · 08/11/2011 22:15

It's an urgent request, ie we are going in ten days. So, yes, I think it's unreasonable not to be acknowledged. As I said, if head too busy, a PA must be checking emails, I know my PA checks mine in my absence.

Boils down to customer service. Simple.

OP posts:

cazzybabs · 08/11/2011 22:16

The teacher was probably ill and therefore the school didn't know when she was going to back ...the school I work in would only inform you if it was a long term sick not just a week. Also I think you are being a little unreasonable - a week and maybe I would go in, but 2 days ... good grief ... its a school it educates children not entertains parents ffs

Original poster

chilligarlic · 08/11/2011 22:17

Oh dear, I'm being called 'love' time to disembark.

OP posts:

IneedAbetterNickname · 08/11/2011 22:18

The one and only time I have taken my DC out of school in term time (other than sickness) I got my holiday response AFTER we got back! At least the holiday was approved!

chilli, based on the fact you have alredy booked the holiday, the response, or lack of, is kind of a moot point surely?

Swedes2 · 08/11/2011 22:18

Can you name the school? If I were you I would feel sorely tempted to write to C4 Rogue Traders.

Yellowstone · 08/11/2011 22:20

It's not in the least urgent chilli, the child is four, You're not proposing she misses a public exam. It's really, really minor. Might not even be important enough to warrant a response.

You're going to take her anyway, it's no big deal.

troisgarcons · 08/11/2011 22:21

LOL Private schools - you are there by invitation - they can decline your place at any time.

And again 'LOL ' - the teachers dont have to be qualified either

Good luck.

Worst 40K I ever spunked for 2 children over 4 years. Might just as well have set fire to my wages.

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