to be annoyed by school's attitude to Olympic Torch Relay?

[fuckbucket]

The headteacher is known to have been very annoyed when the route was first announced, as it passes directly outside a well-known public school also in this town, but misses our comp. by about a quarter of a mile. He sent a rather petty, spiteful letter to the local press about it at the time. All the local primaries seem to be sending the entire school to cheer as the flame is carried along the High Street. But at big school, apparently only three out of every tutor group of 30 are being sent to represent the school when the torch relay travels through the town. AIBU to think it would not have been impossible to just insist that children sitting exams stayed, and let the rest have an hour off? It's not as though there's going to be another Olympics next year (please god no...)

If you feel strongly you could allow your child to skive to see the olympic torch. Its only one day.

That's the way we're thinking at the moment TBH.
I'm wondering what other secondary schools on or very close to the torch route are planning?

If during school hours it would have to be a school trip, not an hour off - that means child/teacher ratios of maybe 1 adult to ten pupils, risk assessments, permission slips blah blah - I don't see how a whole school could go tbh.

You seem really narked with the head, for first being annoyed and spiteful about the route, and then not letting an entire comprehensive out to line the streets. Which, as said, would be a mammoth task.

Our secondary school is finishing early so that the kids can go and see the torch coming through the town.

I just checked the map, and it's passing my DC's school. They haven't mentioned going out to see it pass.

The trouble is it's coming through mid-morning, so I do see AngiBolen's and igggi's point about the logistic nightmare - oopsi's school finishing early option won't work.

I know some schools are making it clear that a request to withdraw the child for the morning/afternoon will be dealt with sympathetically, but ours is doing the opposite, unless there's a letter home that I haven't been shown of course! (not unheard of)

When's it going past yours Angi? We're getting it a week tomorrow.

I think the words 'big school' are the reason. Logistical nightmare to try to organise that many kids, primaries are much smaller.

Our school say they logistically can't get all the children from school into the town centre (it is very walkable ) but they have sent a letter home saying we are very welcome to come and pick our own children up after registration as long as they are bad by 10.30am.

Our school is primary btw

We are a week tomorrow fuckbucket

the torch is coming through our town, DD will not be in school that day - it's a once in a lifetime thing (and i won't be 'asking' permission either )

Still 6 weeks to go, so maybe the school is planning something.....

I saw it going through Paris once. It wasn't that thrilling.

In which case I think I know which town you must be Kellamity and we're the same LEA.
Before I go off all guns blazing I will ring school and find out what the policy is. We tried to get tickets for a couple of events but failed, and have now made other plans for the ticket budget anyway, so this will be my children's only 'live' contact with these Games.

TBH, I think if the touch is coming to your town and it's during the school day, then it's too bad really. I'm sure there's hundreds of adults that would like to see it, but they have to work and can't get the time off. That's the way the cookie crumbles I'm afraid.

But then, I am a) a meanie and b) living in a London Borough that's getting the torch for a stop over after school finishes in July!

I think a dentist appointment might be due for your lo for that day!

It begins with C and we live in the smaller town beginning with C - does that make sense?

Is that near you?

My DS's primary are letting them come in an hour late to see the Olympic torch passing through nearby, and start at 10am instead. Not sure what the Secondary has got planned though, will have to check with them.

dd2 has had about six genuine dentists this academic year, still maybe one more won't hurt... although the fact that dd1 would mysteriously need the dentist at the exact same time might be a bit of a giveaway!

With exams on, it's not just the kids who are sitting them, it's the kids who are preparing for them. Some teachers would need to be in school, the rest wouldn't be enough to supervise.

Kellamity, does it have a very posh gel's school called St M... and formerly was the home of a magnificent sausage factory (fnurr fnurr)?

That's where I live DC's go to school in next town along.

Kellamity - I must be in the same area too. We're getting it a week tomorrow. It's coming through the village I teach in, but after school time so we're not closing or anything. There has been much discussion about road closures etc (for the Thursday rather than the Wednesday - two days in same area and we're in the middle) and whether staff will be able to get to school on time, but I think it's been decided that there won't be that much disruption. Bit miffed though - one of my friends is carrying it on Thursday morning and I won't be able to see him, or take the kids to see him

Okay, anyone in position of authority in any school on the route, here's what we want... permission to take our children out of school for an hour. Some parents and families won't want to, others won't be able to, but it does seem a shame for non-exam class children who could see it to miss out.

And I thought the whole theme of these Olympics was 'Youth'? (Might be getting mixed up with an episode of 2012 here of course, that comedy was very close to the mark I suspect)