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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand the school's logic

30 replies

spotsdots · 18/01/2013 12:48

It started snowing this morning as we were heading to school. When we got to school there was no mention of school closure. At 11.30am the next of kin called me and said the school send a message about school closure. I called the school to find out when they will close the school, they told me to check parentmail or school website regurlaly for the updates. At 12.35 I get another call from next of kin saying she got a message saying school will be closed at 1.30pm

AIBU to not understand (a) what difference will it make whether the children stay upto 1.30pm or 3.15pm (the usual time). Afterall, pupils should be indoors during that time.

(b) Why wasn't I told they were closing at 1.30pm when I called them?

OP posts:
secretscwirrels · 18/01/2013 12:51

It's because the teachers want to go home early Smile.
What's all the next of kin stuff?

5Foot5 · 18/01/2013 12:53

All sounds reasonable to me.

They might be closing early so that those who have to travel further can get home in the light or before the traffic gets worse.

Perhaps they hadn't made the decision when you first rang so they gave you the best advice they could.

Are you a CM otherwise I don't get all this "next of kin" business. Sounds like the school have him/her as a contact number and did keep that person informed. What more can you expect?

theroseofwait · 18/01/2013 12:54

Are you in my home town?! (Seaside, Yorkshire!!) It's all to do with making sure students don't get stuck somewhere very rural and very cold en route home. Also if it gets really bad some bus companies refuse to come out and then you've got several hundred kids (in the case of an average secondary) stuck at school with no transport.

It's not something they do lightly, I've seen both our Heads (past and present) struggling with the decision. As for why you weren't told, had they definitely decided at the time you rang?

LoopsInHoops · 18/01/2013 12:54

Buses will have told them that's the latest time they canoperate, taking weather forecasts into account.

Panzee · 18/01/2013 12:55

Roads get busy, it gets darker and colder, roads freeze.

But are you sure it's definitely happening if the school never mentioned it?

LoopsInHoops · 18/01/2013 12:55

oh, and b) because they wouldn't have known/decided by that point.

Passmethecrisps · 18/01/2013 12:55

The decision to close schools often actually lies with bus companies strangely enough. If the bus company says they will stop running and roll be there for children at 1:30 then the school closes

LauriesFairyonthetreeeatsCake · 18/01/2013 12:57

It's the buses - dd's school is closing at 2 so that the buses get a chance to get the kids home.

thegreylady · 18/01/2013 12:58

Local school texted to say school open till 3.15 but parents could collect children from 1 pm.

PatriciaHolm · 18/01/2013 12:59

Our school only made the decision to close (well, staggered pickup) at 12.30, so they might not have known when you rang. It's pretty standard to open in the morning then close early if conditions worsen; the difference in ease of pickup at 1.30 and 3.15 could be quite considerable if the snow continues.

Cherriesarelovely · 18/01/2013 12:59

We sometimes close early because we are in a very rural setting and of driving conditions deteriorate it is hard for parents to get to the school to pick them up. Headteachers have a very difficult decision with weather like this. We almost never close and some parents get really annoyed because they are unhappy about driving in this kind of weather, fair enough.

Passmethecrisps · 18/01/2013 13:00

They also have a responsibility toward teaching staff and the needs of their families. They might lose several teachers who have to go to collect their own children thus meaning the school must close

Twinklestarstwinklestars · 18/01/2013 13:03

Our school closed early on Monday, the difference in road conditions on the way there and back was amazing so 2 hours is a long time to wait.

Original poster
spotsdots · 18/01/2013 13:05

The next of kin thing is because the school have somehow put her number instead of mine. I've given them my number but somehow they always call the next of kin. Even today when I spoke to the school I gave them again my number. Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
spotsdots · 18/01/2013 13:07

theroseofwait the school is in a surrey town and no where rural Grin

OP posts:
janey68 · 18/01/2013 13:09

They do it so people have something to moan about on mumsnet Grin

manicbmc · 18/01/2013 13:09

Yes but there may be teachers who don't live locally and who need to get home before the weather gets too bad.

Original poster
spotsdots · 18/01/2013 13:11

As for buses, none (according to the ofstead report) of pupils use a bus, the majority (99.9%) are driven to school.

OP posts:
13Iggis · 18/01/2013 13:11

This is such a non-problem.

NickNacks · 18/01/2013 13:13

Next of kin??

Do you mean emergency contact??

LoopsInHoops · 18/01/2013 13:14

Well, that's because you've filled the form in wrong - the parents - you? are the next of kin - they presumably weren't asking for your next of kin.

What's the weather report? Heavy snow mid afternoon?

manicbmc · 18/01/2013 13:14

From a H and S perspective there has to be a certain ratio of staff to pupils. If some staff couldn't get in or have to leave early to make sure they can get home safely then school will shut.

Original poster
spotsdots · 18/01/2013 13:15

manicbmc but most working parents wouldn't be allowed to live work early? But it does make sense now.

OP posts:
Original poster
spotsdots · 18/01/2013 13:15

leave not live Smile

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 18/01/2013 13:15

Same here - I got a text to say school closing at 11.30 but if you can't get here then the children can go home on the bus as normal at 3,30

I wonder will it be classed as an unauthorised absence day and will they make the time up on a saturday Wink

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