AIBU to think schools should not threaten parents with not allowing vehicular access to the school and with clamping if this doesn't work?

[TattyDevine]

They have some double yellow lines for the school bus. I wholeheartedly agree that people shouldn't park on them, as the school bus does need to park somewhere. But people do occasionally. There is no signage saying don't park there. The school do not yet own the land (its a Public Private Partnership type arrangement).

They have threatened parents who park on them that they will have a note left on their windscreen and a 2nd offence means they will not be allowed to drive into the school. Who on earth would enforce this? Would the police even be interested?

In addition to this, the headteacher ended the note by saying "if this more draconian approach does not work, we may take up the offer from a parent to introduce clamping". I thought since October 2012 clamping on private property was considered unlawful?

Or am I wrong about that?

The head teacher also asks parents not to park on the grass verge opposite the school (which is the highways agency responsibility and nothing to do with the school and not private property) because it leads to complaints from the parish council and local residents. But they don't own this land, and it is not illegal to park there.

I find it slightly worrying that a head teacher would threaten parents with something unlawful, regardless of their bad behaviour, without checking the legal position first. What are your views on this? Do double yellow lines on private property even have any legal weight? (I'm pretty sure they don't without signage).

Just for the record, I never park on the double yellows, because its obvious the bus needs to park there, but I am still left dumbfounded by the bizarre rant.

AIBU?

[scantilymad]

We live in a close with a school at the end. The main entrance to the school is on another road and the close has double yellows all the way around. They have no effect. Twice daily parents double park in them, block the entrance to the close and even park on people's driveways. There is a main road with unrestricted parking 30 seconds walk away. It's incredibly frustrating and despite repeated complaints to the school, they do nothing other than put a flaccid little comment in their weekly online newsletter. There have already been accidents outside the school due to lack of visibility of children hidden by illegally parked cars. Sorry to say that the lack of respect from parents and the disinterest from the school is a pretty fair reflection of this particular school's standards I.e crap.

The OP's school sounds like it is trying its best to enforce considerate parking in whatever way it can. I appreciate their legal ground is shaky but why must a school have to resort to threats? Why can't parents on the school just think for a moment about other people, realise they aren't entitled to park wherever they like even if it is "just for a moment" and perhaps get their children a couple of minutes extra exercise in the morning by parking further away?

Sorry for the rant but I applaud the OP's school for at least trying to take a stand.

[Jinty64]

When my older dcs were at the primary school we campaigned to have yellow lines around the two back gates as they are both on bad corners and parents were parking directly outside the gates (as close as they could possibly get) so that children were crossing between parked cars. With the yellow lines people then parked further up the road where it was safer.

Now ds3 is at the school a dense bunch of parents park directly on the yellow lines. I spoke to one recently and got a mouthful. It is a miracle no child has been injured or killed yet. I collect ds each day but many children walk home alone. Some of these parents live less than 300 yards from the school and yet take the car. The furthest house in the catchment is less than half a mile from the school. There should be very few cars needed.

[curlew]

"If a head teacher thinks they can enforce their will in any way they like, regardless of law, what if this thinking filters down to how they choose to discipline children? Or not stick to the national curriculum?"

And all because the poor sod tried to stop fuckwit parents causing gridlock and putting children's lives at risk by parking like self absorbed loons every morning........I do wonder why schools even bother sometimes.

[differentnameforthis]

We have MASSIVE issues with cars on the school run. We have almost 1000 pupils at out primary & like me, some have to drive.

I am on the Gov council. EVERY meeting (3 a term) we discuss the car issue. We have had near misses.

But essentially our hands are tied. A police presence does nothing, people behave impeccably while they are there, but the next day, back to normal. We have had members of staff directing traffic, and asking that people don't pull up outside the school & wait (in the car) for their kids, staff get abused.

Some parents just don't give a shit.

[3bunnies]

Could they start taking photos of the cars and naming anx shaming by parentmail? I also think that a little more flexibility in drop off time would help (not sure if primary or secondary). All ours need to be dropped and supervised by parent going into school gate within a ten minute window which is only enough time for one car to park legally. I only drive in the morning if one of mine is too ill to walk the 1.5 mile return trip. It is too stressful.

[curlew]

"Could they start taking photos of the cars and naming anx shaming by parentmail?"

One of our Heads tried this. He was threatened with legal action by a barrack room lawyer like the OP, and the LEA told him to stop.

[MsLT]

The Head needs to talk to the parents concerned. A few weeks of early 'carpark duty' for him.
Although some parents will probably question the legality of his requests.

[differentnameforthis]

A few weeks of early 'carpark duty' for him.

It won't work, we tried it. Just mouthfuls of abuse by entitled parents.

[UptheChimney]

but double yellows are signage to say don't park there

^^This

If some parents are so selfish and stupid as to put other people's children at risk, then I hope the school does name and shame.

[paxtecum]

Sixth formers park on the zigzags outside our local high school.
The school takes no action against them because it's off school grounds.

i think if they were dealing drugs outside the school gets they would take action.

It's good to hear of a school taking the parking problems seriously.
YABU.

[gordyslovesheep]

Kungfu my very fave is the 'distressed' look and cry of 'but I am dropping off my child...' - which obviously means they are exempt from everything - including responsibility to park correctly!

[DoctorDonnaNoble]

Our sixth formers are frequently reminded of the necessity of appropriate parking and driving.

[TamerB]

Schools have massive issues with 'entitled' , totally inconsiderate parents,so I see nothing wrong with taking a hard line.

[sashh]

I think the wheel clamping on private land is a red herring, surely that law applies to car parks where people pay to park.

But maybe that's what the school need to do, start charging for parking.

[funkybuddah]

Park further away. Your precious darlings will not die If they have to walk.
I suggest you equip yourself with a grip. You and your car are not a priority

[TattyDevine]

People seem keen to believe that I want to park on the yellow lines, or that I am not concerned with the safety of the children, neither of which are the case, but I won't labour that point any further as I know it not to be the case.

I still think it is a legitimate concern particularly with regards to the threatening of illegal clamping to question the way the head has gone about this. It doesn't mean I am going to storm her office, write nasty letters, be entitled, or any other reaction - its simply a case of when I saw the letter I thought, goodness me, did she really think this through? She has issues with parent relationships and I don't think this will help. That children's safety is paramount, I agree. Hopefully she won't go ahead with the ridiculous illegal clamping idea. Hopefully her new approach will work, legal or otherwise.

I will continue to park off-site as I always have done. I am viewing this as a parent, not a participator. Due to the nature of where I park, I don't even walk past these yellow lines, I approach from the far side using pavements.

Its a real shame she has had to resort to this but I am concerned that she will ultimately make the situation worse with a knee-jerk reaction but I guess that's not my problem - I should not concern myself with it but I was curious to hear others views, that's all!

[HoratiaDrelincourt]

We used to live on a private road near a 6th form college. Weekday parking was pretty bad (new drivers aren't exactly famous for accurate parking) but Open Evenings were something else.

Our head puts pleas in the newsletter. There are various legal spaces around school which cause congestion at peak times - he can ask people not to use them but they're well within their rights. There are also two car parks we are officially allowed to use, two and five minutes away respectively, and a tiny church hall car park one minute away.

But yes there's an awful lot of parking on verges.

Many parents work, but at a guess a third to a half have a SAHP. The school is oversubscribed so hardly anyone lives more than a mile away. An awful lot of people drive that don't need to

[kungfupannda]

gordyslovesheep Tue 11-Feb-14 07:18:05
Kungfu my very fave is the 'distressed' look and cry of 'but I am dropping off my child...' -

We don't even get that much. Just a beaming smile and off they go, occasionally turning round with a slightly puzzled crease of the forehead at your cries of "EXCUSE ME! You are BLOCKING ME IN!"

It's not even like it's not obvious. Car park entrance - one car width. Large car inserted into said entrance and abandoned. You can hardly get by on foot, never mind in another car.

[formerbabe]

Clamping is far too lenient...

I think hanging is a more suitable punishment.

I hate parents who park illegally on the school run...arrogant pricks.

[ifyourehoppyandyouknowit]

Is the head perhaps getting lots of complaints from residents and other parents and has maybe reached the end of his tether? I thought if there was appropriate signs then clamping was legal. If I was him though I'd go with just banning access via car/ parking on-site.

[curlew]

"its simply a case of when I saw the letter I thought, goodness me, did she really think this through"

No you didn't. You thought-
"If a head teacher thinks they can enforce their will in any way they like, regardless of law, what if this thinking filters down to how they choose to discipline children?"

But then back-pedalled furiously.

[horsetowater]

She has issues with parent relationships and I don't think this will help.

This is why Gove's intention to allow parents to sack headteachers is such a really bad idea. Like they know so much better.

[NotNewButNameChanged]

I am fed up with parents who think that they are entitled to park where the hell they like when they are dropping off or picking up kids from school. Many get there stupidly early so they can chat with other mums, not giving a shit about the problems they are causing for other road users, or people whose drives they block, or damage the verges they park on.

The argument they come out with is that they need to ensure their child is safe. What most of these morons don't realise is that they are making things MORE dangerous than less dangerous for the public and children as a whole by parking all over the shop.

But they are PARENTS with CHILDREN and therefore entitled to say fuck you to everyone else.

Sorry to the decent parents out there but living near a school I see some quite appalling behaviour and attitude and it's actually getting worse, not better.

[MothratheMighty]

I'd like a law banning parking within half a mile of school, without a resident's permit or a blue badge. Expecting all parents to be altruistic, or even aware of other children hasn't worked.

[MothratheMighty]

Just had a thought, perhaps the fines could be used as a school fund so that they don't get endless complaining about demands for money from school.
Sinners pay to benefit the community they inconvenience.