To think the school should sort this out?

[hibbledibble]

I live near a school where lots of the parents drive, this is despite the school being in London with excellent public transport links.

The really annoying thing is the inconsiderate and downright dangerous parking. The school is on a narrow road, which is also quite busy.

The parents park on the road opposite the school on double yellow lines, which completely obstructs the road as there is only one lane left on a two way road. Nobody then gives way on the other lane and it becomes gridlocked.

It is also very dangerous for the children as they are emerging between parked cars. The parents also seem to park and drive like lunatics.

I have tried talking to both the school and the council to resolve this, but nothing changes. The school just says they have asked the parking attendants to come, but clearly parking fines do not put off these people.

Aibu to think the school should do more?

Yes schools can do things - but they have no power and rarely make a jot of difference.

1. We have done so much to encourage walking. Over the years we've had so many initiatives to try and get the children to walk to school to ease the parking issue, but it isn't "convenient" so out of a class on 30 two cycle and four walk to school in my current class. We've tried all sorts of approaches; letters to parents, special events, stickers and rewards for children, "educating" children so they put pressure on their parents.
2. With regards to the parking. The road outside school is out of our jurisdiction and we have no authority to do anything. When challenging unsafe parking the head teacher has been sworn at and physically threatened so many times, and it still doesn't change. We bring PCSOs in and it helps for the time they are there (usually a week long blitz), but as soon as they leave it goes back to normal. There just isn't the capacity for the police to come permanently. We do not have traffic wardens in our locality. Parking and child safety is a regular feature in our newsletters and we also send out parentmails if the situation is really bad or a neighbour complains. Yet again, it makes no difference. We made emotive road signs to display. We are not prepared to take children out to be sworn at by a motorist whose number plate they noted for dangerous driving. They can't be made to witness parents mouthing off at the staff with them. The school was threatened with legal action if we published the number of an "inconsiderate" parker (most of these issues don't count as illegal!) We contact the council and they huff and puff and ask us to contact the PCSOs... Which we do and it solves the problem for all of a week.

It takes so much of the head teachers time it is ridiculous and yet no real long-term change!

I have four children at four different schools (2 in 2 separate high schools and two in separate infant/junior schools) I don't have time to park miles away from their schools, I have to pick one up and then be on my way to pick up the other, I've had three separate Parkin tickets and it doesn't bother me.

You are clearly an example of the problem. How would you feel if your illegal parking meant a child was hit by a car?

as bright I sympathise that it seems very difficult.

This school has however not included anything on their emails, nor have I ever seen them send a staff member out.

Verbal or physical abuse is completely unacceptable. If anyone does that then they should be prosecuted and also banned from school grounds permanently.

YABU to expect the flipping school to sort this out.

Seriously. We have enough to do trying to educate children whilst simultaneously jumping through the ever shifting flaming Ofsted hoops. And being responsible for the bits of education that used to be down to parents.

Having said that, I like the idea of 'Don't park like a twat' stickers, and wouldn't mind slapping those on cars on my way out to talk to parents...as long as I can have 'stop BEING a twat' stickers to put on some of the bloody parents.

wide shall I arm you with a mountain of stickers?

I understand teaching is hard, I do.

I just wish the school would try something, like even a reminder in newsletter.

Yes, please, some stickers would be nice. Could I please have some 'don't fuck with me today' stickers also?

I have four children at four different schools (2 in 2 separate high schools and two in separate infant/junior schools) I don't have time to park miles away from their schools, I have to pick one up and then be on my way to pick up the other, I've had three separate Parkin tickets and it doesn't bother me

gosh, you must be SO proud of yourself. How dare we think you should park safely and considerately within the law??

Yes, please, some stickers would be nice. Could I please have some 'don't fuck with me today' stickers also?

There, there.

Would you like one to put on your forehead?

Thanks Hibble

Just because you have been so nice, I will change my mind to YANBU. I will write a Parking Policy, alongside the 300 others I am writing. It will be short. It will say this:

Parking Policy

Don't park like a twat.

K?

why not have a positive thing like a "kiss and drop"

Our school had an award winning scheme to incentivise walking (mostly from borrowed carpark 4 minutes walk away), but the scheme faded after a few yrs due to lack of volunteers, although some parents still Park & Stride. I've heard of walking buses in UK, too, but again, tend to falter for lack of volunteers.

Our school is lucky enough to have ample car parking, a 20 mph zone, and traffic calming. Unfortunately we also have lovely wide payments with just enough space for a car to squeeze onto the pavement. Which are always occupied, usually by cars with the engine running and parents sitting in them, rather than walking across the road from the car park. Likewise grass verges and the disabled access. I have politely pointed out the car park, usually getting abuse as a result.