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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What do you think about school finishing early for the football?

226 replies

RequestInUse · 14/06/2016 22:21

That really. This letter comes home Monday saying this;

*"Football is like marmite..... From time to time.... Very Important matches involving the England team are held in school time and this can cause big problems for families who value football highly...... Therefor for this match only we have made these 3 options....;

  1. Collect child at 1:20pm onwards so can settle as a family to watch kick off.
  2. Collect at half time, between 2:30-3:00 so adults can watch the while of the match and still collect children.
  3. Collect at normal time.

All children in school that afternoon will have a choice of activities, either ther watch the while match or arts and crafts."

*somewhat shortened

I'm a bit stunned by it personally.

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 14/06/2016 22:24

I thnk its great.

EatShitDerek · 14/06/2016 22:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

honeysucklejasmine · 14/06/2016 22:27

I think it's ridiculous. It's not the final, fgs, and even the i would think it was stupid.

Do they mean to suggest there are parents out there who would not collect their child because they were watching a football match?!

Muddlingalongalone · 14/06/2016 22:27

Excellent - and no doubt after 1:20 they've done afternoon registration so no attendance issues!

crazywriter · 14/06/2016 22:27

I can't be arsed with football but at least there's a choice. And they're telling you what they will do for the kids who will be in school. The only thing me and my parents love about when England play is that most the shopping centres are empty so we don't have to deal with people:)

Mishaps · 14/06/2016 22:28

Is this serious?!

dementedpixie · 14/06/2016 22:28

Crazy! But them I'm in Scotland and don't care about the match anyway

littleblackno · 14/06/2016 22:29

Primary schools around here are doing it but no option to collect early. I don't mind, but as my kids are not remotely interested I'd have liked the option to pick them up and do something else.

Original poster
RequestInUse · 14/06/2016 22:30

Yep Mishaps

OP posts:
ElizabethLemon · 14/06/2016 22:30

I'd think it was a joke. You can't take your child out of school for one day for a holiday but they can have an afternoon off to watch some men kick a ball about 😳.

AlmaMartyr · 14/06/2016 22:33

I think it's ridiculous and makes a mockery of this obsession with attendance.

alltheworld · 14/06/2016 22:34

I would raise this with ofsted. If they want to let kids miss most of the afternoon they should at least teach those who don't want to watch football.

honeysucklejasmine · 14/06/2016 22:34

I would be tempted to write back that I really rather prefer tennis so shall be picking them up early each time a Brit plays at Wimbledon. In every category.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 14/06/2016 22:40

dementedpixie imagine what it would be like up here if we were actually in the tournament. Probably pandemonium! Grin

inabizzlefam · 14/06/2016 22:42

DS1 has had to pay £1.00 as the whole school will be watching the match on Thursday in the gymnasium.
I'm not allowed to take him out of school to go on holiday because "one day out of school will impact my DCs education", but the school can demand a payment from each pupil to miss out on a whole afternoon of classes to watch a game.
Talk about one rule for them them and another for us.

Paniniswapx3 · 14/06/2016 22:43

I think it's a great idea - wish my boys schools were offering this!

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 14/06/2016 22:52

I'd think it was a prank. I'd complain if it were true. As a governor I'd be raising it with the head too. Ridiculous.

honeysucklejasmine · 14/06/2016 22:53

Nozzle what's the money for?

scarlets · 14/06/2016 22:55

It's just a bit of fun, and there's no obligation to collect the children early. Parents are not being put out in any way. Children who dislike football are not adversely affected, and children who enjoy it, get to see it. Win win.

The payment thing mentioned by another poster is a bit odd, though. I don't understand what it's for - the football is on the BBC not BT Sport.

OMGBabyNo3 · 14/06/2016 22:59

Think it's fantastic and wish my kids school had provided same options

Original poster
RequestInUse · 14/06/2016 23:02

Another dynamic is the kids who have full time working parent(s) (which our DS would be if I wasn't on mat leave) don't have the choice of early home time. Something else for them to miss out on, regardless of their like or dislike of football.

My DS had the choice of what he wants to do. He wants to be collected early and we will do something weather dependant as not fussed on football. But even if we were I still don't really get the schools choice.

OP posts:
DextersMistress · 14/06/2016 23:02

Ds's school are doing the same. They're watching the first half in school and we can pick them up at half time. I think it's great, I wish my school had done it back in the day.

DextersMistress · 14/06/2016 23:04

Oh, and they're all paying £1 too. They can wear football/pe kits.

seasidesally · 14/06/2016 23:05

i wish my son's school was doing this,he's a football fanatic and attends many premier games,seems a shame,especially as week days he's in bed for 8.30 so cant watch evening matches as he still wants to see the other team

i would let him stay up if it was an england match though

AnneElliott · 14/06/2016 23:08

I think it's ridiculous. Honey - I liked your response. Will suggest that to my friend whose school is also doing this.

I agree it makes a mockery of attendance rules - and it's not even the final! If we were in the World Cup final then maybe it would be worth it as s once in a life time opportunity!