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

[RequestInUse]

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.

We live within the fanzone around the Champ de Mars in Paris. There are no buses and DD and her friend have to walk to school (à good 35 minutes) for a 7.50 am start. There are no concessions made for them, and quite rightly.

And some of you think your DC should miss school for a football match?!

I have zero interest in football but it's quite a nice thing for the kids I think.

I would welcome it because we love football and my dh is SAHD so is able to pick the kids up - but for families where both parents work out of the home it seems very unfair. Plus yes I do think there is hypocrisy here as parents are forbidden to take kids out of school unless imperative. So overall it would get my goat!

I think it's ridiculous, but that "what about the kids whose parents work full time" argument doesn't fit.

The school has given an option of home early or watch at school. Kids whose parents work full time can watch at school, kids whose parents are at home can leave early. Win win. Oh and kids who don't like football don't have to watch.

I actually think that school has covered all bases very well.

We have sports day starting just after 1 and in the discussion on the schools page someone said

"well there won't be many people watching sports day will there"
It think it's stupid its not a one off we are usually in the early rounds of the various tournaments. why is this time so special

Think it's a great idea, they are not closing the school so you have the option.

Ours are having it on at school, and it's continuing after school for those who want to stay until the end of the match.

Can't get worked up about it I'm afraid (neither the football nor the school's actions)

Schools are doing this as a way of keeping attendance up. The days England plays attendance bombs as a lot of kids are 'ill'. At least this way the kids go to school.

I don't mind it in principle.

However given the fuss they make out taking your children out of school for holidays, weddings etc I think it's a bit off

Wow some strong opinions here. I'll say firstly, I do think it is a bit silly that young kids are missing lessons for some football match.

However, I also think it's a bit silly that sensible headteachers are forced into bending over backwards to offer all these solutions to ensure that this football math doesn't damage their attendance figures - and future ofsted reports.

You could argue this is more the fault of the system that many of you are saying it makes a mockery of. It's not about whether the kids are actually learning, it's about finding a way to ensure they appear as present on the attendance figures.

And this decision will be because the head knows that a significant proportion of his/her parents would just keep their kid off.

By the way I am not and do not know any HTs.

this can cause big problems for families who value football highly

What about those that value cricket, or rugby or any other sport for that matter, 'highly'.

Ridiculous precedent to set.

Are they going to do it for every other sport?

Not exactly fair if they don't is it?

I'm in Wales...we haven't had a look in for 50 years, so it is a big deal!
Both my kids schools (primary and secondary) are allowing the kids to watch football if they want to...they are also keeping them for 40 minutes longer than usual to allow the match to finish!

I am not usually a footie fan at all, but I think it's great. There is a real sense of excitement and occasion about it...I think it is the sort of thing they will remember fondly as they grow up, and allows them to bond with teaching staff, which usually benefits their relationship in the longer term.

There is a lot of sad stuff going on in the world...I feel we should encourage our kids to enjoy the good stuff while opportunities allow.

I would be thoroughly pissed off at the hypocrisy.

It's great and just goes to prove missing a few hours here and there won't make any different to the children's life

As an aside, in the part of wales where I am, attendance figures have been submitted for the year already, so as far as I am aware, attendance isn't particularly an issue at this point.

I am bemused that people think this is in any way a decent use of a school day. It's utter cobblers. If parents keep their children off school for a sporting match they need their heads examining.

It's a great idea.
EnguuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrLand

What a brilliant idea by the school. My DD loves her football & her school are doing the same. It's the first Wales have qualified for anything since 1958, so it's quite a rare occasion. Schools go out of there way to embrace other big events, why not this.
What a tremendous idea

Absolutely ridiculous. "For families who value football highly"? If someone values pathetic shouting and whooping at the TV like a lunatic for 2 hours over the education of their child, no wonder the country is so full of chavs!

I think it's great. I'm not English or Welsh and only have a pssing interest in football.
The only thing I'm shocked about is the things people on mumsnet find to be shocked and outraged about.

I don't see the harm if it's a one-off (though will it be?)

In the grand scheme of things it's going home 1 hr 40 minutes earlier than normal, not all of which would have been teaching time.

It's an appalling message to send out, however short a time is actually lost from the school day.

Bloody football
PinkyofPie, I agree with every word

Am I the only one who is failing to see why this match is such a big deal? It is in the group stages, so why the fuss?

I think it's fine.

And thoroughly enjoyed cheering England on in the hall in France 98. The heads argument was that so many kids would be taken out for appointments anyway that sometimes it's better to go with the flow.

We had to write up the game the next day (so literacy skills) and had a look at other newspaper articles and had a class discussion about newspaper bias. So it can even be an educational tool.

It's an activity that takes 90 minutes out of the school day - less if school finishes earlier.

As we get towards the end of summer term I'm sure there will be no end of 'fun' activities that aren't wholly learning-focused.

And why football and not Wimbledon? Firstly there will only be one match this tournament that is shown during school hours for England - this one. Whereas Wimbledon would be much longer matches and all through the day, pretty much.

Secondly, the percentage of kids who at least have a passing interest in football is likely to be higher than those with an interest in watching tennis.

And at ops school,at least they're getting a choice.