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Original poster

School Christmas Hols - Orders from New Head Teacher

152 replies

Bookworm13 · 19/12/2016 10:45

In the scheme of things, this isn't of world shattering importance but it really annoyed me!
We live in Scotland and my two teenage sons officially finish up for the school Xmas hols on Wed 21st ...could they not have followed other areas of the UK and allowed the kids to finish up on Fri instead?!
I've lost count of the amount of frazzled parents/kids I've spoken to in the last few days and my eldest has got his Higher prelims starting on 5 Jan.
They don't seem to do much work the last few days anyway - but what was rather annoying, was that their new headteacher sent out a snotty e-mail at the end of last week, ordering parents to make their kids attend on the last day - even though the school finishes early and all they would be doing is watching a concert.
The previous HT (who was a lovely man) never issued any letters of this sort at all (and especially in that tone)
Judging by the reduced numbers of kids going into school this morning, it would seem his orders are being ignored. Even the local primary school was significantly quieter today.
My two have gone in today, have said they are going into school tomorrow but asked me if they could stay off on Wed and I said that wasn't a problem.
Why can't there be a bit more commonsense about these things - and where is the Christmas spirit?!
Sorry for the rant....! X

OP posts:
corythatwas · 19/12/2016 11:04

Whatever the rights or wrongs of the situation, I think it can be a bad mistake to come in as too much of a new broom.

Ds' new HT did that, and it took him only a few years to transform an excellent school into one in special measures. It really, really did not help that he started the new regime with long assemblies where he basically told the pupils that given their demographic he knew they and their parents would not be supportive of education but that he intended to make a difference. He got all the teachers' backs up with a similar attitude and they started leaving in droves.

fruityb · 19/12/2016 11:04

Tuesday here - echo the schools can't win comment. Schools actually have to account for absences and attendance figures can cause problems for schools and can even trigger ofsted turning up. I remember the last day of term before Christmas where I work a few years ago when attendance was less than 50% one day. We teach up until the end of term - it may be more of a fun approach but still teaching nonetheless - and all expected to attend. Christmas spirit has buggerall to do with it!!

Everyone Is exhausted at the end of this term - it's always the toughest and the longest of the year. It's when Christmas has fallen that has caused the issue this time.

1pink4blue · 19/12/2016 11:05

I live in the SE and mine don't finish until Wednesday

middlings · 19/12/2016 11:05

We finish on Wednesday 21st. London here.

I suspect very little work is being done this week.

ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 19/12/2016 11:06

Well I'd presume the letter was aimed directly at you seeing as you're letting them stay off anyway.

Maybe it's hit a nerve OP?

CauliflowerSqueeze · 19/12/2016 11:07

You've condoned their planned truancy on the last day of term then, is that correct?

When it's sunny, do you condone truancy? ("Such a lovely day, where's your spirit of summer fun?")

I'm not surprised the headteacher is pretty bloody concerned about attendance if parents like you are selecting the published days that you fancy allowing your children to attend, and supporting them with unauthorised absences when you want as well. What kind of a message are you sending?

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 19/12/2016 11:09

I'm in Surrey and they finish Wednesday. I wish they finished last Friday! Xx

CauliflowerSqueeze · 19/12/2016 11:10

Schools have to do the same number of days. So you will gain it back at the end of the summer term or at Easter.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 19/12/2016 11:12

Not sure why I put kisses.... Hmm

faffalotty · 19/12/2016 11:13

I remember the end of term at Xmas being the best time ever, especially at primary school. Making decorations and cards, parties, singing carols, playing games.

What's the problem?

BlindAssassin1 · 19/12/2016 11:14

They don't seem to do much work the last few days anyway

This. Plus the early last-day-pick-up (despite not being allowed to take DC on holiday during term time), party clothes for end of term and novelty jumper (despite insistence on expensive school uniform) , tuck shops and chocolate and sweets given out in class (despite lunchbox police, and letters about children eating sweets in the playground), the numerous pieces of homework for small children (but watching a film in assembly).

The dictatorial nature of my DC school is wearing my patience thin.

BoneyBackJefferson · 19/12/2016 11:15

Bookworm13
They don't seem to do much work the last few days anyway... even though the school finishes early and all they would be doing is watching a concert.

Nice to know that you know what the teachers have planned Hmm, and that is a really long concert.

MrsBobDylan · 19/12/2016 11:19

I'm happy mine finish on Wednesday. I wouldn't dream of saying they could miss the last day because they don't do much.

Why is this even factoring in your thoughts? Complete non event.

pointythings · 19/12/2016 11:23

Ours finish tomorrow. Am not bothered at all. Mid week term start and end dates are the norm these days.

unlucky83 · 19/12/2016 11:25

Another one in Scotland and ours don't finish until lunch this Fri - the 23rd. I think Wed would have been better, last Friday too early.
Last year they finished on the 18th and that was a pain as most of the Santa presents etc needed to be sorted before and it was a long run until until Christmas day and then they were back really early in Jan.
This year they aren't back till the 9th - which means I will get a chance to take DCs to visit family after Christmas/New Year (they live a couple of hundred miles away and DP works over Christmas/New Year - so he can't come too but doesn't want to be alone on Christmas Day/NYE - which is fair enough) Last year we only managed a few days before Christmas -but this year we will get a week after NY...

pfrench · 19/12/2016 11:26

We finished at 1.30 on Friday, aside from performance rehearsals for three mornings last week, we taught proper lessons up until 12.15 on Friday. It's school term time, children should be in school. They were exhausted (as we were) because it's been an 8 week term, and anything beyond 6 weeks is often tough, but because of Easter timings next year there wasn't a choice.

Schools, damned if they do, damned if they don't.

wasonthelist · 19/12/2016 11:28

DD finishes on Tuesday.

harderandharder2breathe · 19/12/2016 11:29

Sounds like the head is fed up of the "my kids, my rules" attitude of too many parents.

In my hometown schools don't finish til the 23rd.

If school is open, you go to school unless you're too ill. It's sad that the head has to remind parents of this, and sadder that so many ignore it.

Tweasels · 19/12/2016 11:29

Mine broke up last Thursday - I could have done with a few more days. Yours must be going back later though?

Hersetta427 · 19/12/2016 11:31

Herts here and mine finish on Wednesday too.

TheLivingAsheth · 19/12/2016 11:36

I am in Essex. Our school does not finish until the 21 (21 is last day).

roundaboutthetown · 19/12/2016 11:39

So, is it just all the teachers and the poor sods doing the concert that will be in on the Wednesday, then? I think that's pretty disrespectful, to not bother turning up.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 19/12/2016 11:41

If school is open, you go to school unless you're too ill. It's sad that the head has to remind parents of this, and sadder that so many ignore it

I agree.

user1480946351 · 19/12/2016 11:44

You're annoyed that the head expects you to send your children to school, on a school day?

Hmm

Get a hold of yourself.

Redpony1 · 19/12/2016 11:44

Most mums i know are glad schools didn't break up last week, most schools here finish Weds or Friday - much better for parents with regards to childcare surely?! Everyone i know is working until at least Thursday...

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