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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:
Original poster
Bookworm13 · 19/12/2016 11:44

Totally agree - I'm all for excellent attendance at school but it's ridiculous that there is no consistency with hols like this. Last year, my friends' kids went in on the last day and there was literally 12 kids sitting there out of the whole school, which has a roll of just over 1,000!
The school has got an excellent attendance record otherwise throughout the year.

OP posts:
CauliflowerSqueeze · 19/12/2016 11:47

What do you mean no consistency?
There are 190 school days every single year that your kids have to attend. And the last day of each term is included in that.

Why didn't your kids go in on the last day of term last year? They should be there. It's their school, they are pupils there, it's open, and they should be in it.

tadjennyp · 19/12/2016 11:47

My school finished on Friday as we have disaggregated two training days. My dcs at primary school finish Tuesday. It's lucky really as the youngest has come down with D&V so I don't have to take a day off to stay at home with him.

Sixisthemagicnumber · 19/12/2016 11:48

I had one finish last Friday and the other not finishing until this week Thursday and we are in England.

Revealall · 19/12/2016 11:49

West Sussex.Ours finished Friday. Brilliant. Full week with fun end in Friday makes perfect sense.
I quite like that they are back straight after New Year although we have INSETS so mostly back on the Wednesday.

Original poster
Bookworm13 · 19/12/2016 11:51

That's right.
Since he took over, the parents have been bombarded with e-mail correspondence about every issue under the sun.
His wording was very tactless and as you say, the written word can often come across like that,

OP posts:
Sirzy · 19/12/2016 11:52

So the head has reiterated that attendance is compulsory? Not sure what the issue is really!

user1480946351 · 19/12/2016 11:54

Since he took over, the parents have been bombarded with e-mail correspondence about every issue under the sun

Maybe because they don't send their kids to school when they don't feel like it?

Goingtobeawesome · 19/12/2016 11:54

One of my children finished on Friday. The others don't finish until Wednesday.

user1480946351 · 19/12/2016 11:55

Last year, my friends' kids went in on the last day and there was literally 12 kids sitting there out of the whole school, which has a roll of just over 1,000!

Yes, because the parents did what you do and didn't send them in. Why arepissed at the school, its not them...

Nicknameofawesome · 19/12/2016 11:56

My younger ones finished Friday, older one finishes midday Wednesday. It's annoying for sure as she's a bit upset but she will get over it. It's called life. Even jobs that close over Christmas mostly don't finish until Thursday/Friday.

amammabear · 19/12/2016 11:59

My kids break up after tomorrow... I have no issue with that ... I'm confused... Hmm

DEMum101 · 19/12/2016 12:02

Our school finishes on Wednesday too as most of the primaries round here seem to - don't know about secondaries though.

I'm not surprised the Head has written if last year the truancy was so bad! It is a school day - all the children should be in school. And it's really unfair on those organising and involved in the concert if there is no one there to watch it!

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 19/12/2016 12:02

I'm all for excellent attendance at school but it's ridiculous that there is no consistency with hols like this. Last year, my friends' kids went in on the last day and there was literally 12 kids sitting there out of the whole school, which has a roll of just over 1,000!

Well how is that the schools fault! It is situations like this that leads to the emails you are getting.

willconcern · 19/12/2016 12:03

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

FFS.

Last year, my friends' kids went in on the last day and there was literally 12 kids sitting there out of the whole school, which has a roll of just over 1,000!

Maybe this is why the HT has sent out a letter this year to remind parents that, actually, school is compulsory.

This attitude of "school doesn't matter, just take a day off because it's Christmas in a week/sunny/hot/we fancy doing something else" really really pisses me off.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 19/12/2016 12:03

Is this a wind-up?!

DEMum101 · 19/12/2016 12:03

Also people who think the last day of term is a waste of time will think that whenever it is. So if the school had closed last Friday, they would probably have taken that off instead.

tiggytape · 19/12/2016 12:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

theansweris42 · 19/12/2016 12:07

North West, finish Thursday 22nd

Sunnysky2016 · 19/12/2016 12:08

I thought all schools finished like ours on the 16th dec

Sunnysky2016 · 19/12/2016 12:09

We're in wales

ragdoll700 · 19/12/2016 12:10

Im in Ireland but my children are not finished untill Thursday the 22nd.

Rosa · 19/12/2016 12:10

My 2 finish on 23 yes 23 December ..... They go back the 9th . Ok this is Italy but its fucking stupid as they have no time to enjoy the preparations or the build up.

ChristmasCwtches · 19/12/2016 12:11

I'm in Wales and the kids broke up last Friday - I would have loved to have them in school until Wednesday!!!

wifeyhun · 19/12/2016 12:12

My two finished on Friday and they were so ready for it as they were both exhausted. Now we have all week to do Christmassy things. However back on the 4 and 5 of Jan though Sad so it is swings and roundabouts