School Christmas Hols - Orders from New Head Teacher

[Bookworm13]

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

CauliflowerSqueeze I'd agree with you if parents had free choice of school and there were a range of different 'packages.' But the education system in this country is becoming increasingly narrow, and lots of people can't choose a school that fits with their educational philosophy and their needs as a family because they simply don't exist -or they're oversubscribed, not in the right catchment area, etc. Home education isn't practical for everyone.

It isn't anything like a free market situation. I'd say that under the circumstances, parents should make their own decisions about which aspects of the school they want to support, and which don't work for them. I do realise that's not a popular viewpoint here, though!

So you routinely don't send your dcs in the last day of term, but you're cross the new head teacher is cross about this?! And you're cross they didn't break up last week? So mine did break up last week so I assume are going back earlier than yours, shall I keep them off that week because I'm cross yours are at home? Sitting watching a concert ( presumably by their contemporaries) is a waste of time? Time they'd be better spending at home, doing what? On their social media to their friends who also have parents who condone not sending their dcs to school on a school day? Wow, no wonder the new head teacher has to send out "snotty emails" if he has to deal with snotty parents on this scale.

The concerts on the last day are a heart warming experience ime. Well if there's anyone there to watch it they are.

I'm not bothered about finishing on Wed, but have sympathy on the view re attendance. I've had one txt this morning from DS2 stating that they have had the start of 3 sep films this morning (but can't watch a whole film as lesson is too short). DS1 is doing higher prelims Jan and could do with working up until the last day but is winding down as well. Wed is a half day and they will attend a church service, I'd say a large proportion of the student body will be absent on Wed for the reminder quite a few will miss the church service and go straight home. In the past I have taken my DC out of school for the last few days of term and will probably do so in future if we have holiday plans.

Actually quieter classes would be an excellent opportunity for your pre-prelim ds to ask his teachers to go over bits of the course with him.

I'd say that under the circumstances, parents should make their own decisions about which aspects of the school they want to support, and which don't work for them

But that would be impossible. 190 days of school per year is the law. You've obviously decided that that part of the law is an opt-in for you.

But putting that aside, how on earth could anyone manage a school if the whole thing was organised by what works for the parents.

"Ok everyone. We're trying to plan for the year but there are quite a few hurdles this year. Following Cancelly's Law as you know, we have had to consult on every aspect of the school and so, if I read out what parents are happy to support, you will see the issue:

27% of parents want there to be 4 maths lessons a week
37% want there to be 3 maths lessons a week
18% say that they were crap at maths and never needed it so why bother
The rest never responded.

Ok. So looking at the curriculum, I can see that we need 4 lessons a week in order for the students to pass. How do we manage this when so many won't support?

Let's move on. Holidays. Ok it seems that 48% of parents think the last day is a waste of time and 38% think the last week is. Can anyone suggest a way in which we can legally run the school with 190 school days and just have none as the last day?

Ok uniform. Next issue. 60% of parents want a clear rule about which shoes and coats the kids should wear. 30% feel anything is fine. Do we make one rule for the 60% and another for the 30%? 10% never responded. Votes have also been taken from the students. Of those, 15% support their parents' viewpoint and 75% disagreed (in both directions). Ideas for managing this?"

Hampshire. Finished last Friday.

Have already booked them into holiday club because they're fighting and ignoring me. If teachers were superhuman I'd happily send mine to school 52 weeks a year.

And here is me feeling guilty for taking ds out for the last 2 hours of term because it is the only time the autism friendly showing of a local play is and I am doing so with the senco permission

My grandson here in Scotland ( east coast) finishes at 12.00 on 23rd. He will be there in the morning !

Ours finish tomorrow but I wish it was Wed or Thur, have lots to organise. They're back in on the 4th Jan.

We finish on Friday 23rd at 12 noon (Perthshire).

I am happy they are in school this week.

We finished a week before Christmas last year and honestly, by the time Christmas arrived everyone was frazzled and pissed off. At least this week we are straight into Christmas Eve so no fannying around trying to do stuff/get organised.

Mine doesn't finish till Wed as well - London school.

They must be doing more than watching a concert if they're in for the whole morning. If it's other children playing in the concert, it would be really mean to leave them with no audience after all their work.

Schools take a set number of days holiday every year. Had Scottish schools decided to finish up last Friday, that's 3 days which need to be found elsewhere. They're not back until later as BOTH 1st and 2nd Jan are bank holidays in Scotland and as New Year's Day is the Sunday, the Bank Holidays are Monday and Tuesday. OP would probably be moaning if everyone else had broken up for summer and her kids were still in school, they can't just magic up more holidays. And if the child is doing Higher prelims right after Christmas even MORE reason for him to be in, studying, revising and with access to his teachers.

You mention the head has sent out emails about every issue under the sun op...perhaps ofsted picked an issue with communication with parents? So perhaps he's addressing that? At my childrens school we get emails, texts and app messages which is annoying when you get three different pings but no one can blame the school if parents don't get a message!

As far as school finishing for Xmas we don't finish until Wednesday and I'm glad! The pre Christmas build up in school is fun...parties and a panto id much rather they be there enjoying various activities with their friends than being at home while I try and wrap presents and do food shopping! They still get at least a week off and can enjoy the presents they get and have some down time.
I really don't understand why you'd keep your children off school when they get to do something different in school. No wonder some kids hate going to school if they never get to go for the downtime activities!

Point taken, CauliflowerSqueeze Consulting on every decision would be unworkable.

I suppose what I meant to say was that in a better system, some schools would have uniform, and some wouldn't. Some would have longer terms, and others might have short terms but longer school days. Some would be very traditionally academic, and others with a heavier emphasis on sport or creative arts. Some would be more like Summerhill, and others like Michaela - the point being that when a parent signed up, they'd be signing up to a school with an ethos they valued and wanted to support, and one that they thought was best for their child. It wouldn't be perfect, by any means, and there would always be some people disagreeing with some things, but it'd be a whole lot better than the current system which is largely one-size-fits-all.

Maybe that's too idealistic and will never happen, but as it stands, I don't agree with saying 'you registered here, so you have to support this school in everything it decides.' Because a lot of the time there is no real choice.

Coming back to the thread topic, I like the idea of all compulsory school days having timetabled lessons, and then one or two extra at the end of term for parties, watching DVDs, Christmas quizzes and so on for those who want to attend. (and for staff to take down displays, clear cupboards, and all those other things which need doing at the end of term - which is why most of these off-timetable activities are taking place anyway)

Oh God - Teachers just can't win! two years ago, when my school enforced the rule for 'normal' lessons up till the last lesson of the last day of term, many parents wrote/called in to complain about that as well.

People complain if pupils do festive lessons

People complain if pupils have normal lessons

People complain if a term is 'too short'

People complain if a term is too long without realising that the calendar usually sets the term dates with when Christmas/Easter lies and when 190 days can fit in

People complain if a school are chasing up non-attendance

People complain if a schools don't chase up non-attendance, if it falls on a last day of term for example

I give up. I really do

Schools finish here at 1.30pm on Wednesday. My kids would never think that not going in on the last day of term was even an option, nor would I.

Our's finish on Wed too.

I went to school in Scotland and this 'not going in on the last day of term and not wearing uniform' was a Big Thing. I spent years trying to persuade my mum to let me stay off and/or wear my own clothes.

I moved to SE England 20 years ago and my DC are halfway through their school years. Not once have I encountered the same end-of-term twaddle! Could this be a Scottish thing??

I'm in Kent, my Dd finishes on thursday! I don't mind actually as it gives me a bit more time to finish sorting things.

Do you mean they should have finished last Friday? My part of Scotland finishes Friday 23rd.

We finish at 3.45 on Friday. Yes. I know.

I will be teaching any lessons I have but we also have a service in the village church (alternating between 2 churches). Now, it is not "education" but it is important. The school is part of the community and so we go into the village and take part in something. Some kids don't come to school as a result. But I think they, and their parents, are missing a broader definition of education. They don't have to pray, or sing. They just have to go along and be part of something.

Equally, we have a ceilidh in the afternoon. Not compulsory to dance, but it is a part of local culture.

Yes, they miss Maths or Chemistry, but education is broader than that. They should be there as they are participants in the school, not just recipients of learning.

Ours dont finish till normal time thursday.

Its a shame as there isnt much time to do Xmassy thing before the actual day but its not the end of the world.

Mine are going in. Already had teen asking if he can stay off thurs as all this friends seem to be having that day off! Disapointed him on that one!

Primary school have their Nativity service thurs morning and the Xmas coffee and mince pies afterwards at school. Yes today they are watching a film after lunch, tomorrow they are going to the panto, Wednesday is their party but mornings are still 'school work' and the rest is learning through fun too.

I am in Scotland too and have never heard of not going in for the last day as a 'thing' or non-uniform on the last day without the school actually sancioning it.