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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think headteachers can't win?

118 replies

DrSeuss · 28/02/2018 10:43

I'm a teacher. We are closed today for a snow day. Cue massive whinging from some parents about childcare and lack of notice as 7.15 am was apparently too late. To access the website, the Deputy Head needs to be on site so will have had to drive fifteen miles to put the notice up. God alone knows what time he left home.

My daughter's school is open. Cue massive whinging from some parents about Health and Safety/Let Kids be Kids. OK, some of the parents live a few miles away and may not be able to drive in so their kids will miss a day. However, the two Prime Whingers on the school's FB page live around three hundred yards from the gates! The school asked us all by email last night to send clothes suitable for playing outside today in a scheduled session this afternoon.

For the record, we have 10 cm of snow max, we are in the suburbs in a fairly affluent area where most people have cars. If we had more snow or lived in the country that would be different.

Heads can't really win. Close, open. It never suits. Wonder why so many teachers quit?

OP posts:
SashaSashays · 28/02/2018 10:46

I don't think there even should be an expectation that (Head)teachers please the parents.

OurMiracle1106 · 28/02/2018 10:50

Health and safety always comes first.

Headteacher also have to consider whether they actually will have enough staff. It’s all well and good those that can walk to school but my journey is 1hour in and I got a call from my manager at 7.30 to say not to go in the roads were too dangerous and she wasn’t prepared to risk her teams well being.

If there’s enough snow to cause mass disruption on public transport it’s going to make it very hard for staff to get in.

The weather can’t be helped just as parents have to take time off when kids are unwell. I

Flowers to all those having to arrange child care or try to get into work

blackteasplease · 28/02/2018 10:54

Sasha has it right I think. No expectation to please. Just do what is right in the circumstances.

I think there might be a bit of a sahp v wohp thing going on though. Sahp might err on the side of enjoying a snow day with kids or at least not having to struggle through the school run. Wohp will often be under alot of pressure to be at work, especially if their job is something like keeping the trains running!

HamishBamish · 28/02/2018 10:58

You're right, they can't win. Parents don't realise that school staff don't always live in the catchment area of the school either. It's not just about the kids getting in safety, but the staff too.

The Headteacher has to make a judgement call based on the information at the time. Schools are closed in Edinburgh, but really they could be open as the roads are clear. However, we have to go by the forecast and it's possible conditions could worsen during the day.

Original poster
DrSeuss · 28/02/2018 10:58

Of course they should do what is right even if that is unpopular but it just annoyed me this morning that both heads were taking flack having made what they presumably believe to be the best decision. It's the same parents over and over again. Nothing is ever good enough. If the one who had opened had closed, the same parents would be still finding fault. They seem to enjoy picking holes.

OP posts:
thewhitechapelfatberg · 28/02/2018 11:01

Perhaps if Headteachers explained the specific reasoning behind the closure, parents would be more sympathetic? (eg. “a large number of teachers live over 20 miles away and can’t make it to work today” or “the playground is banked with thick snow and access to the main building is difficult”. It can seem very arbitrary when you have two nearby schools each following a different policy, one open and one not.
But I do agree that parents will grumble whatever is decided. As a parent, it is annoying to have to get up and get ready, only receiving the crucial text message when you’re already halfway to school!

Graphista · 28/02/2018 11:05

Why can't website be accessed off site? That seems daft and risks safety of whoever has to get into school to update it.

Here it's for the council to decide and they left it REALLY Late (after 0830) and that's understandably pissed people off. Plus everyone was almost certain they'd need to close today so why not make the decision yesterday?

That said - it's impossible to please all of the people all of the time and in a role like headteacher I'd expect them to be resilient and shrug off spurious complaints.

Original poster
DrSeuss · 28/02/2018 11:05

I really had to rein myself in on FB this morning. How much earlier could they have been told? Someone has to physically enter the building to send the emails and texts and to get it up on the website. This was done by 7.15. The primary school said they would be open today last night! And as for complaining that your kid didn't get they day off to play when they are out by 3.15 and there's a scheduled snow session last thing today...

OP posts:
Mrstumbletap · 28/02/2018 11:07

Completely agree.

I have seen people moaning schools are closed and people moaning it’s open. You can’t please everyone, they just must do what’s best for their staff and pupils.

endofthelinefinally · 28/02/2018 11:08

It is mad that the head has to go into school to access the website.

MiaowTheCat · 28/02/2018 11:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GabsAlot · 28/02/2018 11:15

i know its based onhow many teachers can get in but 2 schools here within a mile one was closed one open

bittern79 · 28/02/2018 11:16

I agree with you! But some people just whinge about anything.

And why does the DH have to go into the school to access the website? Surely he can be set up to do it remotely??

GabsAlot · 28/02/2018 11:16

but that is ridiculous that the ht doesnt have remote access to the website

monkeysox · 28/02/2018 11:18

It's also based on the safety of the school site.

VladmirsPoutine · 28/02/2018 11:18

It is mad that the head has to go into school to access the website.

Agree. Is your head of IT still somewhere in 1987?

Bubble04 · 28/02/2018 11:21

It's ridiculous. Parents are never happy. Most schools round us are closed, and people have taken to social media to blame the teachers for not bothering to go in to work, hence giving them childcare issues. Why is everything the teachers fault? It's like a default.
My school is open with 75% of teaching staff having braved the weather, and less than 50% of the kids are there anyway. Still getting lots of complaints for opening and ruining the kids fun! Can't win...

Ginmakesitallok · 28/02/2018 11:22

Parents are right to be annoyed at a system which only gives about an hours notice of closure based on the fact that the head has to get to the school.

Jessbow · 28/02/2018 11:23

Presumably the D head accesses the website from the school so he can judge exactly what its like on site? ( he may live miles away)

he/she wont win either way,parents will whine about the decision, whichever way he goes

Penguinsandpandas · 28/02/2018 11:25

I do find some of the decisions odd. 2 schools a mile apart, few inches of snow on ground and heavy snow all day. Primary closed, most kids come in from 5 minutes walk away. Secondary most kids have journeys of an hour open. Another secondary open but says they are not giving kids lunch. Same weather conditions in all these places, its a bit puzzling as to why some stay open and some close. All public transport is down.

As a general rule though I think Heads can't win on anything.

neveradullmoment99 · 28/02/2018 11:26

We were unusually told the night before. It was a massive relief not to have to struggle in. It was the right call. It is STILL snowing.

Penguinsandpandas · 28/02/2018 11:26

Puzzled why someone has to go to the school to access the website, I think they need to get their IT updated from 1984 in that case.

neveradullmoment99 · 28/02/2018 11:27

We are never given advanced notice like this.

MaisyPops · 28/02/2018 11:27

Parents are right to be annoyed at a system which only gives about an hours notice of closure based on the fact that the head has to get to the school.
And how the hell do you expect a head to make the call when they aren't in school?

We find out at 730ish and then info goes out as soon as possible.

The other day we were open but delayed registration for the busses.
Another school near me was open but on reduced hours.

Some of us were on our way to work before we found out. But you know what, that's life. They know their site and their staff and the school context and make the call based on the info they have.

Some people just love a whine. Most kids don't live an hour from school.

neveradullmoment99 · 28/02/2018 11:27

We get a message from the school. Why on earth would anyone have to try to go to a school. They use group call here.