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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To send my children to school in the last week of term?

249 replies

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 25/06/2018 16:43

Here in Scotland it is the last week of summer term. According to both my dds (14 and 13) NO ONE goes to school in the last week, and definitely not in the last couple of days! They know they will both be sent in anyway, but are moaning that it's really boring, they don't do any work as the teachers can't teach anything because they would just have to teach it again when the rest of the class was there. Apparently they are told to "play on your phones", and some teachers are actively hinting/ suggesting they don't come in!

I'm a bit pissed off with this. On one hand the school officially disapproves of parents taking children out during term time to get cheap holidays, on the other hand the children who do make the effort to go in are seen as an inconvenience, it would seem. There is no penalty for not going in. Dd2 is home upset because her lovely friends are all staying off the last two days and going to a theme park, despite knowing that dd won't be able to join them, and will be in school on her own. (This isn't just hearsay, they did this at the end of last term too) So I am the worst mother in the world for making them go to school. Am i?

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 25/06/2018 16:44

There seems little point in sending them really.

Domino20 · 25/06/2018 16:47

Wow, we've got another 4 weeks of school in London
misses point

Racecardriver · 25/06/2018 16:47

I was around that age when my parents started letting me decide whether I wanted to go to school or not. I graduated with a grade in the top 1%. I don't see any harm in letting them nkt go.

Deshasafraisy · 25/06/2018 16:47

Are you just taking your kids word for it that this is how the teachers feel? When I was that age I would have told my parents any old story to stay off school.

DickensianHysteric · 25/06/2018 16:48

It was like this when I was at school (also in Scotland but in the 90s). My mum always made us go so I don't think YABU. I bet there will be more kids in than you think.

Original poster
ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 25/06/2018 16:49

See, that annoys me! They will have a six week holiday, is that not enough? Surely the school should make sure there IS a point to their attending?

OP posts:
Halfblindbunny · 25/06/2018 16:49

If the teachers are letting them play on their phones all day I would suggest they go in and do that otherwise they can stay home and I will go down something for them to do and it won't be as much fun as dossing around at school.

Bramble71 · 25/06/2018 16:50

Crikey! The only time I didn't go to school in the last weeks of term was my final year, before my O'Levels. I had no idea kids could now decide!

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 25/06/2018 16:52

Suggest to your DC that if they stay home, they have to work through a full list of chores/housework. Bet they won't be so keen to stay home then!

Etymology23 · 25/06/2018 16:52

Our school never taught anything in the last week of term: instead they ran the overseas trips then, or there was a camping trip to the nearby seaside or a drama production, or you could do crafts or board games or sports. There were day trips to the dry ski slope, or bowling, or rollerskating or the theatre. Year 10s did work experience. Always seemed like a good compromise to me.

MeMyselfand · 25/06/2018 16:53

😂 I've been having the exact same argument with my teen (15). She can stay off the last day and that's it, no way is she lying in her stinking pit of a room for an extra week

SprogletsMum · 25/06/2018 16:54

Nah I'd send them. It's a school day you go to school. I don't give a shit what their friends are doing they aren't my dc.

Pengggwn · 25/06/2018 16:56

I'd suggest (to DC) emailing the teachers and saying, "Please could you confirm the topic areas DC will be working on in the last week of term? He/she appears to be under the impression there will be no learning taking place and students will be messing about on their phones." Say you're copying in the Head.

Watch DC back down!

Original poster
ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 25/06/2018 16:57

Memyselfand Grin. Funnily enough my teen also resides in a stinking pit!!

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 25/06/2018 16:58

Send them mine used to pull this they didn't go last half daysome years but bloody hell theyhave 7 weeks of holidays

Original poster
ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 25/06/2018 16:59

I have threatened to contact the school, penngwn. Dc said go ahead, nothing will change!

OP posts:
Redglitter · 25/06/2018 17:00

I bet everyone's parents are getting 'No one is going in this week' line from their kids.

Pengggwn · 25/06/2018 17:03

In that case, do it. Cc the Head. This shouldn't be happening.

Original poster
ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 25/06/2018 17:03

If they did stay off, they would be coming to work with me, so not much fun Grin. Dd2 has at least not been brave enough to dog off behind my back, so I have said we will reward their school attendance with a nice treat, a day out or something.

OP posts:
paganmolloy · 25/06/2018 17:05

Well mine are going in, even Thursday when it's a half day. They get over six weeks off so even though it's a heatwave right now, I'm quite happy to be the worst Mum in the world.

EmGee · 25/06/2018 17:06

It's double standards from the school if it's true. You're not 'allowed' to take your kids out of school during term time, but the last week/couple of days are a waste of time. In my last school, a couple of weeks before the end of term, the kids all moved up into the next year and the teachers were supposed to start teaching the new syllabus. It kind of worked but the last few days are always going to be a 'free for all'. We used to call our department the Odeon due to the amount of films that were shown......

I like PPs comment about organising activities and doing trips.

I would also still send them regardless of their moaning!

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 25/06/2018 17:07

do they not have a sickness bug atm?

MeMyselfand · 25/06/2018 17:08

It's their natural habitat Grin🤢

Tell them you've checked with other mum's and yes there will be children in school this week. You don't need to say who you checked with 😂

whiskeysourpuss · 25/06/2018 17:10

They must go to DD's school because she's been saying the same thing trying the same load of bollocks all weekend... funnily enough when I pointed out that'd be great as I'm off work all week & she could help me gut out the entire flat from top to bottom her tune changed

user1493841671 · 25/06/2018 17:13

My ds (2nd year) is watching movies in most classes all this week. I'm still sending him in as his attendance is already a bit low due to illness and one or two teachers are actually teaching something.
I can understand him asking if he has to though, sitting in a classroom watching Ghostbusters in this heat wouldn't be something I'd want to do either.