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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To keep my child off school after a security breach I was not informed about

100 replies

Star1234567890 · 30/06/2018 17:28

On Friday, my teenage son tells me that ten people in hoodys and balaclavas climbed over his school field fence (it's only about 3.5ft high) so all the pupils had to stay in the hall and then were only allowed in a small secured outdoor area later. Apparently a teacher confirmed this.

Sometimes my son misses details out of stories but doesn't blatantly lie so I know there is room for half a story but that kind of adds to my point...

There has been NO communication from the school about this. So with his half story, how can I do anything other than believe his version of events?

I feel like keeping him home on Monday until I've spoken with someone as 1) I don't know if these people are a threat for my son if they come back or if it was an isolated incident that has been resolved and 2) I can't trust school to let me know if there is an incident that involves what is effectively 'lockdown'.

I accept it may have even been a practice lockdown but assuming a teacher said 'men in balaclavas' is true that's a bit extreme from the usual 'theres a loose dog on the field'!

So AIBU to keep home until I speak to someone on Monday morning and gather the facts?

OP posts:
BackforGood · 30/06/2018 17:50

Yes, YABVU

Your son is in Yr10 for goodness sake. Whether it was a prank or what all is obviously fine and he isn't traumatised (or I'm assuming you'd have mentioned it). Send him in and ask him to find out the gossip.

SassitudeandSparkle · 30/06/2018 17:50

Even if something did happen (and from the details you've given, it's not a definite let's be honest here) the school dealt with it correctly and your DS was safe.

Don't let your anxieties take over here, think how your son would feel being kept off school and going in later than his peers.

Angelil · 30/06/2018 17:51

hahaha try that in a Dutch school. The rules on attendance are MUCH stricter here.

Original poster
Star1234567890 · 30/06/2018 17:54

I've spoken with a few other Mums now and we have stories ranging from one guy with his face covered to two people with knives.

I'm keeping an open mind which is why I want some assurance from teachers on Monday about what happened. Hopefully just a drill! A Facebook info page would have been handy but we don't have one.

OP posts:
PurpleCrowbar · 30/06/2018 17:55

Bored year 11s? On study leave, exams over, hanging around the dear old alma mater like a right bunch of saddoes.

Used to happen every year when I taught in the UK. Balaclavas are a twist, though!

BoneyBackJefferson · 30/06/2018 17:56

user1457017537

Strangely not reporting them would provoke a worse response form OFSTED.

Reporting and stating that policies where followed. they worked and no injuries were sustained would be much more beneficial to the school.

Squidgee · 30/06/2018 17:59

I expect its a load of crap, that kind of invasion would have meant the police being called, as they weren't I really don't think you have anything to worry about.

lololove · 30/06/2018 17:59

search your school name on facebook - maybe even with keywords? like "blahblah school hoodies" or just read through the posts that mention it for the last few days to see if any of the pupils etc who have low security settings have mentioned it.

If it was something serious there is no way this wouldn't have been communicated by the school or be on the news tbh!

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 30/06/2018 18:00

Climbing over a 3.5ft fence is not breaching security, there is no security. What did the lads in the balaclavas actually do? Did they threaten anyone?

Original poster
Star1234567890 · 30/06/2018 18:00

Son has nothing important on Monday but he would LOVE an extra hour or two at home haha. I know he's not lying but won't necessarily be reporting accurate info!

Completely believe it could be ex pupils, but even ex pupils can present a risk. I'm sure there were not knives but IF there was a genuine report of this, shouldn't we have the opportunity to collect our children at home time rather than leaving them walk home with an armed person in the area.

That said, I'm sure the knives addition to the story is Chinese whispers but it's a scary world and you never know sadly.

OP posts:
Original poster
Star1234567890 · 30/06/2018 18:03

@Squidgee

I don't know if police were called.

@Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar

Read earlier posts I've tried to explain there is a lockable area forming a courtyard but the school field is still accessible.

I have no idea what he/she/they did!

OP posts:
Notevilstepmother · 30/06/2018 18:03

It sounds like the school handled the situation appropriately and that it wasn’t a major incident. It would have been all over the news if it was. It was probably year 11 pupils dicking about.

By all means call the school and ask, but keeping your son off is an over reaction in my opinion.

As for fences, anyone determined enough can get over even a 8 foot fence.

LonginesPrime · 30/06/2018 18:04

I think if you think it's just a drill and are keeping an open mind, then YWBU to keep him off of school.

I think there has to be an element of trust that the school would have said something if it were anything more than a silly prank.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 30/06/2018 18:06

What risks? If there were weapons involved you'd have been informed. Are you expecting a return visit? Confused

Topseyt · 30/06/2018 18:06

The whole thing sounds pretty doubtful to me.

If there had been a major problem the school would surely have put some sort of a message out otherwise children will go home and tell their parents all sorts of things, some very fanciful. It could simply have been a drill.

People in hoodies and balaclavas attacking a school would surely have made the local news at least, if not national. I guess that it didn't. So I doubt that this actually happened.

I wouldn't keep him off. I would send him in and then later on phone the school to check it out.

You'd feel a right twonk if you kept him off and then found that nothing at all had happened.

Your DS probably does believe that what he has heard is true, but I'd be inclined to doubt it without proof.

ilovesooty · 30/06/2018 18:09

Let's hope every parent of a year 10 pupil doesn't keep their child at home and phone the school on Monday morning then...

feathermucker · 30/06/2018 18:11

If it was a genuine security threat, it's very doubtful that the school wouldn't have informed you.

BackforGood · 30/06/2018 18:11

I'm sure there were not knives but IF there was a genuine report of this, shouldn't we have the opportunity to collect our children at home time rather than leaving them walk home with an armed person in the area.

You do realise there are just as likely to be "armed people in the area" on any other day, don't you ? If - and lets be honest, t is a massive IF - someone really entered the school and threatened people with knives, and then got away, they are hardly likely to be hanging around the exits at a time there's be a big police presence, are they. You really aren't thinking logically.

GreenTulips · 30/06/2018 18:11

Money on board Year 11 teachers

Graphista · 30/06/2018 18:12

I'd be VERY surprised if this actually happened and it hasn't made the news!

My old primary school was on lockdown earlier this week for a different but far lesser reason and it made a mention on national news.

"I've spoken with a few other Mums now and we have stories ranging from one guy with his face covered to two people with knives." Incident I'm talking about less than that too!

I'm guessing IF anything happened was a prank or stunt the school knew about.

NeverTwerkNaked · 30/06/2018 18:15

Is there no unofficial Facebook page or similar? Or even FB group for your local area? If anyone else’s child came home with this story I would expect there to be some local Facebook posts about it somewhere ...

youarenotkiddingme · 30/06/2018 18:15

I think it's bad that no communication was sent of any description.

Recently ds secondary had 2 police cars and a van on site and visable police presence.
Due to various factors no students were at risk and the incident was dealt with effectively.
Due to confidentiality we could only be given some information.

But within 30 minutes of school end - by the time messages etc were circulating - we had a simple and factual email from HT clarifying.

It's easy to think the worst when it seems information is being withheld because in the current climate you wonder what they don't want you to know imo.

Topseyt · 30/06/2018 18:15

Actually, I probably wouldn't even bother contacting the school at all.

If there is anything to tell then they will tell you soon enough. If you hear nothing then there is nothing to know. It didn't happen or it was just a silly prank, high jinx etc. by school leavers who have recently finished exams.

Don't risk making a tit of yourself.

Candyflip · 30/06/2018 18:20

Apparently a teacher confirmed this what does this even mean? Did a teacher confirm this to you. I actually cannot believe a grown woman is this susceptible to teenage drama. Fucking hell.

RainbowGlitterFairy · 30/06/2018 18:27

It is probably a year 11 leavers prank with a nice dollop of chinese whispers thrown in, school probably didn't say anything so as not to cause unnecessary panic.

I can remember when I was at school a group of year 11's snuck in at the start of lunch and started throwing a few water balloons around, everyone was kept indoors for maybe 10 minutes and weren't allowed to the bottom field as a precaution. By home time the rumour mill had extended it to at least 20 masked men throwing balloons full of paint, some shouted threats and possibly some political message. There was no paint, no threats and there were 3 of them, I know because it was best friends brother and we may have helped fill the water balloons. Only parents informed straight away were mine and my friend's coz we got detention for our part, other parents only found out once the school had to step in to squash the rumours.