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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU? School says sports day on Saturday is compulsory

457 replies

weekendsareforfamily · 03/07/2018 14:55

My son is in year one, so second sports day now. Last year it was scheduled on a Saturday but the weather was bad so was cancelled and rearranged for a Tuesday afternoon. This year it is planned for this coming Saturday. My boy has a swimming lesson from 09:30, the children have to be in school for 09:00.
On the FB group chat someone has asked whether they have to go as they are working and cannot get the child to school. The receptionist has replied saying yes as its a compulsory day and we have all known about this since September last year.
Now I was planning on popping into the reception to say my boy wouldn't make it because he's swimming but now I am worried I will be told tough and that I knew about this so should be bringing him in. I am worried I will be fined if he doesn't attend but it's a Saturday?! Do I tell the truth and risk a fine? Do I lie and make up another reason? Do I lose out on the money I have already paid for his swimming lessons (we have already lost out on two from going away at last half term)? Arrrgh
WWYD? Thanks

OP posts:
AlexanderHamilton · 03/07/2018 21:06

Remember the judge who wasn’t a judge anyone?

FrayedHem · 03/07/2018 21:11

Judge Flounce was before I joined but was frequently referenced

Feenie · 03/07/2018 21:13

I'm actually a senior deputy headteacher in a large primary school, so I do know exactly what I'm talking about.

Ahhhhhhhhh.

You're the 'senior deputy head' (still don't know what one of those is, btw) who closes at 3.30 every night, aren't you? I remember your other thread.

Whether your teachers want you to or not? And you have meetings with anyone about workload if they can't manage it, and staff meetings are at lunchtime - iirc, they have ten minutes to have lunch/go to the toilet.

No one believed you then, either!

AnneElliott · 03/07/2018 21:14

Are the teachers going to be there? I'd understood that teachers couldn't be forced to attend outside of directed time? That's why one of our local schools does their fete on a Friday afternoon. As if on a Saturday, the teachers can't be forced to attend.

I wouldn't go op if you've got swimming, or take him later once the lesson has finished.

Clairetree1 · 03/07/2018 21:17

Are the teachers going to be there? I'd understood that teachers couldn't be forced to attend outside of directed time?

again, its a school day, so it will be directed time, and the directed time will be deducted elsewhere

GameOfMinges · 03/07/2018 21:23

Again, you're still making an assumption about that.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 03/07/2018 21:23

600 applications for 50 places doesn’t actually mean 600 applications in terms of the admissions process though. It’s a virtually meaningless statistic. Especially if you’re somewhere like London.

Rebecca36 · 03/07/2018 21:26

I agree with others who've said it wouldn't hurt to cancel one swimming lesson but if your child doesn't want to go to sports day, don't go, let them go swimming.

Going to school on a Saturday for whatever reason is voluntary. I remember very well being told off because I couldn't do a Saturday, my parents were planning a weekend away for us. Flipping cheek telling a kid off for that.

IDrinkFromTheKegOfGlory · 03/07/2018 21:37

Some posters talk such shite! 🙄

I am a teacher at a state secondary school, a governor at my kids' state primary and an active member of their PTA. In the time my kids have been at their primary I have listened to priority readers, accompanied sports trips, helped with whole-class music tuition, etc.

I could not be more supportive of their school (and it's a fantastic one) but I WOULD NOT be happy about a school sports day on a Saturday. My kids have every right to feel committed to their hobbies and that's no matter how far in advance the event was planned. School is Mon-Fri and the weekends are ours to arrange as we see fit.

And I can tell you another thing, the staff will not be happy with a Sat sports day either. They'll be spitting bricks at whichever member of the SLT dreamed that one up! 😂

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 03/07/2018 21:38

How have I missed the ‘senior deputy head’ thing?

I could guess at what one of those is, but I’m not sure why a 1.5 form entry primary would need one.

Clairetree1 · 03/07/2018 21:39

Again, you're still making an assumption about that.

no I'm not, teachers have a certain number of directed hours per year, when they have to be on site, and they are all allocated at the beginning of the year, so if they need to work this Saturday there will be other times they are not required on site

Going to school on a Saturday for whatever reason is voluntary.

not if it's an allocated school day. What don't you get? t really is quite simple. This is a school day, therefore it is compulsory.

Feenie · 03/07/2018 21:41

Sounds exactly the same as the poster who is convinced there are duty social workers roaming around ready to scoop up kids who aren't collected by 3.45.

IDrinkFromTheKegOfGlory · 03/07/2018 21:41

It would have to be in their contract for it to be directed time.

IDrinkFromTheKegOfGlory · 03/07/2018 21:43

And all teachers work the same number of contracted days in the year. They would have to have a day off in lieu for this to work.

Feenie · 03/07/2018 21:43

Schools cannot direct teachers or children to attend on a Saturday, whether it not another day is given in lieu. They just can't.

BlackeyedSusan · 03/07/2018 21:44

out of 190 days of school in a year, they could not find one morning to hold sports day?

AussieOzborn · 03/07/2018 21:53

Sod sports day. Six horses couldn't drag me there!

Topseyt · 03/07/2018 22:09

Sports day on Saturday! Bollocks to that.

Even if I was given a decade's notice it wouldn't be enough.

Clairetree1 · 03/07/2018 22:13

Schools cannot direct teachers or children to attend on a Saturday, whether it not another day is given in lieu. They just can't.

sorry

they just can

Clairetree1 · 03/07/2018 22:14

its not even unusual

Feenie · 03/07/2018 22:17

Not unless it's in the contract.

Wouldn't be signing that.

Of course it's unusual, you've got hoards of teachers posting just that.

Feenie · 03/07/2018 22:18

And parents.

strawberrypenguin · 03/07/2018 22:20

Just don't go. I bet lots don't.

tinyme77 · 03/07/2018 22:23

It's sports day. That's much more important than a swimming lesson.

drspouse · 03/07/2018 22:24

There will be, she will be down one day somewhere else, like before Christmas, or after Easter, or similar
This is how the school near us works. Sports day or concert or whatever on a Saturday and start a day later one term. Attendance on the Saturday is just as compulsory as on other days.
Maybe they keep attendance on slates as it's quite an old school, if the "computer says no"
It's a state school, part boarding, part day. I imagine if you were selected to play for England they'd mark it however you were marked if it was a Tuesday.

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