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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:
Silver1022 · 04/07/2018 18:31

Also in the four years my son has been there he has never taken part in sports day. They just walk round getting burgers and spending money on the different stalls. They have registration taken in the morning and before they are dismissed in the afternoon and yes they are a rugger school they only play football in PE when they are in sixth form.

Mrseft · 04/07/2018 18:40

I don’t get it, our nursery aged daughter loved her sports day, the entire school turned out parents came armed with picnics and tents for shade etc and it was a truly wonderful day. My daughter got a lot out of it. She learned physical skills and how to compete in a friendly atmosphere and how to be a part of something big in the school community. Personally I don’t think it’s unreasonable to put it on a Saturday with a years notice at all.

letstalk2000 · 04/07/2018 18:43

'Silver' Yeah a state school with delusions of grandeur !
It has always amazed me where some state schools get off with being rugby playing schools as if to say football is for 'OIKS ' and the great unwashed !

This especially as the public schools which they try to ape are primarily 'football' schools where the game actually originated from....

N.B William Webb Ellis was a cheat, never forget that...

LisaSimps0n · 04/07/2018 19:10

I'm actually a senior deputy headteacher in a large primary school, so I do know exactly what I'm talking about.
and
Which is why we had 600 applications for 50 places this year.
So which is it SS? Are you forgetting your own story?

BertrandRussell · 04/07/2018 19:13

A state school playing rugby? How very dare they!

BertrandRussell · 04/07/2018 19:14

They'll be playing Fives next......

Jorah · 04/07/2018 19:20

Wow. Just go. It wi probably be fun.

letstalk2000 · 04/07/2018 19:36

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Gildedcage · 04/07/2018 20:22

We used to have sports day followed by the summer fair, where all the children used to buy old rubbish from the brick a brac stall or tombolla. If the weather was really good the kids and parents might get a mass rounders going on the green in front of the school.

We loved it, but this is in the 80’s and most of us had no money for “enrichment activities” some of us played instruments etc but I do genuinely feel time feels more stretched these days.

Anyway, it was never billed as compulsary and we (the children) were excited for it. Personally I think billing it as just another rule to be obeyed puts people’s backs up. There are so many rules for parents from schools now that simply didn’t exist when I was younger and I do think people get fed up with being told what they should be doing and when. We can’t even decide how to feed our children, it just gets a bit annoying to be told you will loose your Saturday, no questions, we gave you a years notice what more do you want. Rather if things were more easy going and it was billed as a fun family day the parents and children would want to go through choice, giving it priority over other activities...

Gildedcage · 04/07/2018 20:23

Sorry missed that our sports days were on Saturday Blush

DontCallMeCharlotte · 04/07/2018 20:32

I agree - I imagine there will be a rash of mysteriously "sprained ankles" and tummy bugs this particular Saturday!

kitchensinkmum · 04/07/2018 20:42

The school can't make you go or punish or fine you.
Saturday is t compulsory unless it's a private school

kitchensinkmum · 04/07/2018 20:42

**isnt

FiveGoMadInDorset · 04/07/2018 20:52

So I guess the excuse of moving house on my DD's sports day wouldnt cut it.

FaveNumberIs2 · 04/07/2018 21:13

What a crock of shit! Take it to the governors and tell them no, you won’t be making your child miss paid for activities to do a sports day at school on a Saturday

janeclairephelps2 · 04/07/2018 21:23

For goodness sake - change the swimming lesson and let your kid be part of the school activity. Why should you prevent him from being involved in what is a fun activity, part of normal school life. He will like the races and seeing older children compete and understanding that you join in with the organisation you are part of is an import lesson.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 04/07/2018 21:50

FWIW court ordered contact does still apply regardless of sports day, birthday parties or any other excuses. Even the kind that is scheduled through mediation or similar without recourse to the courts generally takes precedence over social events. It sucks sometimes but it is the reality for many many families.

BackforGood · 04/07/2018 21:58

Thing being, even if your dc were marked as an 'unauthorised absence', it actually makes not one jot of difference to them. It is the school that woill suddenly have a whole raft of 'ua's to explain away. It is the school's % figures that are going to take a dive. Which will be the consequence of whoever's daft decision it was to try to move a school day onto a day when pupils and families have other commitments.

campion · 04/07/2018 22:26

Kai Rooney's at Manchester Grammar School though not for much longer I guess.

Maybe they'll post him off to Eton later. At least they play football there.

lilkitten78 · 04/07/2018 22:27

I think this is my DD's school, by the quote from the receptionist on FB. We were given an extra inset day in lieu for them going in on the Saturday, and it's been the same since the school started I think. Usually gets a good turnout, and I'll go with a picnic, but if DD wants me to leave I can go shopping for a bit :-)

Because it's in place of a weekday that they had off at some point, I think they do register the children.

Bekstar · 04/07/2018 22:46

The school cannot issue a fine for a Saturday their remit doesn't cover weekends, if it was through the week fair enough, but a child only has to attend school Monday to Friday, they cannot enforce any fines at all and if they try I'd dispute it and take it all the way

Terri84 · 04/07/2018 23:01

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dragonara53 · 04/07/2018 23:10

My kids all hated sports day. The day that the unsporty kids all got made fun of and made to cry. I usually booked my kids in for dentist appointments on that day so they didn't have to take part. When they got older if they were at school on sports day and had to take part, did they run? Did they fuck. They did a slow bloody walk. As for Saturday sports days, not a chance in hell nobody would have turned up only the teachers. Don't get me started on schools that are now Academies. What a load of bollocks, more and more of these Academies are springing up and are owned by the same companies and to be honest they are shite.

PinkCrystal · 04/07/2018 23:17

This used to annoy me. if it isn't in school time don't go unless you and DC want to.

GinGarden · 04/07/2018 23:24

The school / staff are going to a lot of effort AND giving up THEIR Saturday too, how dare you think that you and you and your darling DC are too important to miss it. School Sports Day is an integral part of school life and I doubt your DC will thank you for it.
No wonder children have no respect these days when parents clearly have no respect or manners either!

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