AIBU? School says sports day on Saturday is compulsory

[weekendsareforfamily]

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

[Maelstrop]

School will be unable to register the students that day due to the way all electronic registration systems are created. I can't register students on days when there is no official school. Just don't go.

[Panicmode1]

My son's (state grammar) has run sports day on a Saturday for a while. Sports fixtures are often at weekends and if he were remotely sporty he would attend. We just add it to the list of enrichment activities we do with our children at the weekends (riding, swimming, tennis, sailing, theatre and museum trips etc).....

[sirfredfredgeorge]

Could a school not schedule one of its days to be a saturday, there's presumably nothing actually preventing it in law - schools don't have to be mon-fri, just provide the 190 days. So it certainly could be a required day of school, very much doubt it though.

[mrsm43s]

Definitely compulsory at my children's school, as it was when I was at school. Of course, parents can ask for their child to be excused in exceptional circumstances, and no-one is going to come and bundle the child off in a van, but school places would certainly be in jeopardy for repeat no-shows at compulsory school events.

I'm not being smug, I'm just astounded that with a full years notice, a parent cannot prioritise one single Saturday for a school event, and considers it less of a priority than a swimming lesson! Such a lack of commitment and co-operation, and I'm not surprised that teachers are so demoralised.

And yes, I do think Sports Day is important. The sports themselves maybe not so much at Yr1, but teamwork, commitment, representing your House/Class etc, all very important skills, that we should start encouraging at a young age.

[weekendsareforfamily]

It's not a private school.
I have bulk paid for the swimming lessons for a term, we choose to have a holiday when the school is on break (obviously) and when my partner has shutdown. So we chose to lose out on the money for lessons to keep his slot otherwise we would end up waiting 12-18 months to book in his sessions again.

[GameOfMinges]

They don't have a leg to stand on.

[HellonHeels]

the list of enrichment activities we do with our children at the weekends (riding, swimming, tennis, sailing, theatre and museum trips etc

Dear me.

[my2bundles]

MrsM. Many children are part of ther clubs on Saturdays, commitment belongs with them not random school sports days, or are you saying that outside weekly commitments can just be let down at the drop of a hat? My own son has a sports commitment every single Saturday, no way on earth would he let down his club because school have one off event, ridiculous.

[campion]

Oooh Sports Day. Lots of: screaming children; running around; red faces; hanging around doing very little for most of it; tears and strident mega phones.

Plus...Year 1? They don't really get the point at that age,if there is one. And it's going to be 30°c on Saturday here.

Swimming all the way!

[ChocolateWombat]

When they say 'compulsory' they mean they want everyone to be there, not that it is a legal requirement, because it's not possible to make attendance at a Saturday event a legal requirement.

I'd take the view that this school is trying to put on a good school sports day and that these things are always better when everyone or almost everyone is there. I'd take the view that they have bothered to arrange it and tell people a year in advance so it's not a surprise and people can plan ahead, and therefore I would get my kids there.....and then it would probably be a good day.

Some parents will moan about this ....even though a year's notice has been given and even though the school is putting itself out to provide a fun day. Possibly the same people will later moan that the school doesn't put in enough or that it charges for some activities.

For goodness sake, it's once a year and there was a year of notice....is it really necessary to moan school as if they are the enemy? How about being supportive and recognising the effort put into these events, not for the benefit of the staff but the kids and that these things only really work if there is a brilliant turn out.

[Tiredtomybones]

Yanbu. Definitely no way we would change our plans to attend Sports Day. I feel sorry for the staff, who aren't paid to work weekends and will be expected to give their Saturday up too. Is it a state school, OP?

[WindDoesNotBreakTheBendyTree]

bollocks to sports day on a saturday
and bollocks to most of what mrsm43s said

OP just decline. Can't imagine the teachers - or anyone wants to give up their rare days off.

[Cath2907]

mrsm43s I went to Independant School and actively avoided any and all clubs or teams that required me to be present in school on my weekend or evenings. Instead I did Guides (and was selected for and attended International camp), learned to sail, worked in a part time job, learned to ride a horse and did a variety of other enrichment activities that my parents assisted me in prioritising over school netball. At college I ran the Chemistry society (lots of pub crawls and debauchery) and did aerobics and yoga but still stayed away from organised team sports. I now have a very highly paid Director level job, work from home, manage global teams and all without ever giving up a Saturday to school sports day or a hockey match.
I take exception to this crazy idea that "life skills" can somehow only be developed through competative sport. It simply isn't true. Learning to swim seems more important to me for a 7 year old than competing in the egg and spoon race.

[Parker231]

Of course he doesn’t have to go to school on a Saturday. If you were free and he wanted to go, fine but as you have another arrangement, you stick to your original plans.

My DC’s went to an Independent school but weekend activities were not compulsory. The majority of sporting and musical activities were after school so that families had their weekends free,

[Justpick]

DD’s Primary used to say that Christmas carol service was compulsory on an evening. We never went in 7 years because it clashed with her hobby and in all 7 years they never once said a word about it to me.

Definitely pull up your big girls pants. No school activity is compulsory on a Saturday.

[PrettyWisdomous]

Jumping in a sack probably not as many lives saved

probably a fair few made!

OP I don't see how they could make it compulsory. Ask your son what he would prefer and do that.

[weekendsareforfamily]

it is a state school

[weekendsareforfamily]

he he, I will pull up my big girl pants. thanks all

[mrsm43s]

With a year's notice for a one-off? Yes, I would prioritise Sports Day, unless it was a major event like a County match or Scout camp, but I'd expect the school to happily excuse the child if there was a valid reason like a County match, Scout camp etc

For a swimming lesson, with a years notice? When they are happy to drop swimming lessons for holidays? No, I think they should go to Sports Day. Maybe ask the school if can come after the lesson, given the timings, and see what they say. But would I just miss Sports Day with no communication? No. It's part of being committed to your school.

[Panicmode1]

HellonHeels I was being a bit facetious. We have four children, all of whom have different interests and so we do spent weekends enabling them to do those things.... I was trying to point out to the private school parent that a state school education and enrichment activities of a sporting nature weren't mutually exclusive.....

[Anniegetyourgun]

Absolutely ghastly idea. mrsm43s is the mad receptionist, isn't she? Or possibly the HT who thought up this jolly wheeze.

[Panicmode1]

'spend' weekends.....

[ChocolateWombat]

If the school were regularly insisting everyone attend events on a Saturday and giving no notice, I can see why people would complain.

However, given its a one off and people had a years notice and kids get a lot out of it, I'd be prepared to alter my usual arrangements for the benefit of my child and to show support for the school.

This raises the question of how much/far parents are willing to support their child's school? Stuff that gets offered outside of school hours is offered not because the staff love spending extra hours there, but because it is felt is will really benefit the children and their education. I understand that people are busy and have other commitments and these things aren't legal requirements.....but if a year of notice is given for a once a year event, thise who are supportive if the school will mostly find a way to be there. It will be those who basically aren't prepared to make any little changes or sacrifices or put themselves out for the school at all, and who want their child to have the minimum to do with school possible, who will refuse.

Missing one swimming lesson is perfectly doable. There has been a year of notice and the school clearly values the event, has put a lot of effort into it and thinks the children will benefit or really wouldn't have bothered. You can make an excuse of a prior commitment (even though there was a year of notice) and basically not support the school over this (as I'm sure others might do) or you can just accept that it might not be your favourite way to spend the day, but as this is a one-off you will just suck it up and support the school.

Isn't it good too to teach children that sometimes we do have to or choose to attend things that aren't our top choice of use of time....because we are involved with an organisation or people who are running them, and that supporting organisations or people we are involved with is the right thing to do. Learning that they only have to do things that they fancy doing or are convenient isn't a great lesson to teach kids.

[BlueBug45]

As a PP said learning to swim is more important that a school sports day on a non-school day. Tell the teacher he has a swimming lesson then and the time can't be changed as you booked them before the term dates were given out.

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

I'm sorry but I'd tell them where to stick that one