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

[weekendsareforfamily]

No day off in leui.

[ChocolateWombat]

It clearly isn't compulsory and it was a mistake on their part to say it was. Instead they should have said they would like everyone to attend and we're giving a years notice so that it would be possible for as many as possible to be there. This is what schools with a culture of one or 2 Saturday events a year do - they don't say it is compulsory but make clear attendance is the norm. They accept a few won't make it and certainly aren't chasing them up or fining them, but the vast majority do go and it's that which makes the events work and are worthwhile.

I'd try to see beyond the 'compulsory' thing. It's simply a one off Saturday event which the school valued enough to give a year of notice of and which they would like the vast majority to be at. If it's not within you to see that request as something worth saying 'yes' to, then that will be your choice because it isn't compulsory.

[Coloursthatweremyjoy]

My children have clubs on a Saturday, some of their friends are with NRPs. Others have parents who work weekends so they are with grandparents/aunties and uncles...school cannot hold a compulsory event on a Saturday. Regardless of how much notice they give. Dont go, you will be far from the only ones.

Was is really a years notice or were you just supposed to deduce that it would be a Saturday because it was going to be on a Saturday last year?

I also love the way pp asked why you booked swimming for that Saturday...where I come from we book a course. No way am I going to faff about trying to get a different class because school hold one event a year on a Saturday.

[Carriecakes80]

Bugger that! You're doing sports by going swimming, and how can they fine you for not being there on a saturday!
Weekends with my kids are precious, its the time when dad homes from work and we get to have fun together, school will never prioritise over that, and we home ed lol. x
plus way too hot to be out there doing sports day, swimming will be much better! x

[user546425732]

We have a clear policy at my school towards unsupportive parents like this- get in line or ship out.

@Sunnyshades is that private or state?

[SunnyShades]

@user546425732

State academy

[HowsAnnie25]

I wouldn't take my children to a sports day on a Saturday, whatever notice I was given.

[DaphneDiligaf]

Would the school like to refund the cost of the swimming lesson as they are not cheap or refundable in my experience.

[Dancergirl]

I wouldn't bother if I was the Head. I'd have a school-only Sports Day, an hour or two on a Friday morning, no parents invited

Now that's actually a great idea! Everyone's a winner. Who really wants to stand around in the heat watching their child take part in a 10 second beanbag race anyway? At most of the sports' days I've been to, parents seem more keen to chat than watch their child.

[BakedBeans47]

Well what does “supporting the school” look like then in your world chocolatewombat? I attend all events the school have like assemblies, lunches, meet the teacher days and the like. I am on the PTA so attend and organise all school events, send in stuff for them, spend money at fayres etc. They’ve attended events in the evenings, been in school shows, and I’ve supported it all. But scheduling events on a Saturday is overstepping the mark IMO. School is important but it isn’t and shouldn’t be the be all and end all. Kids and their families are allowed to prioritise other things in their own time without facing baseless allegations of “not supporting the school”

[PolkerrisBeach]

I think it's really sad that there are so many parents who are so unsupportive of their child's school. Doing the bare minimum, not doing anything which they aren't legally obliged to do.

It's a really shitty attitude.

[RatherBeRiding]

SunnyShades - so do you simply expel the students with the "unsupportive" parents?

[my2bundles]

To the poster who questioned how we discipline our kids if we carnt even support the school with a Saturday sports day this is how. My son attends school n time every day. He is polite, kind, works hard and never mis haves n class. I ensure all homework is in on time, we support events when it's realistic . He shows commitment to school, he also shows commitment to his Saturday sports club and shows good manners and discipline their helping with younger ones and raising money. He is a well rounded, polite and enthusiastic child even tho he knows some school events have to be missed due to other commitments. Yet you seem to think I lack in disiplining him due tI missing school events. Tell me now how can a 9 year old turn out like this without disapline from his mother?

[Soubriquet]

Not a chance in hell I would be taking my child to school on a Saturday for sports day.

Nope not happening.

[SunnyShades]

@RatherBeRiding

The pupils with unsupportive parents are supported with the transition to another school, yes.

[Coloursthatweremyjoy]

I don't think not wanting to attend a school event on a Saturday means you have a shitty attitude to be honest. It also has no bearing whatsoever on how much you support your child's school.

After all you might be incredibly supportive with, fetes, raffles, non uniform days, dress up days, charity days, fundraising events, picking up early/dropping off later to accommodate days out and curriculum enrichment, school plays, assemblies, parents evening, cake sales, book fayres, school parties, church services....

[agentdaisy]

Frankly I'd tell school to sod off op. No way would I give up a big chunk of the only time we get as a family for a primary school sports day which is mostly sitting around on the school field in blazing sun with no shade.

Our weekends are for recharging and spending time as a family without having to rush round to get to school and work.

Sunnyshades your school sounds like a really welcoming place. A state primary can't make children leave because their parents aren't supportive.

[ikeepaforkinmypurse]

I like the posts about parents who have other commitments on Saturdays. Funnily enough, most of us do have commitments on week day too, usually work to pay the bills...

I would be the first to moan if I was told that sports day was this Saturday. Being given an entire YEAR of warning however.. that's more than we get when sports day is held during the week and we have to book time off!

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

Of course. Its not bloody compulsary. They cant demand you bring your child to school on the weekend.
What about parents who work or have other commitments..

[Borisdaspide]

The pupils with unsupportive parents are supported with the transition to another school, yes.

What a tremendously shitty school that must be.

Sports day was my most hated day of the year at school, not a single fucking chance you'd have got me in as a child.

[SunnyShades]

@agentdaisy

I think the fact you'd tell a school to 'sod off' for trying to put on a fun event for your DC and build a school community says all we need to know about your attitude and parenting.

You and your DC would be out the door within weeks at my place.

[GameOfMinges]

It's only your kids who will miss out if you choose to play the martyr and not go.

Alternatively, her child will miss out if she is influenced by some of the massively sanctimonious twaddle on this thread and sends them to sports day out of some misguided sense of duty.

OP it's not compulsory and you won't be fined. Just choose which event you think your child will get most out of attending and do that. He's not going to derive any particular benefit from attending a Year 1 sports day other than perhaps having fun if it's his sort of thing, and nor is yours and his presence at an optional, out of hours sports day of any real importance to the school. Equally, one missed swimming lesson isn't likely to have much long term impact either. And if you've already paid then you're not losing any more money by him not going than him going.

Just ignore some of the more ludicrous posts on this thread and pick whatever you think your child will benefit from most. Treat anyone who thinks it must be one or the other on principle with suspicion.

[NotAgainYoda]

I don't even think the school can demand that staff attend on a Saturday...

[Pengggwn]

Dancergirl

Bit sad that, isn't it?

[colditz]

Sports day on Saturday?

Lol

No.

I wouldn't even engage with them about this.

Just don't go.