Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think school heads should be contactable in school holidays

752 replies

EloiseMinch · 23/07/2018 16:28

A secondary head is likely to be on 70k+ and a primary head of 50k+. Those are high salaries for positions of senior management responsibility. AIBU to think they shouldn't just cut off completely in the school holidays?

Maybe some heads really are working in the holidays but I know the head at DC's school definitely doesn't. She is, for example, completely uncontactable from the end of one term to the start of the next.

OP posts:
TheIcon · 24/07/2018 07:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Pengggwn · 24/07/2018 07:36

EloiseMinch

Why can't the Head delegate to the Deputy? What's the issue?

Pengggwn · 24/07/2018 07:38

EloiseMinch

Does the Head respond to other parents during term-time?

Original poster
EloiseMinch · 24/07/2018 07:39

Pengggwn

That would be fine except.. the head didn't delegate. She just failed to respond completely. The deputy had heard nothing from the head when I spoke to him.

And, the deputy doesn't seem to have the authority to make the more significant changes that might help.

OP posts:
LanguageAsAFlower · 24/07/2018 07:40

Most people would use the word leader for a HT it denotes more strategic work. Your local Tesco has a manager, they write rotas and do stock takes.
A HT strategically leads a school.

Most schools aren't entirely under local authority but to be honest I just feel like your whole attitude is derisive. I don't know what your head is like - obviously they might be a complete idiot, but come lead my school for a year, you'd be protecting every minute of holiday you could, and I know you'd see how the head earns every single penny you're speculating on.

It's only the first week of the holiday. The head may have gone away for 2 weeks straight away, leave an email/letter and focus on your child. If your child is being bullied, I absolutely sympathise but they need you to be focussed on them, not looking for a head to "sort it".

Original poster
EloiseMinch · 24/07/2018 07:40

OP I’m married to a HT of a large primary school. He is taking 4 weeks off this Summer and is in work this week and the last week.

Your DH sounds very hard working!

I don't think heads are generally lazy, in case that wasn't clear.

OP posts:
TheIcon · 24/07/2018 07:41

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Pengggwn · 24/07/2018 07:41

EloiseMinch

How long did you leave it before contacting the Deputy?

Original poster
EloiseMinch · 24/07/2018 07:42

Does the Head respond to other parents during term-time?

No.

OP posts:
OldBean2 · 24/07/2018 07:43

I read most of this thread yesterday and caught up this morning. I regret that in the school I chair you would probably be deemed a vexatious complainant.

It seems that no answer will satisfy you bu the sound of your own voice and the sight of your own words on screen. It has been explained that many head teachers are in school, but not necessarily available to you. Do you actually think that the first day that staff are back in school is the first day of term? Then I am afraid you are sadly deluded.

Nor do you seem to have any idea what the role of a HT requires or as you so disdainfully describe it, a non-teaching Head. I considered explaining it to you but frankly I believe you are neither capable nor willing to take that on board.

As to not knowing what a Complaints Procedure is, it has been explained to you before, so your comments come across as totally disingenuous.

There are plenty of people here who would have helped you if your problems were real but your goady attitude does you no favours whatsoever.

Plughole3 · 24/07/2018 07:43

A headteacher in London much more likely to be on 100k plus.

Original poster
EloiseMinch · 24/07/2018 07:44

How long did you leave it before contacting the Deputy?

I have been trying to fix the problem in general since November. I tried to contact the head once then but but after getting nothing just carried on talking to the class teachers and then the phase leader. Eventually when that wasn't working well I tried to contact the head again a couple of times and then I contacted the deputy.

OP posts:
Plughole3 · 24/07/2018 07:44

misses point of thread

LizzieSiddal · 24/07/2018 07:45

OP That sounds good. Our head won't allow anyone to have her email address.

You do realise that’s to protect them from parents like you?

Original poster
EloiseMinch · 24/07/2018 07:45

OldBean2

I completely disagree. With respect to the school and the head, all I have ever done is try to arrange a meeting with her. I haven't made a single complaint, let along a vexatious series of complaints.

OP posts:
Original poster
EloiseMinch · 24/07/2018 07:46

As to not knowing what a Complaints Procedure is, it has been explained to you before, so your comments come across as totally disingenuous.

This is nonsense too I am afraid.

OP posts:
Original poster
EloiseMinch · 24/07/2018 07:47

LizzieSiddal

That's one attitude one can take. I am not sure it is a very positive one for a senior manager to take though. As has been said, it would be fine if you could email the school office and get a response but that doesn't work either.

OP posts:
Lweji · 24/07/2018 07:53

Whenever I go on holiday and feel guilty for not checking emails just in case, it always turns out none of them were sufficiently urgent that required action before I got back to work.

So, not bothering with the dripfeed, I assume the school was on fire. Right?

Funny thread.

Pengggwn · 24/07/2018 07:53

EloiseMinch

This is getting weirder. Why have a 20 page thread about her holidays when the fact is, she has never replied? Why email her in the holidays when you know she doesn't deal with parents directly?

OhTheRoses · 24/07/2018 07:54

Well ours always were. They were about overseeing building works and the year dd had a terrible accident in August and I left a msg on the answering machine she called me within 24 hours. Clearly they are around for the critical stuff just not for little Johnny on the wrong reading scheme.

BTW £50k primary and £70k secondary is laughable. Our heads were on tons more than that.

StoorieHoose · 24/07/2018 07:58

Your previous reasoning on them being a a public servant is flawed. When you contact the council you start with the general info email then you are passed up the tree of the department and only if your complaint is serious enough will your reach the head of service. YOU have started the ball rolling and got to the deputy head. YOU haven’t followed the schools complaint procedure. YOU have allowed the school to fob you off by saying leave it a couple of weeks. YOU will have to make an appointment with the depute head for the start of term

MoonsAndJunes · 24/07/2018 07:58

Just had a thought. If it makes you feel any better OP. My HT (teacher here) doesn't even reply to staff e-mails. She forwards them to one of her minions - SLT, extended SLT. They then deal with it (or not).

longwayoff · 24/07/2018 07:59

The following day and you're still at it ms minch? I think you would benefit from a long holiday, no internet and mobile, just a lot of time for self-reflection. I expect you're too busy though.

MoreProsecco · 24/07/2018 07:59

That is a TAAT & should be reported & deleted.

MoonsAndJunes · 24/07/2018 08:00

Why email her in the holidays when you know she doesn't deal with parents directly?

This ^