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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To try and think of a reason for dd not to go to Saturday school??

42 replies

Miladymilord · 04/09/2018 12:32

Dd is at a very good independent. It's mainly boarding, but she's a day girl. Her Saturday lesson timetable for year 11 is
Free
Pshe
Free

AIBU to try and think of something she could be doing instead so we can avoid her having to get up early and drive for 45 mins for basically no lessons??

She wants to stay at home and revise instead and just go in for the afternoon (sports matches)

She's a scholarship girl as well just to make it more complicated
It just seems silly to go all tat way to sit in the library for 2 hours

OP posts:
Sirzy · 04/09/2018 12:33

I would sell it to her as the frees are a great chance to revise with School resources available to her!

MrsSnootyPants2018 · 04/09/2018 12:33

Surely Saturday school isn't a new concept for you here. You decided to send her there and that's their timetable.

She can easily revise in the two free periods.

Send her

Original poster
Miladymilord · 04/09/2018 12:34

She's done Saturday school for years but she's had lessons!

OP posts:
Original poster
Miladymilord · 04/09/2018 12:35

She finds it easier to revise at home - the library is often noisy and understaffed.

OP posts:
Andthentherewere5 · 04/09/2018 12:37

My DD is a day pupil at an independent and Sat morning is viewed as usual school time. They would take a very dim view of my DD missing it, whatever the timetable is. There is the expectation you will be here.
Have you spoken to her tutor about it?

Original poster
Miladymilord · 04/09/2018 12:38

Yes her tutor agreed with her that it was silly and that she should try and think of something else to do! Not helpful!!

OP posts:
Want2bSupermum · 04/09/2018 12:41

We had school Saturday morning and sports matches in the afternoon. I'm surprised the library is so loud. That is an issue I'd be raising with the appropriate person.

We never had a free period Saturday mornings. I'm really surprised that is her schedule. In any case, IMO PSHE is an important subject which my school often taught on a Saturday when everyone was more relaxed.

Original poster
Miladymilord · 04/09/2018 12:42

It's a stupid schedule but I can't really see how she can miss it.

OP posts:
PhilomenaButterfly · 04/09/2018 12:43

WTF is Saturday school? Confused

DPotter · 04/09/2018 12:44

I think you've signed up to a boarding school as a day pupil - you were aware Saturday school was part of the package. She needs to go. This is one of the reasons I always advise parents to be very careful when sending a child as a day pupil to a boarding school.

Can she stay over on Friday evening, so all you have to do is collect her after the matches ? Would also be a great way for her to be involved in the school social life.

School may also get a bit huffy and not select her for sports teams if she's not there in the mornings - well DD's prep school did, and it wasn't a boarding school. You're not there on Saturday morning - you don't get to represent the school on Saturday afternoon.

DPotter · 04/09/2018 12:46

Boarding schools and traditional prep school have standard lessons on Saturday mornings with sport in the afternoons as 1) a way of keeping boarders occupied and 2) to make up time on standard lessons given their timetables build in more sports, drama etc.

Gersemi · 04/09/2018 12:53

If the tutor is willing to help. can she talk to someone about swapping the PHSE session to a later slot?

toothtruth · 04/09/2018 12:55

Can she not just go in for the Pshe so she doesnt have to get up so early? Or do they do that stupid morning registration thing instead of registration at every lesson?
When I had Saturday lessons I just went in on the bus for the actual lessons not the free periods... and I usually went home on the bus before sport unless I really couldnt get out of it lol. No one batted an eyelid.

StandardsHighSquatsLow · 04/09/2018 13:02

What DPotter said!

I worked in a boarding school and there were various options for boarding but one was staying over up to 2x a week. She could board on Friday nights. I know it doesn't help her with what to do on Saturday mornings but it does take the pressure off you. It means she can stay later during the week as well which might be good with it being GCSE year and having that set time to do homework.

Obviously if it's not feasible financially (you mentioned a scholarship so...) then that's that but definitely something to consider.

Original poster
Miladymilord · 04/09/2018 13:10

She's happily gone in on Saturday since year 7 but she's always had at least one lesson.

She can't board unfortunately there is no flexi and she hates boarding aneyay. I might just ask the school what they think and hope they suggest she just goes in for Pshe... Doubt it though!

OP posts:
Peridot1 · 04/09/2018 13:11

I hate Saturday school too. But it’s what you sign up for. I’ve found they tend to be more relaxed in 6th form but that might be because DS had lots of issues in year 11and. Used most of the year so they are pretty relaxed with him once he’s there for lessons.

It does sound a weird timetable for a Saturday morning but given its gcse year it’s actually a great opportunity for her to study. If her tutor agrees with you she might be ok with her not going in every Saturday. Schools place a great importance on PSHE but I know DS finds it boring. Maybe a compromise would be every second Saturday. Or going in for first two periods and coming home after PSHE?

I know I’d be trying to find a way out of it too but DH would not be keen!

Rebecca36 · 04/09/2018 13:12

I would send her but occasionally let her have a Saturday off sick or for some family occasion.

How does she feel about it and as she is probably aged 15-16, can she not go there on public transport to save a parent having to get up early on a Saturday?

mygrandchildrenrock · 04/09/2018 13:18

Not a private school, but when my youngest son was in Y13, he had no lessons at all scheduled on Wednesdays, but still had to go in!

youmeandconchitawurst · 04/09/2018 13:18

it's part of the school week as defined by that institution.

what you're implicitly telling her by trying to get out of it is that commitments you don't fancy keeping are negotiable. yes, it sucks, but so does most of working life and a fair bit of the stuff in between so she might as well learn early that just because you don't want to do an early start isn't an excuse not to do it.

if it's that big a deal change schools to one that doesn't do Saturday mornings.

yabu

Postino · 04/09/2018 13:21

Are there other school resources she could be making use of, a music room maybe?

budgiegirl · 04/09/2018 13:40

To be fair, you chose to send her to a school that has Saturdays as part of the normal school week. Would you feel the same if this was her Wednesday timetable? Or would your think she should go in as normal?

If the library is really too noisy to study, I would be raising that as an issue, or asking the school to provide a quiet study area.

Original poster
Miladymilord · 04/09/2018 13:47

Thanks. I think she should go in. She needs to crack on with revision so I think if she gives herself a bit of structure she'll be fine.

OP posts:
Allthewaves · 04/09/2018 14:09

Speak to the school and ask if she can revise ar home with you supervising, making sure she does the time

Pythonesque · 04/09/2018 14:22

I'm a little surprised she has frees in yr 11? Is there any likelihood that extra sessions may get fitted into those slots as the year goes on? Does she do any music lessons and can they be scheduled on Saturdays?

Personally I agree that some flexibility in what time she goes to school on Saturday would seem reasonable in the light of that timetable, as long as she will get work dones realistically.

However, if you are having to drive her, will the drive take longer mid-Saturday than first thing? Maybe something to consider!

Original poster
Miladymilord · 04/09/2018 14:47

Music lessons are a good idea.

OP posts: