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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To email the instead of visit the school?

33 replies

Schoolmum3 · 22/06/2019 08:46

Long story short;
My dc is in school and I have a few things I would like to talk to the head about...BUT I can’t call him on a weekday as I work and I cannot have my phone in work. A childminder drops my dc to school so I cannot see him in the morning, by the time I collect my dc at 4 /4.15 he is gone, so I’m thinking the only way is to email him out of hours for him to read in school hours? Aibu?

OP posts:
TeamUnicorn · 22/06/2019 08:54

No, absolutely fine. I did it the other week as I needed to discuss a school transfer and the school needed to sign the form. (Moved house so no negative reason)

Email is a common way of communicating now - just takes an age as they go back and forth.

MRex · 22/06/2019 08:58

Just explain your schedule in the email and suggest you both email or let him know when you would be free for a phonecall or face-to-face meeting (4pm).

Noodledoodledoo · 22/06/2019 09:35

I am a teacher, happy for parents to email as long as there is no expectation for an instant response. Maybe, as suggested above, say you aren't able to be at school before 415 and so unable to meet but if it would be easier to discuss one to one could you arrange a mutually convenient time. As a teacher its really hard to speak to my childrens school as well!!

Just don't chase within 12 hours as I have had that before, I work part time so don't check my email as was actually sat in A&E prior to having my appendix out! Had a complaint raised as I hadn't responded quickly enough!

Original poster
Schoolmum3 · 22/06/2019 09:36

Ah great,I think I would feel bad asking him to hang around for me at 4 as the questions I have aren’t majorly serious tbh so an email will suffice. Thank you

OP posts:
HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 22/06/2019 09:37

Depend on the issue, however you have annual leave so why can you use that, or ask work for a late start, pre planned.

littlered05 · 22/06/2019 09:41

Don't feel bad, that's what he is there for. Generally I would expect the headteacher to still be at school at 4pm!

BigSandyBalls2015 · 22/06/2019 09:43

I’ve never heard of any head teacher regularly going home at 4.15!

Punxsutawney · 22/06/2019 09:43

All our communications to Ds's school are email. Ds has sen and we have had huge issues with the school. By emailing we have a paper trail and evidence of everything that is said. In secondary schools the heads often delegate non serious enquiries to other members of the senior leadership team or heads of year.

modgepodge · 22/06/2019 09:44

I’m amazed the head is out the door by 4pm every day! Definitely email, I’m sure if you request a meeting at 4/4.15 he will be able to accommodate that - or possibly your concerns could be resolved by email.

Are you sure it’s not something the class teacher could deal with? It’s frustrating for all concerned when a parent goes to the head about something better dealt with by the class teacher (such as the seating plan in maths...yes this really happened).

PaquitaVariation · 22/06/2019 09:47

The head will more often than not be there after four so it shouldn’t be too tricky to arrange a meeting. Email is absolutely fine.

Waveysnail · 22/06/2019 09:50

More importantly, if its problems you need to speak to teacher first

ineedaholidaynow · 22/06/2019 09:51

I would be amazed if the head is not there after 4. Don’t they have after school clubs at the school like football, choir etc?

Original poster
Schoolmum3 · 22/06/2019 09:52

@modgepodge maybe but the class teacher is always gone too 😂 I totally forgot to add that I am In rep of Ireland. Schools are usually empty by half 3 /4oclock.

OP posts:
Original poster
Schoolmum3 · 22/06/2019 09:54

@ineedaholidaynow yes they do but my DD’s school day officially finishes at 2.40 and the choir finishes at 3.15 then they go to Afterschool for an hour. ( I forgot to add we are in Ireland)

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 22/06/2019 09:57

How do you know the head is out the door at 4/4.15 if you’re not there?

It may just be that the school office staff have switched the phones to voice message because they’ve gone home. That’s what ours do (UK primary school)

Loyaultemelie · 22/06/2019 09:58

Absolutely fine

Our head is quite happy for us to email and will also happily pass queries on to the teacher.

Torridon19 · 22/06/2019 10:01

I take it you can't have your mobile beside you in the office because of data protection/security issues/sensitive information. Fair enough. But usually mobiles are then put in a secure place ie locker etc. So - at lunch time, take mobile from secure place and leave office, find somewhere comfy nearby, and call school.

Original poster
Schoolmum3 · 22/06/2019 10:22

How do you know the head is out the door at 4/4.15 if you’re not there?

Because when I pass the school at said time to collect my dc from the Afterschool provider (1 min away fro
School) the car park is totally empty.

OP posts:
MyOpinionIsValid · 22/06/2019 10:24

Much easier to email - then it can be passed to the appropriate person to deal with

Original poster
Schoolmum3 · 22/06/2019 10:29

@Torridon19 yes and on my break I also need time to de gown and walk a long corridor to the canteen and I want to relax and eat my lunch to be honest 😂

OP posts:
BigSandyBalls2015 · 22/06/2019 10:30

Blimey I wouldn’t mind being a teacher in Ireland Grin

FamilyOfAliens · 22/06/2019 10:49

Because when I pass the school at said time to collect my dc from the Afterschool provider (1 min away fro
School) the car park is totally empty

So you know he has a car (and isn’t dropped off by a spouse or similar) and what car it is? And you check every evening?

Original poster
Schoolmum3 · 22/06/2019 10:56

@FamilyOfAliens yes and the school is locked up and the gates to the car park are locked...it’s fairy obvious and reasonable that he is gone home.

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 22/06/2019 11:31

It sounds like the system in Ireland is very different from the UK then.

Here, governors’ meetings are held in the evenings because some of the teachers are also governors, and many of the governors work, so it would be impossible to hold governor meeting in the school day.

We also have twilight inset training and staff meetings after school (again, all events that could not be held during the school day because teachers are teaching). I have a training session from 3-5pm next week for example (off-site).

I can’t imagine how they manage to hold all those non-teaching events during the school day.

spanieleyes · 22/06/2019 11:35

Good Lord, I think I'll move to Ireland! Our car park begins filling up before 7 and isn't empty until after 6!