I've done it now - but WIBU to write to the head?

[BoredBoardBored]

DD in Yr6. She did amazingly in SATS. School report all good. I am normally v supportive of the school (was a Governor for 4 years, parent volunteer, never complained about anything before etc etc)

DD is probably not going to learn much more at primary (which ever one she was at). There is an overdose few "Yr6 Leaver" activities ahead (parties, assembly, t-shirt signing). This includes a Yr5/6 School Play.

DD only has one line in the play (it is all she wanted - not a fan of being in the limelight). However for the last week/10 days all they have done at school is practice the school play. She has been sitting on a bench in the hall all day for the last 3 days. Sitting on a bench. No activities to while away the time. Not allowed books. And before Thursday this was her day for at least half of it for the previous week.

She. Is. Bored.

Seriously hacked off and bored.

I know it is wind down time before the holidays. But seriously - could they not let them do something other than sit on a bench? I would rather she were playing board games and watching videos! Or at least allowed to take her book. Or a wordsearch? Colouring?

I have written and expressed my disappointment to the head. It probably won't make much difference to DD - but hopefully they may think about doing it again. Am now thinking I possibly should have left it...and told DD to suck it up....WIBU to have written?

No, lots of schools seem to do this, and those without big parts in the play are just left to sit around for days on end. It's really poor. You were right to complain, and I would keep complaining - it's the only way they'll take notice and change.

Not unreasonable, though I think after the first day I'd have called and had a discussion about it. I may very well have kept her off tbh.

Dd's school have also been hammering away at the play and not much else. I think there's enough singing and general stuff to keep everyone busy though, I wouldn't be happy if she was just sat about with nothing to do either.

We are in the same position with DD, except they have done nothing but practise the play since half term!

It tends to be like this because everyone is tired and grouchy after such a tough year, once the play is done their will be more fun.

Sitting and watching rehearsals isn't that bad.

Ds1 went through the same thing. I suppose it teaches a certain amount of patience and the ability to totally switch off without being disruptive, which can be a useful skill in Secondary school Science lessons.

I would probably ask the teacher first to check what is going on. It's better to get clarification than start complaining first.

But I would have contacted the school too, it's ridiculous.

It would just convince parents to take the kids off school and mess up the school attendance levels, they don't like it.

This really annoys me about Yr 6, or at least the schools mine have been at.

Endless boring play practice, nothing else of much interest going on. It's a poor way to finish primary in my opinion. Pressure, pressure, pressure, SATs.... nothing. Doesn't really set them up well for Secondary either.

My children also reported being constantly told off by stressed teachers during the play practice.

Not everyone likes plays! Give them some busy work to do while they are listening to the others.

Nieces school is the same. They’ve been practicing the play since SATS finished, more or less, and she only has one line. Lots of waiting around for her. They are allowed to take books and/or arts and crafts with them though. She’d go out of her mind with boredom otherwise.

They should absolutely be allowed, and indeed encouraged to take books with them! That's ridiculous.

Or get them to be making props or scenery or whatever. But sitting around doing nothing is really unfair and pointless.

You are within your rights to question this. I'd love to know the answer to why aren't they even allowed a book never mind how they think this is acceptable. I'd offer to keep her home with authorised absence as she'll learn more there…

YANBU. My son was allowed to read. It's ridiculous to expect anyone to just sit around for hours.

How glad am I that I teach in Ireland-or at least on my school. We don’t have any performance or anything like that requires huge work, bar learning 2 songs and performing them on graduation night-a very low key event itself. So I can basically do school work until the second last day. Keeps the children’s and my sanity intact!

The last 6-8 weeks of yr6 are ridiculous. All that SAT pressure and then - nothing. Picnics, day trips, helping with the new receptions, doing the leaver's assembly/play, fighting in the playground - no structure, no routine. There must be a better way of doing it!

Oh Merrygold how funny you are, what a wit

We have two full day rehearsals for our (secondary) school production and every year I buy a new puzzle book to photocopy for those that aren't on stage as much, and they are definitely allowed books too! So YANBU to me, not an issue to be discussing so much on the play but there's no reason they couldn't be doing quiet (key point) individual activities while waiting for their bit- I'd have thought it'd make things easier for the staff to have to call kids away from their colouring then leaving them sitting around getting fed up?

*focussing so much

They should sort out something else for the other children to do really. However, its part and parcel of life to be bored stiff. I've had this in jobs where there has been nothing to do for weeks and months on end, and no training nothing. You had to either suck it up or sign on the dole basically.

I agree the kids who are sitting around waiting should be given books, activities etc to occupy them but I definitely would have tried talking to the Teacher about it initially before going to the Head.

Definitely nbu. Leaver's play is a big deal in our school too. The kids have been kept busy making things but have also reported being yelled at for forgetting lines or not singing properly. I'd rather no play and a happy last few weeks at school.

My sons school was brilliant in year 6.
They also had a full on play, but they did various other activities to challenge them and prepare for secondary school. They also had a business project for a fair they ran to make money. They had to do all the research and make the pro ducts , business case and then the money raised when towards their leavers treat which was a pizza lunch

FGS, what sort of school doesn't allow them to read a book while they're sitting with nothing else to do??

YANBU Not to be allowed books is tidy. Dd was bored stiff as well. Didn’t have a big part in the play. 10 weeks is very unfair. Her residential was after sats and the play was last week so far less time.

Dds school stopped doing a play for year 6 a couple of years ago because of this. Plus all the complaints from parents when their offspring didn't get a main part.