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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to raise this with the school? Email related!

48 replies

rosybell · 06/09/2019 16:04

This is a minor niggle, but I genuinely want to know if IABU. My kids primary school uses an email system to send mass emails to all parents (same as most schools I imagine)

Yesterday one came through and it was regarding private tuition available and included a flyer advert attached for a local tutor.

My issues with this were that it gives an impression that the school is recommending private tuition for its pupils (school learning not enough?), but mainly I felt it sends a message that tuition is the 'norm' and could well make parents who cant afford it concerned that their child is disadvantaged.

Whilst I personally would not pay for private tuition for my primary aged kids, it is of course up to parents. But I dont think it was appropriate for the school to advertise this service to all parents.

I sent an email raising this and was advised that the school didnt promote tuition, but it was simply giving information to parents.

AIBU to think this is not an appropriate use of e-mail by the school?

OP posts:

sonjadog · 06/09/2019 16:06

Yes, I agree. Not sure I would bother doing anything about it though unless it became a regular thing.

tillytrotter1 · 06/09/2019 16:08

As a Head of Maths I was often asked to recommend a tutor and I always refused, that was before mass email correspondence.

NearlyGranny · 06/09/2019 16:10

I'd be asking if the tuition company paid school for access to parental email addresses, which would be illegal under new legislation.

Something not right there.

DifferentDrum · 06/09/2019 16:11

I get your point and agree to an extent but wouldn't feel strongly enough about it to contact the school - I'd save emails for more urgent issues/problems directly relating to DC.

arethereanyleftatall · 06/09/2019 16:14

I think this is fine. The information is there for parents to do what they will with. Just because you dont want to opt for tuition, it's not up to you to make that decision for everybody. I run a business and most schools are happy to add a link to my flyer on their web page - some schools charge a small fee for this, some don't.

Pinkblueberry · 06/09/2019 16:14

This wouldn’t even register with me to be honest. Don’t need or want to use a tutor, then don’t - I would just ignore it. But some pupils may find it helpful and knowing one that is actually reccomended by the school is probably quite useful for parents rather than spending money on someone who isn’t actually that great.

Skittlenommer · 06/09/2019 16:14

Private tuition is normally recommended for gifted children or children who are struggling.

Thurmanmurman · 06/09/2019 16:15

I think YABU. It’s a relevant advert for a private tutor which may be of interest to parents of children needing a bit of extra help in certain subjects. By your reasoning the school should also refrain from telling parents about extra curricular activities as some parents may not be able to afford them.

jesuschristwtf · 06/09/2019 16:17

It wouldn’t bother me enough to write an email.

missyB1 · 06/09/2019 16:18

Hmmm... why are this particular tuition company getting free advertising from the school? And why are the school sending you what is effectively spam?
Yeah something definitely a bit off there. Don’t blame you for raising it.

leghairdontcare · 06/09/2019 16:20

Ask them on what legal basis under GDPR they are able to process your data and how that is consistent with using the mailing list to advertise a 3rd party company.

(Don't do that because it's not really the schools fault they don't have the resources to invest in proper data protection experts but I do think they've made a mistake here)

Lazypuppy · 06/09/2019 16:22

You're one of those parents...

GingerKittenHuman · 06/09/2019 16:31

We got one of these at DCs school last year and it created a right old

I think there must have been lots of complaints about it as the school then sent out another email saying that it in no way reflected any kind of failing on the school’s part and that they receive a small payment from the company, budgets had been cut etc, they needed money where they could get it.

We also got them for sports clubs, messy church and so forth but parents didn’t mind those.

JemSynergy · 06/09/2019 16:34

Wouldn't bother me. Infant I would find it useful to have the info. Some of our teachers worked as tutors outside of school.

missyB1 · 06/09/2019 16:35

If they are getting a backhander then they need to declare that upfront. Also I don’t imagine parents gave the school permission to use their email addresses in this way.

Original poster

rosybell · 06/09/2019 16:38

I actually do agree it was a bit petty of me to raise it - I'm generally not 'that' parent! But their response got my back up a bit - and included the dreaded 'I apologise if you felt.. ' rather than taking any kind of ownership.

I guess I feel parents can easily find private tutor recommendations via social media/google etc. It is not really the schools place to spam all parents with a particular flyer.

OP posts:

SixthFormQ · 06/09/2019 16:39

YANBU. Bizarre and inappropriate.

Rachelover40 · 06/09/2019 16:39

I don't think it's a big deal, rosybell. The school are not saying your child needs extra tuition, just that this person is available if he or she does. Lots of kids do have tuition for some subjects including those who attend a really good school.

TheRebelAlliance · 06/09/2019 16:40

The company will have paid the school to send out the flyer. No different from a paper one. They will not have had access to any email addresses.

Email your MP and petition for more education funding instead

CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 06/09/2019 16:40

I don't think school email should be used for things like that. I work at a uni and we wouldn't send students non-essential emails about services like proof-reading etc. It's the same thing in my eyes.

BogglesGoggles · 06/09/2019 16:41

Our school often gives us flyers for holiday clubs, children’s plays etc unaffiliated with the school. If anything it’s a good thing they are getting parents thinking about additional support.

TheRebelAlliance · 06/09/2019 16:41

No different from sending out a football coaching course or a music club.

You could of course give the school a couple of hundred pounds and ask them not to do it if you feel that strongly.

youarenotkiddingme · 06/09/2019 16:44

We use to get them via flyer/ leaflet in paper form.

I actually think that wouldn't bother me as much as email. (I get the environment bit!).

But email does have more of an air of school promoted than school passing on something delivered to school for pupils.

msmith501 · 06/09/2019 16:46

I would have spent as much time getting bothered over this as it will take me write th.....

Original poster

rosybell · 06/09/2019 16:49

I also work at a university cool and we are very strict with our email - we only ever use mailing lists to send out info directly related to the students course.

rebelalliance completely agree. Have already sent my tory mp a letter re school funding.

I'm not sure if the school got paid. It isn't a company, just one person (a local woman - could be a school mum , not sure)

If they were paid I would understand, they are struggling (like every other school)

OP posts:

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