Closing a school of 700+ for polling day

[Mosschopz]

Who decides this? My DC’s school will close to all pupils on the 12th. That’s a three form entry school, closed, as they have been every single polling day for the last umpteen years, so they can stick a few plywood booths in a room for the day. The head has complained to the council who have declined to change the location as the school is the most central to the ward. AIBU to think that’s incredibly poor decision making?

They don’t hold the election on a Saturday or a Sunday, presumably, because of the vast numbers of people involved who aren’t contracted to work during those days?

If JC gets in and implements his 4 day week, it may include teachers working 4 days

Some schools have already had to introduce a 4 day week, due to funding cuts and reduced budgets.

My Dds school is a polling station. All inset days have already been allocated. They have already had installed a mobile office on the grass at the front of the school. Presumably other LAs could also do this.

My school is usually a polling station but for the first time in the 12 years I've been there it isn't being used as one this year.

The council are taking the "Christmas won't be cancelled" promise seriously. We do actually have a Nativity planned that day too which would have been cancelled

They've moved it to a tiny church hall on a road with rubbish access. It's going to be chaos.

our school managed to stay open by using the sports hall for the election.
separate entrance and secure.

if the school is used regularly as polling station why haven't they thought of separating out an area so they don't have to close? maybe raise that with the governers?

i hate the fact my childs school is a polling station. there is plenty of empty building that can be used instead, my town has at least 5 churches, a community centre, library and town halls that could be used. there are 7 schools in my area and only 4 are used for polling stations. i dont really take notice of elections, i know i should... surely our childrens education is more important? why does the voting need to be done on a weekday? cant it be done during a weekend? again i dont take much notice if it has to be done on a certain day. the school had to change its plans for school shows, christmas dinner and the panto (comes in to school for the kids) etc just to suit the election

Itsgettingweird - your logic re this:

It's that we always hear how our children's education is affected by 1/2/3 days off sick against the back drop of necessary 48 exclusion for d and v. How we get sent letters when our children's education falls below a certain point 98% in some case and how we are fined for taking children out for holidays. Even just flying 8n a Friday to keep costs down and 1 day missed is lectured.

I think the point of taking your child out of a random day of school is that the other children are still in class learning but your child is not so therefore misses perhaps vital areas of a topic! If the school is closed and all the children are off then that wouldn't happen!

My school used to close for polling days = flak from parents. Now it is open for polling days = still flak from parents. Make your ruddy minds up 🤷‍♀️

Try living in northern Ireland where we've had eleventy billion elections over the last few years and still no government. Not sure why they can't be held at weekends because here at least, the majority of staff are contracted specifically for the election, they're not permanent employees (I've done it several times)

i dont really take notice of elections, i know i should... surely our childrens education is more important

I am

Has to be one of the daftest things I have read.

My child's school is closed too, just as it is for every election. The design of the school means there is no area easily separated out, the polling is in the hall right in the middle of the single storey building. As soon as the election was called we knew school would be closed that day.

There is nowhere else suitable within a short walk. Unless perhaps the local vet was prepared to have people traipsing in all day.

Here in Australia, elections are always on a Saturday, and with well-advertised pre-polling day stations, so everyone can vote. But then it is compulsory.

And a sausage sizzle at most polling stations.🌭

Unlike in the UK, political parties are allowed to spruik right outside the polling station. It does my head in to be approached uninvited by wankers who then can't take what I say to them. ( I am very careful because as a teacher in Australia, my behaviour has to be impeccable 24/7, unlike say, a brain surgeon)

I don’t need to wobble my head. I live in a large city where there are 2-3 public buildings within about 200 yards. It makes no sense. Do we prioritise education in this borough, or not?!

I hate that "School isn't childcare" line, it's reasonable to expect your children to be in school in term time, in line with the published dates, and reasonable to arrange your working life around that.

My local primary school used to do this. Then, to everyone's great relief, the church hall became the polling station. A much better idea.

I don’t need to wobble my head. I live in a large city where there are 2-3 public buildings within about 200 yards. It makes no sense. Do we prioritise education in this borough, or not?!

Almost every time, yes, we do. But schools have several advantages over many other public buildings that mean, in this case, where a General Election is considered to outweigh a day of education in terms of its importance to everyone, no, we don’t.

i went to a meeting last night that usually takes place in a town hall meetig room.
The election is TWO weeks away - how long does it take them to pui up a few trestle tables and rickety polling booths?!

Be thankful the school is only closed for one day!

I hate that "School isn't childcare" line, it's reasonable to expect your children to be in school in term time, in line with the published dates, and reasonable to arrange your working life around that.

Most of the time, it is. But there are some circumstances where that provision has to be withdrawn and looking after your children is your responsibility.

Our polling station is in the local
Primary school but they don't shut the school. It's just one room so
Not sure why they need to close the whole thing.

i dont really take notice of elections, i know i should... surely our childrens education is more important?

Hilarious. Because that's a joke, right?

In terms of education lost for the day most schools will be glittering cards and watching christmas films by that point.

Yes it is an inconvenience for working parents, but this election is really important. It is a good opportunity to teach the children about the importance of democracy.

@itsgettingweird because one child off for a few days will fall behind the class, who are still in. The whole school closing wont have the same effect. Theyll all remain at the same point. It isnt complicated.

YANBU. There are plenty of churches, village halls, scout huts that could be used instead. Closing a whole school for the day when they only need a room is ridiculous.

My children's school used to be in this position but they managed to do some building work to give one classroom a self contained disabled friendly access. Now they just need to move one class of children and manage to keep the school open.

We should be encouraged/enforcing postal votes more so there is less requirements for polling stations.

I suspect in 20 years they will be a thing of the past.

YANBU OP. My DD's 3 form entry school is used as a polling station but the LA brings in a polling station on wheels static caravan and puts it in the car park so the school can stay open. I'm surprised more places don't do something like this.