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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DH thinks I am. I can't decide!

26 replies

MaureenMLove · 05/09/2007 12:46

DD has started new secondary school today and when we went to visit in July, the Head Teacher suggested to us all that we look at the school website regularly, to find out whats going on during and after school. They have big screens around the school, like notice boards really, that keep revolving with info on them about forth coming clubs, lunch time schedules & menus etc. The same thing is suppose to be on the website. So anyway, Head made a big fuss about 'keeping in the know' with what going on at school and I've just had a look at it and it hasn't even been updated since July! Not even the school calendar! Thats not very good practice is it? DH says give 'em a chance its the first day back, but the teachers have been there since Friday. Surely first impresions and all that! Anyway, I'm fed up now, because I can't be part of DD's first day and see the same notice board as she can. Boo hoo!

OP posts:
haychee · 05/09/2007 12:50

That is a bit crap - maybe they have technical difficulties?

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 05/09/2007 12:55

Possibly. I do hope its updated soon though. Apart from not making a very good impression, the school is Specialist in Computing!

OP posts:
haychee · 05/09/2007 13:01
Hmm
heifer · 05/09/2007 13:12

I would say give them a chance!

Do you really feed back that you can't see the same notice board as your DD?

If so, I think I need to be really blunt and say get a life!... sorry but if I don't someone else will come on here and be much harsher....

NAB3 · 05/09/2007 13:12

Ours takes a while to chnage too but I doubt your DD will care whether you have seen the same notices are her, if indeed she has ssen them.

HonoriaGlossop · 05/09/2007 13:14

YABU. Your DH is right. Give them a bloomin' chance!

charliecat · 05/09/2007 13:16

My school doesnt rant about thier website but I have emailed a few times about spelling mistakes, and they update randomly, very randomly.

Wisteria · 05/09/2007 13:18

I'd rather my dds secondary school concentrated on teaching them rather than updating websites for your amusement! Yes, YABU!

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 05/09/2007 13:30

Slate me if you will! I was only being excited about what my dd is doing on her first day at senior school! Its not a hanging offence is it!

OP posts:
NAB3 · 05/09/2007 13:32

I thought your child was a lot younger than that. Just ask her what is on the noticeboard when she gets home!

littlelapin · 05/09/2007 13:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 05/09/2007 13:33

Yes, I like to give the impression that I'm ever so young, so couldn't possibly have a 11 year old!

OP posts:
Wisteria · 05/09/2007 13:36

not slating you MMlove, not at all, but you asked!! .

At least it'll be something she can tell you without the 'what did you do at school today?' 'Nothing really' response which is the norm.

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 05/09/2007 13:40

Thats what bothers me! If I don't give her prompts, she'll forget everything! I know IBU, I was just looking forward to be able to read the same thing as her. Hey ho, it'll come eventually.

OP posts:
duchesse · 05/09/2007 13:42

Sadly schools don't pay enough to get top-notch IT persons (very, very far from it) and teachers will not get time to do anything like update websites until Christmas. As a (former- I quit when I stopped feeling like a human being) sec school teacher myself I can only agree that it gives a bad impression, but have to say that for teachers, term time is very very intense, and there is no way that anybody could fit in updating the website into their "spare" time (hoho) unless they were off-timetable specifically for the purpose. They're all expected to do the impossible in less and less time.

I'm afraid this may just be the beginning of the disappointments. Sadly, very very few sec schools are in the position of knowing their pupils in any depth, nor doing any more than fire-fighting on a day-to-day basis (hopefully not literally). Sorry.

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 05/09/2007 13:50

I think its probably down to the 6th formers tbh, so it was never going to be updated before today. I'm sorry you felt you had to leave Duchesse. It must be such a rewarding job at times, but I can see it can also be hell. Probably mostly to do with target from the Government! We are actually fortunate in that, all the senior staff at this school, still teach daily. Including the Head Teacher! I think (hope!) that says an awful lot about the school and once I've got over my little paddy (oops - not allowed to say that am I!) we should be OK.

OP posts:
duchesse · 05/09/2007 13:55

It was the 60-70 hour weeks that got me, Maureen. I loved the job but was not parenting my own children because I was too busy parenting others'. I always thought it would be a perfect job for someone with no other commitments (ie no spouse, children, dependent relatives, pets, hobbies, etc...)

saltire · 05/09/2007 16:08

Mo here

kslatts · 05/09/2007 16:12

I think YABU, your dh is right.

chocchipcookie · 05/09/2007 17:33

Actually I think YANBU. If they have a website and the Head makes a big song and dance about it then it should be working.

chocchipcookie · 05/09/2007 17:33

Actually I think YANBU. If they have a website and the Head makes a big song and dance about it then it should be working.

HorseyWoman · 05/09/2007 18:36

Yes, but INSETs aren't actual teaching days usually. I mean, teachers don't go in to fix displays and the like. They go in for training courses or to be inducted to the new year, issues are raised and talked about etc. If the school has a technician who is specifically used for updating the sites and boards, then you might expect it to have been done, but not if he or she doesn't start back at the same time as the teachers. Although, saying that, technicians and caretakers usually work throughout the holidays.

I know it is annoying for you but they probably don't expect people to want updates through the Summer, and have so many new pupils and teachers coming in, prep for the new year, that they haven't had chance yet. Don't take it as a bad sign; take it as a good sign that they actually have this system as many schools don't. In fact many schools still communicate with parents using quill and ink

HorseyWoman · 05/09/2007 18:40

Well, all the years my mum has been a teacher, she's come home from the first two days of school (INSETs) moaning about the head, about how much he goes on and on and on for about 90 hours non-stop. She teaches Maths and IT but she rarely goes near a computer apparently!

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 05/09/2007 21:18

Thankyou for all your comments. I don't think I need to get a life, heifer, my daughter IS my life and I was just interested to see if the notice board was working! Nothing wrong with trying to be part of my dd's first day at big school imho! It was only tongue in cheek chat and I fully appreciate that the teachers have far more important things to be dealing with on day one! I just thought it was odd that for a school that calls itself specialist in computing and the fact that many Year 5 parents will be scrolling through all the websites for their lo's for next year, that they forgot the to update it! Its no big deal really, I'm sure the school will live up to everything that it promises. (Although I will be mighty p*ssed off if it not updated within the next few weeks!

OP posts:
Cathy10 · 05/09/2007 21:32

I agree MaureenMLove .. your daughter is your life and you want to keep in touch with whats she's doing and be a big as part of her life as you can. If the head teacher had made such a fuss then you're right to be annoyed. I'm sure it will be ok in a week or so but if its not I'd drop a quick email or something to say that I'd been looking forward to reading the website after all the information I had received about it and query why I can't access it !!

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