School will be closed at lunchtime one day a week from Sept

[Ilovecranberries]

The school (primary) had just informed the parents that they will be closing at lunchtime on one day a week from September to facilitate "planning".
I don't even know what to say. AIBU to think it is ridiculous? I am a single working parent, not sure how I am supposed to work around this. Extra childcare for these 3.5 hours at the local childminders rates will be £56 a week (two children here). Or two grand a year post tax. I probably will be told I am BU (I probably am), just very anxious right now.

Oh ok good! Otherwise mn might go down the pan ;

IME headteachers are male and childless so have no idea of the impact. Teachers can argue against it all they like but the heads decision is final.

I can't see AIBU becoming a peaceful and heaven of consensus any time soon 😂

headteachers are male and childless so have no idea of the impact.

I'd love to know what the exact stats are about it, pretty much all the local head teachers are mothers around here!

I have nothing but huge praise for HT at one of our schools. Absolutely committed to getting all students back, fast communication, clear and rational. But he’s ex-private sector (very good role) and I reckon it shows. Outside the education bubble first.

Head Mrs Gay closed the Birmingham one. It’s not like female posters on here are more aware of impact

@JaniceWebster - Not totally up-to-date (September 2018) -

Secondary School Heads - 38% female. Teaching force 63% female.

Primary School Heads - 73% female. Teaching force 85% female.

Source - www.qaeducation.co.uk/article/state-schools-male-heads

I don't think this is an issue about individual schools tbh. it's about the systematic under funding of state education, which has been going on for 10 years now and, as school staff warned everyone about all along, would hit breaking point soon.

This is the warm up. The govt has mandated certain things to be accommodated in schools eg bubbles, deep cleaning etc but provided no additional funds or even the vague hope of additional funds at any point. Schools that have an outbreak of covid can claim a few hundreds for cleaning, but no-one else.

There should be additional funding put into schools so that eg if there is going to be a deep clean on Fridays, there is at least childcare in place for children until the usual school day ends. The logistics would be complicated, but the first barrier is for schools to be able to fund it. Or the specialist sport instructors that someone mentioned up thread.

Even then, working parents still have wrap around and holiday care to consider, which will also be only universally available is resources are put it.

I don't think it's unreasonable to say that school isn't childcare. The onus to provide childcare can't just fall on under funded, short staffed and exhausted school staff, surely?

thank you rosegoldwatcher

Tbf although headteachers have a big say it's the governors' final decision. These are the people you should be petitioning, even better still volunteer to do the job!

I'm secondary so that explains that. I did caveat with in my experience! Plus being a woman doesn't guarantee having children.

But being a female Head with children still doesn’t mean impact is considered. Look at posts on this thread - nearly all education sector posts saying to op to sort it out herself.

@MarshaBradyo

Education sector really is a closed loop atm

If teachers think shutting early is benefitting students then they really need to work outside it or something.

It is not teachers making these decisions. Why do people not understand this very basic idea? Teachers are minions. They do not make decisions at this level. They are told what will happen, usually without any consideration of their own feelings or opinions on the matter. Many teachers are also heavily affected by their own children's schools closing early. It's really not a difficult idea to understand.

Vanilla yes and as I’ve said in pp I’m very glad that is the case. Hopefully Heads / leaders are better informed.

And I bet the fact that the Head at our school is ex-private sector (ie outside education) is reflected in better leadership. So it applies to Heads too.

Whatever your sector your Head used to work in MarshaBradyo he will still be following the directives from central government and the protocols with the LA/MAT that he is employed in.

Many teachers are also parents. They will be massively inconvenienced if their child's school closes early on a Friday and they have to be in their own school to do their prep.

Regardless Christina the difference between the two schools we use is marked.

Many teachers are also parents. They will be massively inconvenienced if their child's school closes early on a Friday and they have to be in their own school to do their prep.

Yes they will. So why such low empathy for op?

@MarshaBradyo

And I bet the fact that the Head at our school is ex-private sector (ie outside education) is reflected in better leadership. So it applies to Heads too.

Based on a sample size of one?

Yep.

Actually it’s more to do with this thread and how clueless people are about reality of doing this.

And pondering how closed education is - which means people make sub optimal decisions. You can see it littered throughout.

@MarshaBradyo

Vanilla yes and as I’ve said in pp I’m very glad that is the case. Hopefully Heads / leaders are better informed.

Ok so you're not making any sense at all then. You're complaining that teachers live in a dreamlike bubble and are making decisions that impact poorly on working parents. Then in the next breath you're saying thank god they don't and that it's left to headteachers who are much more grounded and able to see the real issues regarding working parents. It's those grounded headteachers who are making the decision!?! Do you even understand what you're arguing about or are you just arguing for the sake of it?

@MarshaBradyo

Actually it’s more to do with this thread and how clueless people are about reality of doing this.

Yeeessss...there are some truly clueless people here arguing 🧐

No people learn through threads don’t they? And my realisation is tg teachers with these views expressed here don’t make decisions.

I hope that Heads are better but not convinced they are. Given Birmingham etc

Follows timing of thread perfectly.

Still confused why someone thinks a female Head would be better when actually female education posters are just as bad at understanding realities.