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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Year 6 leavers event

128 replies

sneakypetestolemywife · 30/06/2021 20:42

If you have kids in year 6 who are leaving to go to senior school or are a teacher or TA for year 6 can you please fill me in with what the school is doing to make this term special.
My son's school have cancled the PGL, disco and day out and are doing nothing and I want to raise this with the head because I'm sure it's not the norm.
AIBU to expect something fun for them and not just exams for their last few weeks before hitting big school?

OP posts:

BiarritzCrackers · 30/06/2021 22:47

Most of what they would normally have done, with the modifications being that only one parent can attend sports' day and the leavers' assembly and tea, and the residential was cancelled. There have been trips and activity days (it's an outdoorsy area, there is lots of stuff very close by), and they will camp on the field after their dance. I am impressed with and grateful for how much they have arranged.

StrongLegs · 30/06/2021 22:48

Our folks had a day trip and leavers hoodies. Sports day is without parents, and they are doing lots of fun things like forest school and gardening There will be a leavers service but I think we will see it over zoom. They did fake SATs with past papers, and the results not being past on, but that seemed to be quite exciting for my DS. They had special breakfast each morning, which seemed to be quite a thing.

ouchmyfeet · 30/06/2021 22:57

All cancelled here too:

Residential trip
Leavers disco
Transition day for high school

Sports day went ahead without parents, as will the end of term play. Just back at school this week after 10 days isolation for the entire year.

It's disgraceful. I keep seeing the crowds at Wimbledon and the football and it makes me feel so sorry for our kids.

Original poster

sneakypetestolemywife · 30/06/2021 23:11

@ouchmyfeet

All cancelled here too:

Residential trip
Leavers disco
Transition day for high school

Sports day went ahead without parents, as will the end of term play. Just back at school this week after 10 days isolation for the entire year.

It's disgraceful. I keep seeing the crowds at Wimbledon and the football and it makes me feel so sorry for our kids.

This is exactly how I'm feeling. The football with thousands attending and Wimbledon these things are going ahead but our kids can't have anything? Our transition day is also cancelled and that hurts.

OP posts:

EvilPea · 30/06/2021 23:16

From one who went through it last year.
They will be ok.
It will be bumpy, but they’ll be ok. I don’t mean that in a race to the bottom “there’s worse off” way. It is shit. And it is utterly unfair (more so when you look at the football pictures).

You know what they are missing more then they will feel, it is shit. Big hugs all round, but they’ll get through it, by plodding on.

Gingersay · 30/06/2021 23:23

Our school finished up last week, they got nothing, they were supposed to have a party in school and assembly but more than half of the year tested positive for covid so the whole year were isolating and missed their last week!

HelplessProcrastinator · 30/06/2021 23:30

4 night residential that should have happened last year, day trip to amusement park cancelled by the park at the last minute but school rang around and got a morning at an indoor activity venue (much appreciated), sports days all happened with one adult allowed, leavers presentation and BBQ with bouncy castles for the last day of term, free leavers hoodies funded by the school. We're an inner city catchment with some not very well off families and the school tries very hard to be inclusive. Leavers BBQ funded by PTA/fundraising. Parents usually organise a party at a local social club but that's not happening this year.

Transition days to secondary postponed until first few days of year 7 but DD's school is doing a free week of summer school so she isn't too worried.

Original poster

sneakypetestolemywife · 01/07/2021 00:02

Wow I'm shocked at the poll! Am I really being in that unreasonable to expect the school to make an effort?

OP posts:

cocoloco987 · 01/07/2021 05:54

Ours are on holiday now but they managed to get in a full day adventure day in the hills in place of their residential before the council area banned anything outside of school hours (because covid only infects after 3pm you know). So their outdoor leavers party woth dominos and a visiting ice cream van was moved from evening to during school hours . They had a 3 day high school transition on teams and the high school SLT came and met them in the playground. They did the leavers show and it was posted online for parents and did the assembly, awards and handing out of year book outside. They also walked to a local beach and had a picnic and chips from the local chip shop. On the last day they did a procession through the school led by a piper and the other year groups clapped them out of the gates. Luckily we have a very large space to wait outside the school so parents were able to see that part.

purplesequins · 01/07/2021 06:22

@sneakypetestolemywife

Wow I'm shocked at the poll! Am I really being in that unreasonable to expect the school to make an effort?

I don't think you are unreasonable. some schools(probably thanks to strong pta) seem to manage something.

watching sports day is overrated though

bjjgirl · 01/07/2021 06:33

To be honest I think it is understandable why activities have been cancelled etc, as it's not just then teachers who organise but the pta and they may have struggled to meet etc.

These things take a lot of planning and they would have had to plan for something that can be so easily cancelled etc

It will also depend on th raise of your test group (ours is about 18 per year so easy to
Organise)

My dd had nothing last year, but I was just happy she could still go to school (we did the hoodies thing ourselves in our what's app
Group)

Maybe just organise something in the park, take the initiative? Sound out people on the what's ap group?

ChangingStates · 01/07/2021 06:42

Residential trip cancelled- by the residential place- not the school.
Y6 have been/ are going on lots of trips- roller disco, go ape, adventure playground, chessington. There will be a y6 disco and a leavers assembly. Parents not invited but will live stream (zoom) the leavers assembly

Sunshineandalltherainbows · 01/07/2021 06:48

We are still doing the end of year show but having to record it and send home with their leavers t shirts.
A day trip to Goape
Leavers assembly and picnic
Disco on last day of term

SusannaM · 01/07/2021 06:56

Not entirely relevant. But DD's primary school was crap at this kind of thing, even in pre-covid times. Yearbook and that was it. So parents got together and just organised a BBQ with a big tarpaulin slip and slide and organised games. We split the cost (which was quite cheap).

Lulu1919 · 01/07/2021 06:58

Residential happening now
Leavers service/ pared down sports two adults per child outdoors / marquee

headintheproverbial · 01/07/2021 06:59

My son is only in year three but the leavers went on their residential trip last week and other classes have been on a day trip to a farm park etc.

Sports day went ahead divided into 3 lots of classes so parents could attend. Leavers assemblies are being live streamed.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 01/07/2021 07:00

@sneakypetestolemywife

Wow I'm shocked at the poll! Am I really being in that unreasonable to expect the school to make an effort?

Maybe they are just trying to get to the end of term with everyone safe. Cases are rising and they are responsible for the safety of children snd staff.

newnortherner111 · 01/07/2021 07:02

I expect children who are in year 6 ironically will remember their year 6 in years to come more than most children, albeit for the wrong reasons.

School teachers, assistants and support staff have been treated shamefully by the government during the pandemic (as have many others) and I would not criticise them for being cautious and not organising anything extra/different for year 6.

In a way not having celebratory events at the end of year 6 is reflecting something that they may come across in later life, and preparing them that some changes in life may be low key.

swizzlestix · 01/07/2021 07:06

Our residential was cancelled so they have planned a fun week instead
Lego land
Cinema
Picnic at local park
Laser shooting
Silent disco
Playing sports on the field
Leavers festival day but parents not invited sadly.
Hope your school managed to up their game, if you are in the south east Lego land are charging schools £8 per child - bargain !

Original poster

sneakypetestolemywife · 01/07/2021 07:07

A group of parents are trying to arrange a leavers disco but the school are trying to block this through several methods including moaning about who will lock up! The PTA is are to provide very limited funds as no fundraising has been done for the last 2 years but they have offered an inflatable obstacle course but this has been blocked by the school too.
The kids have been able to get leavers hoodies which were arranged by a very organized mother and all the parents have paid for these which is obviously fine and lots of parents paid for 2 to cover kids who couldn't afford it so every single child has one

OP posts:

starbrightstarlight8888 · 01/07/2021 07:08

My year 6 has a leavers assembly outside, a sports day, a water games day, leavers hoodie and is having a party in a local pub (organised by the parents).

Mooda · 01/07/2021 07:10

DD currently on residential after heroic efforts by headteacher to make it happen after original trip cancelled by provider.

Play will be on zoom. No sports day. Leavers party happening but outside, luckily we have some pretty huge canopies.

Leavers assembly no decision yet. Fingers crossed. That's the big one for me but residential was the big one for DD and I'm so pleased they went. One poor child missed it through isolating though which is horrible.

We live in an area where infections are rampant so I understand the need for adjustments and think the Head's approach has been sensible.

Lanaa · 01/07/2021 07:18

This is a really nasty thread. Schools are trying their best in a very trying time. Our residential was cancelled (by the providers) and it hasn't been possible to book another. The sports day had to be postponed because of rain, which caused an avalanche of rude, sarcastic emails to be sent to our poor head.

In case it has escaped your notice we are in a pandemic. Parties have numbers legally capped at 30. If you happen to teach in a two form entry school, or your class has 30+ children it's illegal to hold a party. The numbers are too high, especially when you add supervisory adults. The DFE have issued guidance on end of year events. I'm sure you could find it on the DFE website.

Schools have a duty of care. While people deride risk assessments, they're important. Having a party and getting to watch your little darlings run round a field doesn't override safety. Some of you need to get a grip.

nellyburt · 01/07/2021 07:27

My year 6 ds has just got back from a 3 day residential. They all had a fantastic time.

Christmasfairy2020 · 01/07/2021 07:27

Took them to pops which they loved.
Currently at gullivers overnight. We did lft yesterday

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