School children arriving late on Monday due to Footie

[Muncher75]

This was doing the rounds on my social media today, I am a teacher, so Is it just me or is this a bad idea? Children have hardly been in school this year anyway. More importantly, I feel that it’s teaching our children the wrong life lesson. Surely, if you choose to stay up late then suck it up on Monday! You can’t be swanning in late on a Monday to work after a weekend of partying.... interested to know if it’s just me. For the record, I enjoy watching football!

DS school not doing this (secondary) but they have form time until 9.30 so if some are late it won't be too bad

@toastantea the Prime Minister has been trying to capitalise on the success so far of the England men's football team. A lovely distraction from the misogynistic liar's failings.

Even Jacob Rees-Mogg in the House of Commons, though probably the last football match he watched was when the Old Etonians played in the FA Cup final in 1879.

My eldest's school is doing this. He's not a football fan so will be going in at normal time (I also have staggered start times for others so a late start isn't convenient). BUT, I think it's great that the school is doing it for kids who will be up late watching it.

It really isn't a big deal op. Plus the post you shared stated the school would be open at normal time so starting late is clearly optional.

My dd' s secondary school are starting 90 mins late which I think is great. DS primary isn't but he'll still be watching!

I have children with serious sleep issues that have gone to school on two hours sleep im not letting them stay up late and take him in late he won't understand whats so special he cant do it every week

@Usdyen

The womens team have been in quite a few major finals in the last 55 years.

@kowari

Yes, schools didn't do the same for the women's final in 2009.

True. ^ Sadly though, very few people care about the womens football.....

I bet 99% of people in the UK can't name a single English female football player.

I know it's a bit of a pisser, but it's true. Many people don't care about womens football. Most men - if not ALL - don't care, and neither do most women, or children.

Also, @Muncher75 YABU. Nothing wrong with the kids being allowed to go in late, if they are up late watching the football.

The message says you can take them in on time if you want, so I have no idea what you're moaning about. You say you're a football fan, but this thread you have started would suggest otherwise.

@Lefthousewithpooinhair

It’s optional so you can still take your child in at the usual time…

I'm also a teacher (secondary) and I can see pros and cons for this idea. On balance I think it's ok, but raises questions around consistency

I wonder whether it's there to avoid children being penalised for their parents waking up late... Is it primary age?

When the DC are in SI it doesn't matter either way.

@Yolanda524

It’s ridiculous and makes me furious actually. I have asked for time out of school to see family who live abroad and it was denied. A friend had her request to take son out of school for her wedding denied. There are lots of things important to us. The football is not important to everyone they should be consistent or relax and allow special time for families when requested.

This is a very good point. Yes, of course it seems like a nice gesture at first. But who makes the final decision about what is worthy of not coming in, or not? Parents, who know their children best, aren't capable of making those decisions, and will pay a fine for it (even if it is for once in a life time experiences), but a head teacher can?! It's inconsistent and authoritarian.

@FlaminEckVera
I’m really not moaning and genuinely interested to see the other points of view..some I hadn’t considered and are obviously very reasonable. I was stating my thoughts.
Some posts have mentioned it’s only a couple of hours and they don’t do a lot anyway as it’s near the end of term. I’d like to point out it’s the BUSIEST TIME! we are trying to rehearse school plays... arrange transition meetings and celebrate our school leavers. Time is running out!!! 😀

Stupid idea, reinforces the idea that having an interest in football is more important than an education and regardless of what schools will say, scummy parents will use it as an excuse on Monday now anyway now it's doing the rounds #racetothebottom

Neither my daughter's primary school or the secondary that I teach at are doing this. She managed to get up as normal after going to bed at close to 11pm on Wednesday . All this causes is resentment from social media etc towards schools, as if we've not had enough of it since last March.

It's a rare event, and the school are taking a pragmatic approach that they would rather have the pupils in late, than not at all that day. It seems sensible to me. Yabu

@Bas27 yes it does show inconsistency I agree
@Schrutesbeets yes it was from a primary school in my local area.

Honestly how anyone can be annoyed about this is beyond me. My son has done 20 days self isolation in the last 23 days. His home schooling task for yesterday was to write the date (they forgot to add the rest of the task). He'll be staying up for the football on Sunday because it's the first time this has happened in over 50 years. He'll be in school but tired & grumpy. What's an extra hour and a half school missed considering the ridiculous amount of no school the last 15 months.

My ds 6 came home excited because school have said he doesn't have to go in until 10.30 on Monday, but it quickly turned to tears when I said it was breakfast club as normal because we have work as normal! Feel really guilty!

Can't see what difference it will make to their learning at this point.

You'd have thought that if parents were keeping their DC up late to watch the football, that they'd arrange a siesta in the afternoon. Or the children could just miss out on hour or 2 of sleep, it's hardly a big deal.
I remember being woken up to watch the moon landings ( not that football is a comparison), I don't think we had the next day off school. Or the day when I was up half the night because my aunt was having a baby, or the night my grandad was blue-lighted to hospital. I think it's teaching the opposite of resilience to allow children to take part of the morning off school because they stayed up late. The teachers aren't being allowed any time off, are they? They still have to be in at the normal time ( and rightly so).

None of our schools have said anything about a late start and nor has my son's college but I do agree if Boris Johnson is going to relax the rules for football then he needs to relax the rules more for headteachers to use Their discretion when leave for other matters is requested.
I don't think we should bash the heads for this one, the idea has come from government. I just wonder what atrocities they're pushing through whilst the country is is so distracted.

Terrible idea, assumes the world and his wife are 8nto football

@NeverSurrender

My ds 6 came home excited because school have said he doesn't have to go in until 10.30 on Monday, but it quickly turned to tears when I said it was breakfast club as normal because we have work as normal! Feel really guilty!

Oh I hadn't considered that. That's a very valid point. I'm "WFH" thankfully.

When I was 7 years old I was taken out of school around 2 events - my uncle's wedding, and the euros semi final. Don't remember a damn thing about the wedding but remember Southgate missing that penalty crystal clear. Being part of these historical cultural events means a lot even if you don't care about football (which back then I didn't)