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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Schools closed for the Queen’s funeral

855 replies

Notme1980 · 10/09/2022 11:09

First off, Queen Elizabeth II was an amazing ruler and an inspiration, we are a forces family and my husband has served her for 30 plus years.

but - I do not want the schools to be closed for her funeral (or for any reason at all), I want us to do what I believe she would have done, press on.

OP posts:
EssentialGarage · 10/09/2022 12:12

cakeorwine · 10/09/2022 12:10

I am a staunch Republican but I will be watching the funeral - it is a historic event.

So good to have a Bank Holiday.

But who is paying for it?

Whilst the cost of living crisis is out of mind at the moment what business can afford to pay an extras days holiday (and lose a day's income) and what employee can afford to take a day unpaid?

devilsice123 · 10/09/2022 12:12

It's going to be a Bank Holiday, my daughter has asked if we can go to London for the funeral.

NothingIsWrong · 10/09/2022 12:12

Horcruxe · 10/09/2022 12:05

Would you normally work on a bank holiday?

How do you know your work isnt cancelled, and clinics and appointments aren't cancelled.

Obviously depending on your work it may not be cancelled. But how do you cover childcare normally when it's a bank holiday if you're working?

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Well we normally get a bit more notice than this for bank holidays, and I plan well in advance with annual leave / parents / friends etc.

I agree it should be a bank holiday, but don't try and pretend that it isn't a bit awkward for people who don't get those off and now have to sort something quickly instead of planned with military precision like normal.

I have 2 older ones who can stay home alone, but not for the whole day with a 9yo as well.

Twiglets1 · 10/09/2022 12:13

EssentialGarage · 10/09/2022 12:10

I agree, which will cost the economy more. The cost of the BH is usually off set by increased spending but if everywhere is shut there will be no where to spend.

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I’m sure we will all have the opportunity to spend our money just like we do on the May Bank holidays

Knackeredmommy · 10/09/2022 12:13

How would it look if there was a BH for her jubilee and William's wedding but no official day of mourning?

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 10/09/2022 12:13

EssentialGarage · 10/09/2022 12:10

I agree, which will cost the economy more. The cost of the BH is usually off set by increased spending but if everywhere is shut there will be no where to spend.

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Maybe they're hoping we'll all buy enough booze for drinking at home to offset it.

MaggieFS · 10/09/2022 12:13

NiceTwin · 10/09/2022 11:14

Although it will be sad, I love pomp and ceremony and would like to watch it, so thankful of a bank holiday.

Agree with this.

BuildersTeaMaker · 10/09/2022 12:13

gingercat02 · 10/09/2022 11:17

Jeeze it's only a day. It's living history and constitutional significance. I'm no royalist but the occasion needs to be marked.
Also I'm getting a day off (NHS) I'm a big fan of bank holidays 😂

I agree. We do not have a written constitution as a country. If you are seeing the proclamation and privy council processes this morning it is literally history in the making and is important to understand the roles of bodies like the privy council, the role of the city of london to the monarch, the relationship of Church of Scotland to the union…a tone of history and constitutional process that we simply haven’t seen for 70 years and therefore for most of us we don’t know about.
anyone sensible will use the opportunity to talk with their kids about the history, where the tradition and roles came from, how this country is governed and the role of monarchy. It is vital for kids to understand some of this appropriate to their age. It is important for them to understand the state nature of the queens funeral not just about sadness, but the continuity of monarchy.

you don’t even have to agree with monarchy - it is a good time to have those sorts of discussions with older kids…

or you can choose to whinge about a bank holiday , stick tv on in background or not at all, and teach your kids nothing at all about the way this country is governed and how its constitution works. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Tigerstripes1 · 10/09/2022 12:13

Twiglets1 · 10/09/2022 12:07

Do you have a partner who could look after the children or a friend/relative?

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I'm a lone parent and my childcare is my mother who is also in healthcare. I work more hours then her so do the morning shift sometimes when she's at work and use breakfast club and pick up after work. None of my friends will have 3 kids 7.30-2.30.

purfectpuss · 10/09/2022 12:14

Why would anyone not want a free day off school and work?

bettbburg · 10/09/2022 12:15

Notme1980 · 10/09/2022 11:09

First off, Queen Elizabeth II was an amazing ruler and an inspiration, we are a forces family and my husband has served her for 30 plus years.

but - I do not want the schools to be closed for her funeral (or for any reason at all), I want us to do what I believe she would have done, press on.

It's going to be a bank holiday but I expect you'll be working from home then if your workplace is closed. Why shouldn't schools close?

blackbird77 · 10/09/2022 12:15

Schools don’t ‘make it up’ if it’s a legally granted bank holiday by the government.

Just like last academic year, school children received a 194 days in school instead of 195 because the government declared an extra bank holiday because of the Queens Jubilee. However because the extra bank holiday fell in the June half-term when most schools were already off anyway, the extra day was compensated to staff by schools in various ways - such as breaking up for summer holidays a day early, starting in September a day later, late starts or early closures on some days or in some rare cases where the extra days hours couldn’t be accommodated, a days additional pay for teachers. Employees of all industries are legally entitled to the benefit (either in terms of hours or pay) of a legally stipulated extra bank holiday declared by the government.

plantseverywhere · 10/09/2022 12:16

purfectpuss · 10/09/2022 12:14

Why would anyone not want a free day off school and work?

I’m not saying no to a free day off work but it’s not a fun free day off school for a lot of the disadvantaged children I know.

EssentialGarage · 10/09/2022 12:16

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MarshaBradyo · 10/09/2022 12:16

I did think oh as dd has latest school start ever and still hasn’t started and 19th first full day

I get the pp about cost but I’m not too fussed either way

mum2bee2022 · 10/09/2022 12:17

Is this another day of lost teaching for pupils? How will they make up the teaching time?

Wearefoooked22 · 10/09/2022 12:17

the king has signed it off to be a bank holiday

PatchworkElmer · 10/09/2022 12:18

I just hope my employer gives us the day off. If the school shuts and we have to work… nightmare 😬

iloveyankeecandle · 10/09/2022 12:18

Of course schools should close. I work in a school and would love to be in London while it happening but sadly I won't be able to. I want to watch it on the tv. Like millions of other people. This is our monarchy.

OneFrenchEgg · 10/09/2022 12:19

purfectpuss · 10/09/2022 12:14

Why would anyone not want a free day off school and work?

Because if everything is shut I won't get paid (zero hours contract) and my child will be a hospital appointment we've waited months for and was finally sent through last month.

VladmirsPoutine · 10/09/2022 12:19

I think we should have got a week off. A day isn't long enough to grieve.

gs26 · 10/09/2022 12:22

Will elective surgery's still go ahead for the 19th? I've got a planned elective c section for the 19th and now I'm worried it won't go ahead

noblegiraffe · 10/09/2022 12:23

mum2bee2022 · 10/09/2022 12:17

Is this another day of lost teaching for pupils? How will they make up the teaching time?

By adjusting our lesson plans.

We're really used to having to do this when our lesson planning is disrupted due to class photos or a vaccination, or an external visitor coming in to talk to the kids about drugs, or poetry or something.

Teachers are able to be really flexible about this sort of thing, so don't worry.

freckles20 · 10/09/2022 12:24

I'm intrigued as to how many people who are glad it will be a bank holiday genuinely feel that way because they want a day off school / work as opposed to want to mark the Queens funeral in some way.

I am disappointed that it is a bank holiday. I'm a self employed dog walker and my clients may not need me if they aren't working. This means I loose a significant amount of pay and a Monday is my biggest earning day. That's how being self employed works. I still have bills and taxes to pay- some of my taxes I assume contribute to the royal family and costs like changing of coins following the Queen's death.

No doubt some clients will still need me and I have no intention of letting them down or charging bank holiday prices so I will not actually get a day off either but will work plenty of hours for little money.

My teenagers will be delighted with a day off school but will not mark the day with anything other than a lie in and some socialising.

worriedatthistime · 10/09/2022 12:24

@OneFrenchEgg but hospitals don't close on bank holidays