To think the school shouldn’t have to close for the afternoon

[Autumncold]

Open evening 5-7, school closes at 12. So students miss two lessons. How would you feel about this?

Standard at our local secondaries, happens every year.

Pissed off that I'm doing yet another 14+ hour day but glad that there are slightly fewer of the current kids around after lunch

No need.

How are the staff supposed to get the school ready for the Open Evening if they remain open?

Blame market forces

It's fine . Makes no difference to tbe kids in the long run, especially as it is planned.

Totally normal, we do the same, takes a while to set up and then we have a break before working until around 9.30pm, then clear up.

How do you anticipate the school will be cleaned and prepped for open evening with hundreds of children still in it?

It depends what you’re doing, doesn’t it?

I am quite annoyed a Year 11 and a Year 13 class will miss their lessons.

You have no idea op, we are in school for around 14 hours on open evening day

At year 11 and 13, they can study independently.

Of course I have an idea, I’m the teacher!

Sure, who needs teachers?

Then surely you know how it works ??? What a silly post

When I taught in state schools, every school closed early. Science experiments and demos took hours to set up. Other departments would also put on displays and shoes etc. Then there is the deep clean of the whole school to do.

We’ve never closed early for open evening in previous years. I am quite annoyed about it. It sends an awful message out when we’re trying to emphasise every hour counts - except when we want to close.

For one afternoon! If they cannot manage for one afternoon with some independent work then there is something seriously wrong

Right, so if they want to have just one afternoon off themselves we allow that, yes?

This happens at my kids school. Its fine, they need time to prepare. For my kids it turns into an extended day anyway because they offer to help and show parents and year 6 s round

Also lots of younger pupils will be involved in the evening and they are exhausted by it. Having half a school day helps

A school closure is not time off

I've honestly not heard of this in any if the secondary schools where I live , they do a full day then set up open evening with a few students helping

My daughter's school had an open evening last week. They only missed the last lesson of the day (50 minutes).

Love it. My kids often help out so it's good for them to come home for a while, maybe do homework or just chill and then go back in.
They hardly ever get time off school, I don't mind at all.

I'm definitely taking school attendance a lot less seriously since March 2020. Either it's important or it's not. More people are taking term time holidays now. Dd has one of the better attendances so I'm clearly not alone!