school cancelling lessons to watch England World Cup

[Balcanoona]

Is this right? It’s the match on Monday cancelling lessons from 1pm so the students can watch the Iran vs England game

Either your child goes to the same school as mine or they’re all sending out the same message 🤣

Id like to say I agree but I’m Scottish… my DP however feels the same as this PP

A lot will, if my industry is anything to go by. In previous years have had it on big screen in the boardroom.

YANBU because it somewhat contradicts the attendance messages telling parents they should find a way to get their children's orthodontics appointments or hospital appointments outside the school day, or on the holidays on the grounds that every lesson matters.

Our school has never once asked that hospital appts be out of school hours?! Is that standard? It would be impossible for us.

I think if a lot of offices etc are allowing staff to watch it if they want then why should children and school staff be different? Let them have the opportunity if the wish.

Excalty. This is an attempt to ensure that students dont just miss a day and stay at home. At least they will asses the morning lessons before bring given the choice to watch or not.

I know a school who arent running yr11 mocks that day as they expect attendance to be poor.

My sons (both doing A-Levels) would appreciate a teacher like you. They've worked their arses off throughout GCSEs and the start of A-Levels, and this would be a welcome chance for some light relief. Thank you.

This times a million. There’s more to school than learning

Our school has never once asked that hospital appts be out of school hours?! Is that standard? It would be impossible for us.
It's impossible for most people but in the name of attendance some schools push it beyond what's reasonable. Eg attendance staff phoning my friend pushing them to agree their child would be back in school within 18 hours after vomiting.

As a member of staff I've experienced it too where I've been quizzed over whether there was the ability to move my child's hospital appointments. I've seen staff in online groups asking if they should have an operation rescheduled on the NHS because their headteacher has made it clear that absences would be viewed negatively.

Some schools don't seem to realise that parents and staff will spot the hypocrisy if schools start cancelling lessons to show sporting events or a week's worth of Christmas movies.

This. If a child is academically able then it will make no difference . If a child is not bright it will make no difference.

In my previous office, we were allowed to watch the England vs Wales game in the afternoon, didn’t have to make the time up, so no I wouldn’t object to a school doing this. Adults will be allowed, I don’t see why children should be stopped from watching it also.

Christ it would be carnage in my workplace! Not a chance!!

I could'nt agree more. Very happy to take the pink pound when it suits.

I have to say Rod Stewart has gone up in my estimation after finding out that he turned down £1m to perform there for that reason, he has also spoken out about Iran being there too.

Good for him.

I know a school who arent running yr11 mocks that day as they expect attendance to be poor.

We have rescheduled y11 mocks so that the students can watch the match if they choose.

If we don't show the match our attendance figures will nosedive and student will miss a whole day not just an afternoon.

DC's primary showing it in the afternoon. I cannot understand how the decision to show this game in classrooms was made, given the discussion around the world cup in Quatar and also Iran. Its not like schools cannot be aware of the issues, presumably will have factored this in. I am annoyed this is deemed an appropriate use of school time - and human rights violations ignored.

Well I wouldn't fancy trying to teach a lesson when they know there's a big game on. It's bad enough when it's windy 😉

I think the pandemic has made them miss so many communal events that it's important to let them celebrate.

I'm allowing DS a day off to watch Wales as there's no way they would show that match in an English school.

Yes!!!!

Another post I agree with.

So many wringing their hands on here and in the country as a whole about supporting Ukraine, yet barely a peep about the fact that Iran have been supplying Russia with drones.

But hey it's football🙄and I say that as a PL season ticket holder.

Such hypocrisy.

Not sure how to vote as not sure which way your AIBU is, but I'd be pleased if they did this for my dc.

I'm not sure 100mins or so out of a year is going to completely disrupt their education.
With previous World Cups we've done lots of work around World Cup topics, from Geography to PSE.

No it isn't right. Lessons come first.

I hate how football dictates life in the UK.

For balance are they going to teach about why the thing is happening in Qatar?
About the massive environmental damage by holding it there?
About the treatment, injuries and deaths of the immigrant workers who built the stadiums and infrastructure, often as bonded labourers?
About Qatar's LGBTQ+laws?
About how the rulers in Iran voted overwhelmingly last week to execute up to 15000 protesters who think women should be able to uncover their hair?
About how their version of the law says you cannot execute a virgin so many protesters will be systematically raped first?

If the England team go ahead and play the match they should be utterly ashamed of themselves and be shunned when they return. It is not too late to grow a moral backbone and refuse to play.

But it's football, innit?

ElmoNeedsThePotty I didn't know that about Rod Stewart, good for him.

Those of you who are parents pleased that your child is able to watch the match, how many of the points I made in my previous post are you discussing for context about the situation?

Are you at all concerned about the low moral standards of your school?

Fair enough. Kids will be distracted and watching on phones take the stress away and pyrvotvonbinbthe hall those that want to watch it can. Others can stay in lessons

It's clearly a pragmatic decision to avoid mass absence for the whole day.

I just hope that they don't have the nerve to complain when a parent keeps their kid off for an afternoon for an 'unapproved' reason.

So what?