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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Primary school pushing expensive clubs

94 replies

nowaynotnownotever · 02/12/2022 13:15

I may be BU here so I'll put it to the MN jury and also ask whether I would BU to actually broach the issue with the school.

For background I have 3 kids in a primary school and a baby at home. My kids to LOADS of clubs outside of school. A sport, swimming lessons, rainbows/brownies, a weekend music club and in school instrument tuition for the eldest 2. So I feel they do pretty much well!

My problem is their primary school has started 'offering' music/performance sessions in school. These are £40/kid/month(!!) and last about 15 mins per week term time. They look loads of fun. The group is regularly promoted by the school and the group produces 'concerts' that as in school time for the whole school and we get leaflets home about it at the same time too. Yesterday my children missed maths for this. And now my 5 year old is really sad she's not joining this club too. I really can't afford £120/month for this (because I can't say no to the other 2 then) and feel loathed to do so when other parents whose kids do it do have told me the children don't really learn the instrument they're supposed to be.

I know my children have traditional instrument lessons in school time (so maybe I am being U) but these are not constantly pushed on the children/parents. You get a letter at the start of the year and that's all you hear about it. The summer concert is after school and for parents/families.

AIBU to think this really isn't fair on the children whose parents have to say no and that the school are wrong for creating a 2 tier music/drama education?

OP posts:

Original poster

nowaynotnownotever · 04/12/2022 16:29

Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 04/12/2022 14:05

Here is just one example I found from someone interviewed to work for Rocksteady this year:
"Couldn't answer some questions. Having being recently interviewed by yourselves I was told that all tuition didn't incorporate any music curriculum. So confused by this question relating to your educational values? Genres of music are not to be discussed so I was told. Theory of music is not either. I was told no tab or notation is taught. I was told you teach by rote one song a term? a song directed from a specified list. 13 weeks on one song? A song that isn't chosen by the group?? I was told to not teach any blues scales or improvisation techniques. I was told to not encourage listening or composition skills. I was told to not do any rhythmical warm ups or coordination games. I was told that all these things were 'interesting' but not relevant to the job. I was told to not do any harmony or singing or rhythmical body percussion, beatboxing or song writing. I was head hunted by yourselves because I hold a music degree and a masters in music. But why would a musician and teacher want to do this job? I think You should take some time to think what this activity is actually achieving. You wouldn't allow an art teacher to make kids make exactly the same clay pot and paint it in exactly the same colours. Exactly the same way. Music isn't about copying. It is about being creative and experimental. It is about developing confidence and social skills. Your business is a business. It offers no skills of musicianship. It's basically guitar hero. You say the role of band leader is like being Jack Black from School of Rock. But ultimately that is false advertising. Because he listened to his kids. He appreciated their input. He composed and he didn't dictate. I am pretty much alarmed by what I discovered in interview to be honest. I think the videos on line are evidence that things are not working as well as they should be in our primary schools. I would strongly advise any school inviting this company into their school to check relevent qualifications of the staff, and Google their reputation online. This company proves to be unreliable in its educational standards and has the complete wrong vision and ethos of how music should be taught. Although the web site may state otherwise! The poor kids don't even get to take an instrument home to practice!! A REAL musician will know that practice is essential. This business doesn't consider any child's education or wellbeing. It basically does what any kid could do on a YouTube tutorial. I think that's it from me anyway. I'm just so disgusted that music education has stooped to this level."

😬

Surely the school would have checked reviews first?

OP posts:

RandomMess · 04/12/2022 16:32

Sounds even worse than Rock Choir which I didn't think was possible!

donttellmehesalive · 04/12/2022 19:25

Oh complain away. Complain the the Head, the governors, Ofsted, the DofE, god. Take it as high as you can. The parent is always right of course. Then take a look at the other mn read about teacher retention and realise that you are part of the problem. We are not your staff.

SLT have offered this club and many parents and children have taken it up. They are having fun and enjoying it. They have decided that the fees are acceptable. PP children may well attend at a reduced rate or free of charge.

The only reason you're cross is because you can't afford it and your kids are too indulged to drop it once they've been told no. If you could afford it easily you wouldn't be having a word with the school at all.

Original poster

nowaynotnownotever · 04/12/2022 19:46

@donttellmehesalive firstly you are extremely rude.

Secondly the school has excellent teacher retention, the teachers are all very much appreciated and looked after my parents, myself included.

Thirdly just to clarify, my problem is not with the teachers, my problem is with what looks like a highly mercenary business pressure selling to small children in the school environment. I'm really hoping that the SLT did not think that would happen when they decided to allow the business to operate at the school.

If your post is indicative of your approach to parents concerns about their children maybe do us all a favour and take a break to recharge from your obvious burn out.

OP posts:

donttellmehesalive · 04/12/2022 21:05

I'm not rude. I'm frank due to anonymity. Of course your problem is with the teachers - or those of them who approved this club. They didn't just wander in and the teachers know how they are practising.

Once you raise your concern are you happy for the school to ignore them?

Original poster

nowaynotnownotever · 04/12/2022 21:10

You are being rude because you think you can, thanks to anonymity. It's interesting you think the teachers are aware of this company's dubious tactics. I had assumed they were also subject to a nice sales pitch and didn't envisage the children being affected in this way.

If it's true the teachers knew the children would be subject to pressure sales then yes I absolutely do have a problem with that and have no issue reporting the issue to ofsted.

OP posts:

donttellmehesalive · 04/12/2022 21:32

Bravo. As I thought, you won't take no for an answer. You'll speak to as many people as you need to to get your way because, well, your way is the right way isn't it. Maybe that's where your children get it from?

Original poster

nowaynotnownotever · 04/12/2022 21:35

No, I just don't believe the teachers would act in a way to intentionally upset the children.

OP posts:

Meredusoleil · 04/12/2022 21:41

My dd2 recently started Rocksteady lessons at her school and honestly, the staff haven't got the foggiest about what's going on half the time.

I'm just waiting for her concert date to be confirmed where I can actually see her perform in her band and then I will be cancelling her membership. Its been a complete shambles from the start!

LolaSmiles · 04/12/2022 21:41

I don't think you're being entirely unreasonable at all OP.

Fair enough if there's a concert event or a sports event for those children to miss class and have parents attend, but the children don't need to be missing lessons regularly to play audience to their classmates. I also agree with you that there shouldn't be heavy marketing or pressure.

But I also don't think it's reasonable to object to a club being advertised because you might have to say no to your children.

donttellmehesalive · 04/12/2022 21:44

They're not acting in a way to intentionally upset the children. They're running a club that your kids can't afford. Such is life. One day you may have to say no to a skiing trip or a long haul residential trip. Just do the right thing, the thing that will serve your kids the best in the long term, and teach them that, in life, there are lots of things that people want but can't have. I assume the school run a range of clubs, some more affordable, some even free and run by teachers?

donttellmehesalive · 04/12/2022 21:48

If you don't want to say no to your kids, and can't afford for all of them to do it, could they do a term each? Or they all get to do it when they're in Year 3 or whatever.

Seems churlish to try to cancel something because you can't afford it.

And don't know why you're on AIBU when you've already said you'll go to staff, governors, Ofsted. You clearly think YANBU.

Original poster

nowaynotnownotever · 04/12/2022 22:16

Sorry to hear that @Meredusoleil it's disappointing for the kids all round. :(

OP posts:

Original poster

nowaynotnownotever · 04/12/2022 22:22

LolaSmiles · 04/12/2022 21:41

I don't think you're being entirely unreasonable at all OP.

But I also don't think it's reasonable to object to a club being advertised because you might have to say no to your children.

I agree with all that.

The other clubs are much lower cost and only advertised with one normal letter home from school and an email to parents. So the marketing of this very expensive club is a marked contrast.

OP posts:

CruCru · 04/12/2022 22:27

I’m not familiar with Rocksteady. However, a PP asked whether the OP was involved with the PTA. Please don’t ask the PTA about this - they are usually a bunch of tired women who fundraise and don’t get involved in the running of the school. However, because people know them, they get approached about all sorts of stuff they know nothing about.

Original poster

nowaynotnownotever · 04/12/2022 22:31

Thanks @CruCru I do know this and won't be bothering them in any way about this.

Tbh even the governors don't have a scoobie doo about running a school either.

OP posts:

ShillyShallySherbet · 05/12/2022 07:25

YANBU this should not be in school time. After school, fine. The school shouldn’t be promoting it so heavily though. I agree the school may be getting a financial incentive hence the promotion but they should be transparent about that if they are.

Nicpllll · 01/11/2023 06:24

I know it's been a year since this was posted but I struggle to pay for my daughter to do rock steady lessons at school and she receives free school meals and never have school offered to use the pupil premium they receive for my daughter to pay for her lessons. I didn't even know they could do that. The only thing I've ever had them use her pupil premium for was £10 off a school trip last year.

ladygindiva · 16/11/2024 18:33

Nicpllll · 01/11/2023 06:24

Can pupil premium be used for rocksteady?

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