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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just shut the bloody school!?!

279 replies

Chikeletta · 02/05/2023 07:53

1 class open in the whole primary school, NOT Year 6. For the sixth time this year, my DC has to go to school while most of the school is off. I'd much rather have an extra day with my DC.

Is it fair on the other years that one class has 6 days extra attendance and education. Equally, is it fair that my DC class have missed out on upto 6 extra days with fanily, benefitting from off-peak price days out and some extra downtime?

AIBU to think school should just offer 30 spaces for families who really need it, rather than having one class in!?
I know lots of parents are struggling for childcare, give them by DC place!

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 02/05/2023 08:24

DonnaBanana · 02/05/2023 08:03

YABU thinking that a school should rearrange its classes when industrial action is taking place. However, I do think it’s a bit grim one teacher is holding out and refusing to strike. They should be supporting their coworkers.

There’s different unions, or they might not be in a union.🙄

NumericalBlock · 02/05/2023 08:25

I think the only bit I agree with there is the offering up the spaces to families who need childcare rather than one class staying in.

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 02/05/2023 08:27

I don't think it's as simple as that. I assume 1 teacher is in a different union/has their own reasons for not striking. Whole different thing though covering striking colleagues isn't it?
Primary school near us offers spaces to children of key workers but they are supervised by the management team.
In your shoes I'd keep them off if it suits better.

casingchars · 02/05/2023 08:28

Hopefully they'll be teaching critical thinking skills today; it's clearly not going to happen at home.

Sallycantwaitnoel · 02/05/2023 08:30

Meanwhile, just like on Thursday, mine are being ignored whilst I desperately try and work. Can’t take them out anywhere as I need to work, they can’t do much round the house without adult supervision. It’s like lockdown all over again. And I can’t take any more leave. I’ve cancelled days I’d booked in the summer to cover previous strike days already. And the other two local schools are open as normal. Just not ours…

FOTTFSOFTFOASM · 02/05/2023 08:32

You're mad. I'd have been very, very pissed off if my children had missed any school at all due to teachers being on strike.

noblegiraffe · 02/05/2023 08:33

FOTTFSOFTFOASM · 02/05/2023 08:32

You're mad. I'd have been very, very pissed off if my children had missed any school at all due to teachers being on strike.

You need to get emailing to Gillian Keegan then to get back round the negotiating table with the teaching unions then, because now all four of them are balloting for strike action in the Autumn, including the two headteacher unions.

If those ballots succeed, then all schools will be closed.

Greywhippet · 02/05/2023 08:33

Every person who is not enjoying the impact of the teachers strikes should be writing to G. Keegan MP and suggesting she negotiates (seriously this time) with the four education unions. Not having a moan on here. That’s Gillian Keegan MP, House of Commons, London

Iwasafool · 02/05/2023 08:34

I thought that if staff were in they were supposed to be supporting vulnerable children. I didn't realise it was just luck if your teacher is in or not.

noblegiraffe · 02/05/2023 08:35

Or you can email your own MP using https://www.writetothem.com/ and ask that your complaint be forwarded to Gillian Keegan, as Secretary of State for Education.

You'll then get a response from the DfE.

WriteToThem

WriteToThem is a website which provides an easy way to contact MPs, councillors and other elected representatives.

https://www.writetothem.com/

Blort · 02/05/2023 08:35

I'd be greatful school qre doing their upmost to keep yr 6 in.

hennybeans · 02/05/2023 08:35

I can’t believe a parent is complaining that their dc has to go to school. My dc’s teacher is the only member is the striking union in school. His class have missed 6 days of school whilst every other class has attended. That’s something to be angry about. And it’s the govt I’m angry with, not his teacher. As if the pandemic wasn’t bad enough, now this shit.

Blort · 02/05/2023 08:37

Iwasafool · 02/05/2023 08:34

I thought that if staff were in they were supposed to be supporting vulnerable children. I didn't realise it was just luck if your teacher is in or not.

Only some schools have chosen to support vulnerable children - others have just closed full year groups.

noblegiraffe · 02/05/2023 08:38

Just a reminder that the government has chosen to close all schools with no support for Y6 or vulnerable children next Monday.

Iwasafool · 02/05/2023 08:39

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

If you turned that around to any other group it would be considered prejudiced/racist but it is fine to stereotype white British people. Very strange.

SweetMeadow · 02/05/2023 08:40

Sounds like you don’t really value your children’s education.

arethereanyleftatall · 02/05/2023 08:40

FOTTFSOFTFOASM · 02/05/2023 08:32

You're mad. I'd have been very, very pissed off if my children had missed any school at all due to teachers being on strike.

What?!? Have your dc not missed any? Mine are on their 6th day I think!

Iwasafool · 02/05/2023 08:43

Blort · 02/05/2023 08:37

Only some schools have chosen to support vulnerable children - others have just closed full year groups.

Show quote history

I suppose it is easier to just have a class in if they have a teacher but think of the kids who need to be there, vulnerable kids, kids whose only hot meal of the day is school dinners and they only get them 2 or 3 days this week although I do know our local school has provided packed lunch for FSM kids but that isn't the same is it.

My GS is year 13 and he could really do with being in, his education suffered due to lockdowns and due to what we now know is job interviews one of his teachers has missed quite a few days since Christmas. At least he now has the job he wants so hopefully that stops.

I hope it is all resolved soon.

Iwasafool · 02/05/2023 08:45

noblegiraffe · 02/05/2023 08:38

Just a reminder that the government has chosen to close all schools with no support for Y6 or vulnerable children next Monday.

Yes and for older kids A levels are less than 2 weeks away now so no school yesterday, today, maybe Thursday and next Monday. It is a great build up isn't it.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/05/2023 08:45

Our primary school are going by classes (two form entry). I don’t know what the system is some classes seem to be in all the time, some odd all the time and some (my ds’s yr 4 class included) have been a mixture - his has been off on four strike days and in two.

Yr 6 have always been in but I’ve noticed one reception class has been going in and not the other.

It would have made sense to have vulnerable children in, or perhaps families where both parents are key workers (I am and exh isn’t, so this wouldn’t benefit me).

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/05/2023 08:45

noblegiraffe · 02/05/2023 08:38

Just a reminder that the government has chosen to close all schools with no support for Y6 or vulnerable children next Monday.

This is true!

Cantstaystuckforever · 02/05/2023 08:45

Chikeletta · 02/05/2023 08:04

On a personal note, we would. DC attendance already low due to two bouts of Covid and a tummy bug - attendance being monitored and threat of a fine so have to keep attendance up.

Show quote history

So - your kids have such low attendance that it's being monitored and you still want an extra 6 days off? Definitely time to get your head on straight...

Iwasafool · 02/05/2023 08:46

Blort · 02/05/2023 08:35

I'd be greatful school qre doing their upmost to keep yr 6 in.

OP said it isn't year 6.

LobsterBiscuit · 02/05/2023 08:46

It's not faaaaaaair 🙄

Grow up.

CalpolDependant · 02/05/2023 08:52

FOTTFSOFTFOASM · 02/05/2023 08:32

You're mad. I'd have been very, very pissed off if my children had missed any school at all due to teachers being on strike.

Yeah, but this OP’s kids have already missed so much school that they’re being monitored by the LEA, so I don’t think education is a high priority here. Neither is working, it seems. I don’t want to jump to conclusions but it feels like there’s a systemic problem here.

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