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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:
Dodgeitornot · 02/05/2023 10:04

You didn't have to send them in.....

Crunchymum · 02/05/2023 10:09

My school has randomly opened classes (Year 6 this time due to SATS but it was reception last time), but they appreciate that people have children is various years so if you kept your child home it is marked as an authorised absence.

Viviennemary · 02/05/2023 10:13

The school isn't run for your convenience or as a childminding facility. YABU. Write a note saying your child is sick.

ilovesooty · 02/05/2023 10:25

noblegiraffe · 02/05/2023 09:28

How is the teachers earning a better wage improving our children’s education?!

Two reasons:

  1. there is a critical shortage of teachers, particularly in secondary but also affecting primary. If you want your child to actually have a teacher, then something needs to happen to improve working conditions. Pay is one aspect of this.

  2. The pay rise for last year and projected for next year (mostly) came out of school budgets rather than new money from the government. Schools absolutely cannot afford this and money that would have been spent on teaching assistants, librarians, IT equipment, fixing the school building, exercise books and glue sticks will instead be spent on the pay rise. That is why teachers are striking for a fully funded pay rise, and a big reason why all four teaching unions rejected the last pay offer.

Noble I commend your patience in continuing to explain this to those who aren't yet aware of it.

Starsandrain · 02/05/2023 10:33

My primary 2 are in school but secondary one isn’t. He’s trying to do home learning and struggling and I can’t help as I’m working. Brings back covid memories which we hate. I wish the school was open to him and he could learn there.

Miriam101 · 02/05/2023 10:39

Sweet Jesus.

MrsR87 · 02/05/2023 10:42

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!

You cant have it both ways! You can’t feel sorry for the classes whose education is being more disrupted that the none strike class whilst at the same time be annoyed that your child is having to go in and therefore missing out on cheaper days out!

Given that you say further down thread that your child has missed a lot of time from school due to illness, I would have throughly you'd be thankful that he isn’t missing further lessons!

Wishawisha · 02/05/2023 10:48

ScratchSniffWuff · 02/05/2023 08:11

YABU to complain OP.

OTOH, We LOVE strike days. It gives everyone a well deserved rest and downtime. I'd support 4 day weeks for work and school.

Also I support teacher who strike 100%. They are doing it for our dc.

May is basically 4 day weeks anyway this year with 3 bank holidays

mogsrus · 02/05/2023 10:49

Amazing isn’t it, teachers go on strike & people start saying children not getting the education they are supposed to get, ok, boot on other foot, parents take children out of school to go on holiday & somehow that’s not morally wrong.
Never ceases to amaze me

Tallulasdancingshoes · 02/05/2023 11:05

Not all teaching unions are on strike. Your child’s teacher has to come into school if they are in a non-striking union. Therefore the school has no reason to close the class. It’s just a normal day for them.

Libre2 · 02/05/2023 11:09

Mydpisgrumpierthanyours · 02/05/2023 07:57

Teachers are striking so your children can have a better education in the long run.
They're not striking because they fancy a day off after the Bank Holiday.
However I do understand that especially in primary school one off and one in would make things tricky.

Yeah they really should have thought more about the positioning of this strike day then, because that is very much the impression it gives.

TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 11:09

Starsandrain · 02/05/2023 10:33

My primary 2 are in school but secondary one isn’t. He’s trying to do home learning and struggling and I can’t help as I’m working. Brings back covid memories which we hate. I wish the school was open to him and he could learn there.

My understanding is striking teachers do not have to set work.
Our school has suggested that DS2 do some work on their school Apps.
He's up to date with homework, but not doing any extra work. Nothing has been set for today. I'm working.

He's year 9 and to be frank, is pretty disillusioned. Year 6 - covid. Year 7 - social distancing, masks = pretty crappy start to secondary. Year 8 - restrictions lifted, but then focus on making up for missing stuff was given to the year 7s and the exam years. Snow days - year 8 and 9 stay at home. Lack of staff due to covid - year 8 and 9 stay home. Strikes - year 8 and 9 stay home.

I understand the issues and I support the strikes, but when you are that year 9 kid constantly hearing how others years need to be prioritised it's hard to feel that the school really value how important your education is. Add a big dollop of being 14, hormones, general ambivalence in the world, a 'too cool for school' attitude and it makes for a challenging time.
He's generally happy at school, is doing OK and as long as he gets what he needs to get to the next stage of his education then that's good enough.

To be clear I enable, encourage and support him, but I'm not pushing him.

MrsR87 · 02/05/2023 11:11

MyUsernameToday · 02/05/2023 08:52

I am sympathetic to the teachers and understand why they are striking.

What I don't agree with, however, is striking in the middle of the exam period. This is totally outrageous and they are making our teens suffer for their cause.

I understand what you’re saying but the whole point of a strike is to cause the most amount of disruption possible.

It’s just like the disruption caused next week by the railway strikes. Those days have specifically been targeted because it’s the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool so there will be huge amounts of disruption to people arriving in this country and trying to reach Liverpool and those who simply wanted to to travel by rail domestically. There’s a lot out outrage online but that’s the point isn’t it?

FrownedUpon · 02/05/2023 11:13

Are you serious? You sound ridiculous.

Sleepysophie · 02/05/2023 11:15

I'm sure you could just call in and say you are keeping your child off school in solidarity with the striking teachers. I don't think anyone would argue with you.

LovelyLovelyWarmCoffee · 02/05/2023 11:16

Really, you are complaining because your DC is able to attend school when they are supposed to?? Do you value their education at all?

IsItThough · 02/05/2023 11:19

Oh grow up

Its a strike day, school feel Y6 would benefit most from attendance (and post-covid/stupid pointless SATs looming I can see why).

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:19

Op - I’m fascinated about your view on the importance of education generally? It would seems like it’s a bit of an annoyance rather than something you want the best of for your child

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:21

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

Ah! An interesting piece of the jigsaw

TwoCoffeesPlease · 02/05/2023 11:26

YABU strike action isn’t about being fair

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:31

TwoCoffeesPlease · 02/05/2023 11:26

YABU strike action isn’t about being fair

There is an element of irony to this post

NewNovember · 02/05/2023 11:32

Just keep them off fines are for more that 9 sessions ( half days) per term. No big deal, thousands of children missed last Friday for a long weekend.

TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 11:33

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

Your school issues fines for a high number of authorised absences?
I think you need to check that.

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:33

NewNovember · 02/05/2023 11:32

Just keep them off fines are for more that 9 sessions ( half days) per term. No big deal, thousands of children missed last Friday for a long weekend.

where has that criteria been published?

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:34

TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 11:33

Your school issues fines for a high number of authorised absences?
I think you need to check that.

Show quote history

She won’t

why?

Because she’s fibbed

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