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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:
TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 11:35

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:33

where has that criteria been published?

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Schools set their own number of days before a fine may be issued.
Ours is 8 sessions.

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:38

So PP was wrong to post re her school’s criteria as being the same for the Op

TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 11:42

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:38

So PP was wrong to post re her school’s criteria as being the same for the Op

Yes, though I think most State schools have similar criteria, give or take.

Starsandrain · 02/05/2023 11:44

TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 11:09

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.

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Yes. Exactly the same boat with year 9 boy. I think the striking teachers aren’t setting work but the non striking ones are. He would have had 5 lessons today and only one teacher is striking so there’s 4 online lessons and work to do. His English is too much so he’s only done a bit of that but the others zooming out the work.

Hellno45 · 02/05/2023 11:46

Your kid is at school because of the SATs. The same way GCSE and Alevel classes are at school. The results reflect on the school. They also potentially have an impact on the child's future educational. Obviously, the Sat's less so than GCSE.

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:47

TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 11:42

Yes, though I think most State schools have similar criteria, give or take.

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Yes but 1 session difference between yours and PP would Mean A fine! Devil is in the detail

OchreDandelion · 02/05/2023 11:50

Libre2 · 02/05/2023 11:09

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

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Mondays and Fridays would give the whole "just want a long weekend" complaint and May is full of Bank Holidays so I guess Tuesday is the new Monday...

But the reason some strike days are nearer weekends is because there was a lot of complaint that strike days were all falling on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In High Schools, in particular, there was concern that having the same days would mean the same children missed the same lessons each time.

So actually, rather than teachers wanting a longer weekend, they are trying to help balance the impact of the strikes.

TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 11:50

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:47

Yes but 1 session difference between yours and PP would Mean A fine! Devil is in the detail

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Indeed, but OP won't be fined anyway, because I think she's misunderstood what an unauthorised absence is.

Tiddler39 · 02/05/2023 11:50

Personally I’d prefer there not to be any more disruption to my child’s education after three years of low attendance.

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:51

TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 11:50

Indeed, but OP won't be fined anyway, because I think she's misunderstood what an unauthorised absence is.

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That would be strange. Considering all correspondence from the school would have made clear that these multiple absences were “authorised”!

Bamboozleme · 02/05/2023 11:51

If they had in fact been authorised that is

Tiddler39 · 02/05/2023 11:51

OchreDandelion · 02/05/2023 11:50

Mondays and Fridays would give the whole "just want a long weekend" complaint and May is full of Bank Holidays so I guess Tuesday is the new Monday...

But the reason some strike days are nearer weekends is because there was a lot of complaint that strike days were all falling on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In High Schools, in particular, there was concern that having the same days would mean the same children missed the same lessons each time.

So actually, rather than teachers wanting a longer weekend, they are trying to help balance the impact of the strikes.

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I thought the whole point of strikes was to cause maximum disruption? Otherwise what’s the point?

Nimbostratus100 · 02/05/2023 11:52

AIBU to think school should just offer 30 spaces for families who really need it, rather than having one class in!?

which would be against the law

OchreDandelion · 02/05/2023 11:54

Tiddler39 · 02/05/2023 11:51

I thought the whole point of strikes was to cause maximum disruption? Otherwise what’s the point?

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I mean, that is right, too. But there is still disruption by not always choosing Wednesday and Thursday.

And there is no need to for the same students to miss out every time when it could be shared across.

Tiddler39 · 02/05/2023 11:54

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.

Perhaps they became a teacher to teach children and they believe those children should be in school whatever. I know plenty of teachers who are not striking for this reason.

TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 12:06

Tiddler39 · 02/05/2023 11:54

Perhaps they became a teacher to teach children and they believe those children should be in school whatever. I know plenty of teachers who are not striking for this reason.

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Or they can't afford to miss a day's pay. 6 strike days is a lot of missed pay.

User18546753 · 02/05/2023 12:10

A lot would have taken the opportunity to go away for a long weekend with the BH and strike days, it's quite convenient how it has worked out for some

SchoolTripDrama · 02/05/2023 12:11

I agree with you OP. Completely agree

Cosyblankets · 02/05/2023 12:12

Is this even real?
Your child already has low attendance and you would rather go out for the day?

Feenie · 02/05/2023 12:16

Tiddler39 · 02/05/2023 11:50

Personally I’d prefer there not to be any more disruption to my child’s education after three years of low attendance.

There is considerable disruption to all children’s education each and every day, even without the strikes, and it can only get worse the way funding, recruitment and retention are at the moment. That’s why we are striking.

User18546753 · 02/05/2023 12:19

Aren't a lot of fun things being arranged for the striking teachers today.

nofusspot · 02/05/2023 12:22

PenelopeTitsDrop3121 · 02/05/2023 09:33

Year 6 teachers aren't allowed to strike as SATs tests start next week.

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A days extra strike won't make a difference anyway. If it does then the schools are doing something wrong/ the SATs are ridiculous

User18546753 · 02/05/2023 12:24

YANBU, I wouldn't be happy about it either

nofusspot · 02/05/2023 12:27

User18546753 · 02/05/2023 12:24

YANBU, I wouldn't be happy about it either

You wouldn't be happy that your child had to go to school as originally planned?

TheOrigRights · 02/05/2023 12:28

Feenie · 02/05/2023 12:16

There is considerable disruption to all children’s education each and every day, even without the strikes, and it can only get worse the way funding, recruitment and retention are at the moment. That’s why we are striking.

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I support the strikes. I think any improvement to education will come too late for my son (year 9), but I hope things get better for schools, teachers and students in the long term.

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