To wonder why DS's school is closed this afternoon?

[cottonwoolbrain]

It's been in the calendar since the start of term. It does not really cause us an issue as he's 11 and in year 7 and there's usually one of us working from home anyway.

But they're being very vague as to why. Usually they tell us - teacher training, planned repairs etc. but all they've said this time is school closed. DS says someone asked in registration this morning and was just told "because it is"

I can't help wondering if the staff are having an absolutely well deserved party as they reach the end of the school year - I certainly wouldn't begrudge it I'd want a break if I had to spend all year in the company of a thousand noisy kids!!

It just seems - odd

That seems unlikely but I don't have any other suggestions.

Is it the last day? My child's school normally have a half day on the last day of summer term.

At my school we had a half day off for anyone who got into Oxford or Cambridge but that was a very long time ago. Schools could do what they liked then apparently but now the school would accountable to LA or Academy.

Maybe they've got a surprise for the kids tomorrow and need some time to set it up without prying eyes?

While those getting into lesser universities were made to slog away. What a lovely policy.

Da ken min 🤷🏻‍♀️

I can't help wondering if the staff are having an absolutely well deserved party as they reach the end of the school year

No way would a school do this. If they are being tight-lipped about it, I would wonder if it was some kind of meeting about something they are keeping under wraps. It's very odd though.

Ooh very strange!

I don't think they'd be having a party tbh, or if they are I'd be very suprised!

I think you misunderstand - everyone got the half day off.

It was over 50 years ago. I didn't go to either but enjoyed the extra half days holiday.

Hmmm a secret meeting or a school surprise. Both seem possible..

Still I suppose we'll find out in due course... or not!

I think PPs are probably right that it's not a staff party.

Perhaps we'll never know.

I don’t think they misunderstood, you didn’t explain very well.

‘At my school we had a half day off for anyone who got into Oxford or Cambridge’. Why would anyone read ‘for anyone who got into Oxford or Cambridge’ and extrapolate that that means it was for everyone?

@CaptainMyCaptain It won't be anything to do with universities since the school does not have a sixth form

Leaving party for someone whose been there decades? An afternoon to finish report witing?

Is it the last day? Mine has a half day on the last day too. It is basically for a staff lunch, but they would probably get rid of it except that it's been there a long time so they basically can't. It might be something similar at that school.

Ask them ?

It won’t be for a staff party.

Just phone and ask.

At the school I worked in 20 years ago, we always had a training day in early December to get our Christmas shopping done. I doubt schools get anything fun like that anymore though.

It’s clear enough.
The clue is WE HAD half a day off….
Not - we GAVE half a day off to anyone who got into Oxford or Cambridge, but we had.
We had = All of us received

My DD’s school do this at the end of the school year. The receptionist told me they advertise it as ‘parents evening’ but parents are strongly discouraged from making an appointment. In fact they don’t even advertise how to make an appointment and the one time a parent I know tried, they dealt with it outside of the afternoon school was closed.

They absolutely do have an end of year staff party! Not that it bothers me, just a hassle for me as I work in the office and can’t collect easily.

Not the last day that's Friday and they finish at noon

No point phoning as phone calls nearly always drop to answer phone and they ignore nearly all messages fir at least 48 hours unless urgent.

They got their reports yesterday

It's a mystery!

I don't particularly mind I'm just intrigued!!

the post to me reads that the children who got into Oxford or Cambridge for a day off and the poster was one of those children. So not, it’s not clear.

It won't be a staff party.

Possible it's for a funeral of a staff member and many members of staff want to go.

Staff parties are in the evening and lots of staff don't go or want to go.

Well, that poster says herself she didn't get into either, it’s not as if she’s claiming to have outstanding English skills!

Might be a crisis/mass interview situation. Some schools are losing more staff than is capable of running a fully open school come September…