School refused to release my child until after parents’ meeting – is this allowed?

[Sofia14]

Today, I went to collect my child from his primary school (London), but was told I couldn’t take him until after a parents’ meeting. The children were kept waiting in the hall for about 20 minutes.
The school only emailed about the meeting at 10.30am for 3.15pm. The message didn’t say it was compulsory or that kids wouldn’t be released. Staff were abrupt and didn’t apologise. I was unwell and really needed to get home. In the end, the meeting wasn’t urgent at all; it was about who the teachers are, what uniform to wear, and reminders about being polite/etiquette. All of this could easily have been sent by email.

AIBU to think the school had no right to keep my child like this?

Absolutely do not let it go. It's awful that they haven't responded to your emails. I would go in and request an in-person meeting.

Some people on this thread are batshit to think this is reasonable behavior from the school.

Can you change schools? Sorry if that has already been answered. It sounds as though the problem is going to be the management of the school generally, which may impact on other things.

The no response would concern me

Agree with this. Next stop, probably email the chair of governors.

As a former governor, I'd say you should email/write to the chair of governors. The policy they might have is questionable anyway, but their lack of response is also bad.

Have you tried writing to the chair of the governors? I would be raising concerns with him/her not just about holding children hostage after school but more generally about poor organisation and communication at the school. It’s not acceptable to tell parents about a compulsory meeting with less than five hours notice - it’s a sign the school does not have its act together.

Why have you decided not to take this further when they have blatantly ignored your emails?? Why don’t you just go into the school?