To wonder why the whole school has to close on polling days ?

[Sassybeast]

When they only use the assembly hall and that can be accessed by a completely separate side entrance and there is ample parking within very close walking distance. Or why can't polling days also double up as teacher training days ? We had one scheduled for 4th may - that's now been postponed until the end of the month.
Is there a perfectly logical reason that I am missing ?

Teachers want the day off and the chance of snow is quite slim at this time of year. The chance of an ash day is causing some excitement.

No idea! they used to do this with my primary school...that would be the primary school NEXT DOOR to the church and mahoosive hall!

Eldest 2 charge's school is shut that day aswell but I'm quite looking forward to it! random day out!

In case violence breaks out - seriously, it can happen. It often happens in other countries.

wastwinsetandpearls that was very naughty of you

I presumed it was a security/safety issue. My DS school gates/doors are locked in school hours and you have to be let in.

ahhh - that'll be the logical (but hopefully v v unlikely) reason that I've missed then ? Although agree with Milknosugar - the community centre is about 500 yards down the road - now why don't they use that instead?

Im sure teachers will be cross at us for wondering this... but I have to say without any other explaination I tend to agree with twinset

The security thing could be a real issue. But why not double up teacher training days...?

Still, I also wondered why when it snowed they didnt just send teacher to local schools instead of the ones they actually worked at...

Maybe its a case of not looking outside of the box for solutions..?

I was joking but I knew it would not be long before someone agreed with me.

You would probably have to CRB check every voter otherwise!

Teacher training days (on the whole) are booked months and months in advance...as you all know the election has only just been announced.

Can't just pitch up as another school as a teacher as you need a new CRB check done for each establishment you work in.

And even if you could, the place would be in chaos so what teaching would be done?

Oh help - please don't turn this into a teacher bashing thread - am assuming that the decisions come from education boss type people rather than teacher.

I love teachers. If I was clever I'd be one

Oh, and foureleven, are you serious in believing that teachers have ANY say in any of this?

We have a teaching training day on polling day. Most schools can't stay open because of security if the general public has access. Also if there are only one set of adult toilets often the voting people have sole use of them and so the teachers couldn't stay either to do a training day. We have our training day off site but not all schools could afford to do this.

As A teacher I can tell you I am mad that my school is closing as it knocks out my term plans.

The reason it closes is security for the voting papers- not the pupils.

I don't think our school is being used...as far as I know?

its really really shit isnt it
i want to know too

My school is being used and all the staff have to go in and do the kind of joicult with the children in... rearranging the library and digging out borders in the garden.

Are you sure staff are off?

That should have read jobs that are difficult

I don't think we would have the day off, as far as I know school policy is that staff attend as there is always plenty to be done. You can imagine the nightmare that will cause for those teachers with children!

In most areas there are plenty of alternative premises that can be used. It also peeves me that the jobs of manning the polling stations always seem to go to council workers etc who already have jobs (or at least they always used to). Why are these jobs not given to people on the unemployment register?

"Oh, and foureleven, are you serious in believing that teachers have ANY say in any of this?"
My point was that 'with no other explaination' what else can you think. Teachers will never explain these reasons to you. They just announce what will happen and we should all just go along with it like the children! If you question it then youre accusing them. If there were no staff in one of my offices I would want explainations as to why, but we're not allowed to ask teachers the same thing...?

Re the chaos if different teachers pitched up and no teaching being done. I dont think it would matter if they learned anything, it would have just been invaluable to have the kids at school that week being looked after. My company is very small and we lost £1000s that week. Our neighbours are teachers but they teach about 15 miles away. They desparately wanted to go and help out at the school at the end of the road but the red tape wouldnt allow it eurghhh

Im sure although the inset days are booked well in advance they could be moved about if there is a polling day announced. I regularly coordinate training days with about 2 days notice; book speakers, arrange catering, write training materials... Red tape and no 'outside of box' thinking seems to cause a lot of probs at school.

Sorry, every school holiday I see teacher friends constant facebook updates of '4 weeks of doing nothing, another 3 to go...' I guess its given me a bit of a chip on myshoulder

I wonder why it is different in our areas?

We can't even use our school the night before and get chucked out early so the election stuff can be set up.

I mean, teachers don't decide these things...the council do? So why should teachers be able to answer your questions?

And as to rearranging the training days, it would depend what training was due to be done. Speakers/trainers can't always be switched. The 'out of box' thinking, or lack of, isn't at school level.