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Original poster

State schools must stay open but private schools can close early

217 replies

Lumene · 12/12/2020 09:39

This seems really wrong to me. Kids I know at private school has their last day yesterday, so a clear run until Christmas. But the government is forcing state schools to stay open, meaning parents have a legal obligation to send their kids in.

This means if you pay you can safely see your family at Christmas but if you don’t then you can’t unless you break the law and face a fine.

OP posts:
Twinkie01 · 12/12/2020 12:58

DS's school always break a week earlier the DS's state school. It's normal and their holidays are always longer.

MrsMiaWallis · 12/12/2020 13:00

@starrynight19

Really, so what? What does that have to do with private school term dates?

The thread is about state schools being made to stay open is it not.
‘State schools must stay open’ is the opening of the thread title Hmm

But private schools closing earlier than state schools has nothing to do with it.

If you want state schools to close early go and join one of the 400,000,000 threads about thst very thing.

timeforanewstart · 12/12/2020 13:02

Private schools always have longer school holidays including xmas as they often do longer school days
Those that have broke up prob broke up same time as every year

notevenat20 · 12/12/2020 13:02

It's just a different setup at private schools. Our local state secondary finishes at 2:45 every day but the private school finishes at 4pm for example.

starrynight19 · 12/12/2020 13:05

@MrsMiaWallis spectacularly missing the point. And I will post where I like thanks all the same.

MrsMiaWallis · 12/12/2020 13:05

@notevenat20

It's just a different setup at private schools. Our local state secondary finishes at 2:45 every day but the private school finishes at 4pm for example.
Yes, ours finishes at 5.10 then there's Saturday school

All those lucky state school kids finishing at 2.45!

catspyjamas123 · 12/12/2020 13:05

Private schools can decide to close early - as Eton has done while continuing remote learning. State schools don’t have the choice. I think this is relevant. Both are inspected and regulated and have to operate within a legal framework. Schools in general are a key vector for spreading Covid so I do think parents are correct to be concerned.

Smartiepants79 · 12/12/2020 13:38

As others have said. My daughters school finished yesterday, a week before me and my other child. She did so last year and will continue to do so for every year until she leaves. She also gets longer at Easter and in the summer.
She works a longer school day to compensate.
It’s always been like this.
They’ve not closed ‘early’ because of COVID.

Piggywaspushed · 12/12/2020 13:41

DH's private school closed a week early because of an outbreak. Presdales ,a state girls' school was threatened with a High Court injunction for doing the same thing (after surveying parents) despite 40 odd cases and a teacher in hospital.

That is relevant.

AppleKatie · 12/12/2020 13:41

so I do think parents are correct to be concerned.

Absolutely and they should be furious with the DFE Gav and Boris NOT their local independent 😂

MrsMiaWallis · 12/12/2020 14:05

@Piggywaspushed

DH's private school closed a week early because of an outbreak. Presdales ,a state girls' school was threatened with a High Court injunction for doing the same thing (after surveying parents) despite 40 odd cases and a teacher in hospital.

That is relevant.

One is a business and one isn't 🤷‍♀️
Coasterfan · 12/12/2020 14:12

DD is at private school a doesn't finish until next Thursday DS is at state school and finishes Friday so it’s certainly not the case all private schools closed yesterday.

catspyjamas123 · 12/12/2020 14:23

@MrsMiaWallis “charity” surely, not business?

Londonnight · 12/12/2020 14:27

Private schools always break up earlier than state schools. Ours broke up yesterday.
It's the same for the summer holidays, ours always break up the 3/ 4 weeks earlier than state schools.

catspyjamas123 · 12/12/2020 14:45

The point is the double standard. A private school can make its own decisions - and some are closing early because of Covid. A state school head, who has a very important executive role, has his or her hands tied. Both should make a decision for the safety of their pupils. Term dates in general are a distraction and a different issue.

starrynight19 · 12/12/2020 14:50

The point is the double standard. A private school can make its own decisions - and some are closing early because of Covid. A state school head, who has a very important executive role, has his or her hands tied. Both should make a decision for the safety of their pupils. Term dates in general are a distraction and a different issue.

Yes this. It’s nothing to do with term dates.

Original poster
Lumene · 12/12/2020 14:50

I know private schools shut earlier anyway.

The point I am making is the government are insisting people keep their children in school until too close to the Christmas bubbles to ensure safety for anyone they would like to see over Christmas. They are threatening schools which won’t stay open.

Why not just let them close if parents are happy? Private schools have closed already, why can’t state schools decide to do this?

OP posts:
MistletoeandGin · 12/12/2020 14:51

@catspyjamas123

The point is the double standard. A private school can make its own decisions - and some are closing early because of Covid. A state school head, who has a very important executive role, has his or her hands tied. Both should make a decision for the safety of their pupils. Term dates in general are a distraction and a different issue.
Private schools have the power to do lots of things that state schools don’t, it’s not limited to Covid.
MistletoeandGin · 12/12/2020 14:51

Why not just let them close if parents are happy? Private schools have closed already, why can’t state schools decide to do this?

Are all the parents happy?

Original poster
Lumene · 12/12/2020 14:52

Exactly:

DH's private school closed a week early because of an outbreak. Presdales ,a state girls' school was threatened with a High Court injunction for doing the same thing (after surveying parents) despite 40 odd cases and a teacher in hospital.

The private school pupils are kept safe, the government should allow state schools to make the same decision.

OP posts:
MistletoeandGin · 12/12/2020 14:54

Our state school haven’t taken the opportunity to use the extra ‘inset day’ on Friday as they knew it would cause childcare issues for hundreds of parents.

Original poster
Lumene · 12/12/2020 15:00

Also agree with this:

Private schools can decide to close early - as Eton has done while continuing remote learning. State schools don’t have the choice. I think this is relevant. Both are inspected and regulated and have to operate within a legal framework. Schools in general are a key vector for spreading Covid so I do think parents are correct to be concerned.

OP posts:
MistletoeandGin · 12/12/2020 15:03

How do you know all the parents would be happy with an early closure OP?

EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide · 12/12/2020 15:03

If you object to sending your child for the last week can't you just say one of you has symptoms and are isolating?

dalrympy · 12/12/2020 15:11

Last day AT school yesterday but they are online learning till Wednesday. Does seem sensible. They also had increased measures last week - masks in lessons etc