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Original poster

Who runs the clubs at your school?

19 replies

swedishmum · 20/04/2006 13:29

Ds's netball club has stopped because the school can't find a volunteer to run it. At dd's primary all the teachers (plus a secretary, plus teaching assistants) seem to run clubs - including the headteacher. It occurs to me that recorder club at lunchtime is the only extra-curricular activity run by a staff member. Is this normal?
I'm not teacher bashing btw - when I was teaching in sec schools I ran lots of activities (music) and even ran netball at this primary until 7 months pg.
Would appreciate straw poll before marching in in my usual way!
Many thanks

OP posts:

jmum6 · 20/04/2006 13:32

It's usually teachers (have taken many a club in my time) but you don't get paid so you don't have to do it!

Littlefish · 20/04/2006 13:43

Teachers can offer to run a club, but are under no obligation to do so. My last school had a mix of teather-run clubs, and clubs run by outside groups (which the children paid for).

iota · 20/04/2006 13:46

all the clubs (football, multisport, music, dance) are run by people from outside (and we have to pay for them) at ds1's school. He's at a state Primary

roisin · 20/04/2006 17:00

Unions and recent workforce agreement/workforce remodelling which came into force last year has removed any obligation for teachers to do this sort of thing.

Some schools run a fairly strict three-line whip that everyone does at least one, and it's very much part of the ethos of the school (they get brownie points from Ofsted for having lots of extra-curric). Some schools don't.

If your school doesn't, there probably isn't a great deal you can do about it: other than offer to run a couple yourself!

Original poster

swedishmum · 20/04/2006 17:14

I had an issue a few years ago when Y6s were running clubs unsupervised for younger children at the school on health and safety grounds and content. I can see why teachers opt not to run clubs but it seems such a pity that ds and classmates miss out on sport so much. Dd's school has a mix of teachers and outside agencies, and there's lots going on. In our remote rural area, we don't have other clubs to hand so these extra-curricular activities are very important, particularly to people on low incomes or without cars.
I used to run the club myself, but not practical with a toddler in tow!

OP posts:

nikkie · 20/04/2006 18:53

I run a club at my school but we are SEN and with transport all clubs have to be break/lunch and we are not allowed to give up our breaks for these (although we can do other work in this time every day with out comment)
My daughters school have a club in year 1 a club in yr2 and a football club run by local secondayr at the infants for yr 1and 2

sammac · 20/04/2006 19:12

In my school I run a chess club, spelling club and the book club- but most teachers don't do anything. I do mine at lunchtime- the after school clubs are run by outsiders. There is no obligation to do so- some new teachers to the school will volunteer to get some brownie points and it looks good when going for a permanent job. There is no extra payment, amd in some cases- like with chess- I have to give up some of the weekend to go to a tournament. I do it purely for the benefit of the children( and I enjoy it :) )

Hallgerda · 20/04/2006 19:22

Some of the clubs at my children's school (inner city state primary) are run by teachers, some by the learning mentors and others by sports coaches brought in from outside. AFAIK they are all free (the ones my children attend are - I don't know about the others). I don't know whether anyone is paid (but presume the external sports coaches must be).

swedishmum, I see your point, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect people to do something for nothing, or to put them under pressure to do so, even if you yourself have done so in the past. I see you live in a remote rural area - I take it there are no sports centres or sports clubs in the area that run clubs for children? (Sports clubs might see some commercial benefit in catching customers young, and possibly persuading the parents to join). Would it be worth trying to persuade the PTA to fund clubs, or see whether there are any other potential sources of funding out there?

tamum · 20/04/2006 19:25

All ours are run by the PSA, who pay outside teachers to run them. Some are employed as teachers at other schools (art specialists), others are sports instructors, private music teachers and so on. Again, this is an inner city state primary. The fees are quite low- they just cover the teachers' salaries and are subsidised by the PSA.

Hallgerda · 20/04/2006 19:27

I've just done some googling - the FA seems to have a funding scheme for school football clubs \link{http://www.thefa.com/Grassroots/FootballInSchools/SchoolClubLink/\here}. I suspect netball may not be as well resourced, but I'd see whether there are any useful funding sources out there.

RTKangaMummy · 20/04/2006 19:31

At DS state primary

Orchestra & recorder -- peripetetic teacher from outside = free

Scrabble & Chess & Netball & Football & Fencing clubs -- teachers from within school

Percussion club -- the caretaker runs a deffo brill club at lunchtime

Rugby & French -- outside people come in and children have to pay

RTKangaMummy · 20/04/2006 19:33

Oh and choir which is run by deputy head

PeachyClair · 20/04/2006 19:58

Church Infants

run by teachers, on an invite only basis

we're not invited

PeachyClair · 20/04/2006 19:59

Church Infants

run by teachers, on an invite only basis

we're not invited

southeastastra · 20/04/2006 21:08

Hi this is my first post here its a great site! I run two after school art clubs, I am employed by the local council and we are trained and covered, you could ask your local council if they run anything, though parents have to pay. :)

RTKangaMummy · 20/04/2006 21:16

southeastastra welcome to MN

It is really deffo brill here

southeastastra · 20/04/2006 21:29

Wish I'd found it before! I've been stuck on ebay for too long! I think after school clubs will all soon be run like a business you have to be covered for so many things now.

Original poster

swedishmum · 21/04/2006 10:12

Maybe I'll speak to them about other funding options. The PTA are pretty fully stretched at the moment. I agree teachers shouldn't be forced to work for nothing, but there must be a solution. Does anyone know what the legal/insurance implications are for parents running clubs without teachers present?

OP posts:

fsmail · 21/04/2006 18:21

I run an afterschool french club for La Jolie Ronde and my insurance is included in the license fee I pay every year. I also have to be CRB checked and have to do my own health and safety etc. It is a big responsibility so you need to have your own insurance and keep the class sizes relatively small. Towards the end of the year inevitably if too many people drop out I do have to consider when it is financially viable to continue as all of the costs can mean that you actually do earn very little. However, it is very rewarding and I love the kids especially Year 2.

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