It’s kicking off on the class WhatsApp…

[Creamice]

So limited number of tickets for (after) school event.
It is now sold out. Parents are upset that other parents have bought tickets for their younger children meaning that school pupils can’t all attend. Though I suspect there were never enough tickets for all pupils anyway…
should younger (preschool) siblings be allowed to attend? And if so do they need tickets? Discuss.

Fundraising is so hard. Unfortunately PTAs etc get complaints if they are always running things that parents have to pay for but when they do something that could draw money from outsiders parents complain too that they aren't prioritized. Can't win.

Maybe allow a prevalent for the infant children, then sell the remaining on first come, first served.

…… discuss 🫡

Agreed. You can't do everything. Not everyone got Oasis tickets, Bayeaux Tapestry, Last Night of the Proms.

Deal with it, or get up earlier next time.

And the ones who complain the loudest are always the ones who would be the last ones to ever volunteer to help.

So glad that parent whatsapp groups were not a thing when my DC were in primary school! We had bonkers entitled parents then, but now they have been given a forum to communicate with everyone at all times.

As pp have said- just wait for the nativity! Our school operated a very fair system where every pupil in the school was given 2 tickets and asked to return any they wouldn't be using. Parents could put their name on the waiting list for any spare tickets which would be allocated one per family on a first come first served basis. One parent badgered everyone to give them any spares directly, even hanging around outside the door by the school office to 'intercept' anyone going to hand in spares. On the day of the play, he waited by the doors from about an hour before the play to make sure he was first in the queue and 'reserved' front row seats for all his family (on one occasion both parents, older sibling and 2 sets of grandparents). On one occasion he put in an official complaint that a teacher with a pupil in the play had a front row seat saved for her (she was helping get the DC in to their costumes). I think that was the final straw because after that the Head decided to have a free 'raffle' for front row tickets.

No this would not happen at our school discos. All children within the age group invited can attend if a ticket is purchased and enough volunteers come forward. Siblings are not allowed to attend.
They do however run multiple events over the afternoon to facilitate this, so nursery and reception go together then year 1 and 2 and so on.
I don't think it is right that the event is allowing siblings to go over the correct age child.

Where I live alcohol is not allowed at any event where children attend. Been that way for years. Surprised they allow it in the UK.

Tickets should be for kids attending the school only and then if any left after a certain date they go out to siblings on a first come first served basis. Seems odd to organise a school event that not all school kids are able to attend if they wanted.

They’ve cocked that one up. At our school we have the disco split into year groups and parent volunteers to supervise. There should be no events where the actual school kids can’t attend because 3 year olds have taken the spots. I can see why people are a bit narked.

Our PTA do a Halloween disco, school kids only. Drop off. They split it into 3 groups and each is an hour long. The kids have a ball and they raise money for the school. This would have avoided the strife.

However, I assume the organisers saw it principally as a fundraiser rather than an experience for the school kids. They will benefit through the funds raised. So first come first served seems fine on that basis.

The moral of the story is, if you (not you OP but those who feel discriminated against on WhatsApp) have views on how these things should be organised, get off your arse and help organise them.

Our PTA is about 3 parents in a school of over 400 kids, working tirelessly to support our children, and when anyone complains about how they do something it incenses me. If you have a view, stand up and be counted, do the work, don’t rely on other people to volunteer hours of their life and then complain when you think they got it wrong.

DDs primary school had a 2 ticket per child rule for shows etc.

That’s still fairer than if the family with three children takes all three plus grandma while the single parent and child actually at the school can’t go at all.

We have Halloween discos at school. Each yr grp has their own time. So usually 2 after school for 4 days running. Generally 3.30-4.30 then 4.45-5.45pm. This way all kids can go if they want. They dont allow parents to stay so if not happy to drop and go, they dont go. But no other children are allowed only those in the school with tickets. Very odd parents are assuming they can bring preschoolers!

If its a fundraiser, surely that's a pta issue not the headteacher. Unless the actual school are organising it. I'm surprised it's been so much drama, surely everyone must know that tickets are limited and open to all. In some situations our school used to limit tickets to 4 per family, so I can see it'd be annoying if someone bought 25 for extended family, but otherwise it's you snooze/you lose! If the event had been specifically for pupils that's different, it sounds like a generic fundraiser. Our school do a Christmas party with santa that sounds similar - it's mainly younger siblings/whole families with little ones because lots of the upper end of the school don't fancy it anymore. So long as it's been clearly advertised as a non-school event for younger siblings too etc, then I'd just assume it's disappointing but not a massive issue or surprise for those who missed out.

Alcohol is not allowed at any event with children?

What is the definition of an event that is used? Does that include private events eg a wedding? Even if not that sounds excessively puritanical (and I don’t drink at all!).

Can Dc be dropped off or do parents need to be there?
If parents are needed they presumably need tickets if they can't get childcare. So makes no difference which age is prioritised.

The publicity should have said 'likely to sell out get your tickets now' and some sort of numbers policy

I feel sorry for schools.

I am pleased to read that the OP does not want her child to attend, regardless of the reason.

Halloween is a nonsense designed to get people to spend more money and anyone who avoids is deserves my support.

If there has always been only about 100 tickets for the event, then perhaps some parents need to refresh their maths skills.

Regardless of this, I agree with those who value the work of the PTA and think criticism of the volunteers who run it is usually unfair.

My children's school has a limit of 2 tickets per family which I think is fair.

halloween is just a festival of sugar. why would anyone celebrate it?

It's utterly shitty when schools do an event with not enough spaces for all the children in the class/year. To further reduce the spaces by allowing random children is ridiculous.

Our school has a disco, they split it into different ages in different sessions so everyone can go. And it's drop off, for all sessions, no parents taking up spaces and certainly no random other children.

For something like nativity or Carol concert, every child gets 1/2 tickets as capacity allows. School asks that parents swop tickets between themselves. So there's a performance on Tues and on Thurs, you get one ticket for each, then you swop with another parent so you get 2 for Thurs and they get 2 for Tues. The school does not get involved as they've not got the capacity to deal with all the nonsense that would ensue. It's entirely fair and no one is left out.

Yes, they need tickets to attend ... it's about room capacity most likely, and they need a headcount.

At our events we are allowed 2 per family per performance. You can go on a wait list for more. Sounds like the school hasn't managed it well.

This sounds badly organised. The better approach would have been to limit purchases to the relevant age groups as a starting point, then release a second round of tickets for everyone after that.

Anyone else find the order to discuss really wanky ?