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Original poster

Termdates.co.uk - word of caution

157 replies

cittigirl · 02/09/2016 18:49

Check and double check before believing their verified dates. I've booked a holiday after looking at their published dates and it turns out they were incorrect. They've not had the courtesy of replying to my calls or emails either!

I'm not expecting any replies, this is just a word of warning.

OP posts:
Brokenbiscuit · 03/09/2016 08:33

Set up a database of inaccurate school term dates, sell advertising on the page based on number of hits. Publicise the inaccuracy of the site on chat forums, and sock puppet a half hearted defence tapping into the social phenomenon of the "baying mob" wanting to prove the website wrong.
*
Watch the advertising revenue roll in.
*
Close website. Repeat.

Sadly, I think NN is absolutely right, and we've all done exactly what Jason wanted us to do.

Wheresthattomoibabber · 03/09/2016 08:34

For lots of schools term started on 1st but kids not back til 5th But as the website doesn't do inset days you'd have to check with the individual school anyway so it's pointless.

Soupandasandwich · 03/09/2016 08:35

Wrong for the school where I work and incorrect for the school where DC1 teaches as well.
My own school, whilst an academy does follow LA dates, though, of course, INSET dates are individually set by school. Our parents can check dates on the LA website, school website, read the newsletters that are emailed ever week of term, read the hard-copy newsletters we produce for those with no email access, read the Tweets resend or read the groupcall texts we send. Tweet and groupcall went out this week with date reminders for next week. With correct term date info available from so many sources, I don't see the point of Jason's inaccurate website.

Catsize · 03/09/2016 08:38

Ours are wrong too. At least I hope they are - I've booked a 2-week holiday for May half-term in accordance with dates on school website. Jason says we can only have 1 week. Hmm

'We do not reply to parents and never have done?' Nice customer-focused policy there!

The annoying thing is he will be able to say to his advertisers 'look, I had 6,000,000,000,000 hits in September. Thanks to this thread.

Minisoksmakehardwork · 03/09/2016 08:42

Ours are wrong too. They are LEA verified, which means they haven't taken into account the school sets the teacher training days.

I have made this mistake in the past when I looked at the lea site ahead of the school publishing the dates for the year.

Brokenbiscuit · 03/09/2016 08:44

The annoying thing is he will be able to say to his advertisers 'look, I had 6,000,000,000,000 hits in September. Thanks to this thread.

Exactly. So stop checking, everyone!

IfTheCapFitsWearIt · 03/09/2016 08:45

I've only come on to say how much I chuckled at how many times Jason, could fit, verification, verified, verifying and verify into one paragraph. 😂 Grin

Only1scoop · 03/09/2016 08:47

Cap ....could you just 'verify' that please....

Brokenbiscuit · 03/09/2016 08:52

Perhaps he should spend a bit less time talking about verification and a bit more time actually doing it!

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 03/09/2016 08:54

Hopefully any advertiser would also google the name of the website and this thread would come up though.....

NNChangeAgain · 03/09/2016 08:59

gobbolin most of its automated - individual advertisers won't be placing ads with Jason. It's small change for most advertisers and part of a much bigger contract for them but obviously bringing in enough for someone like Jason to earn some pocket money.

It's unlikely that the database has been populated manually, either - there aren't data entry clerks beavering over keyboards. Scripts can phish for the info off public websites.

Alohamora · 03/09/2016 09:05

Wrong for our schools too. Very wrong in fact Hmm.

IfTheCapFitsWearIt · 03/09/2016 09:06

Well scoop

I can verify that on verification of the paragraph, that I actually verified, its wrong.
Upon my my time spent verifying my previous verification, I discovered I had verified it wrong. jason had not used verifying but had verification of what he was verifying, and had also verified his verification.

But he did not use verify or verifying to justify his verification.

I sorry for any confusion caused. But at least I went verify what I said.

Grin
SavoyCabbage · 03/09/2016 09:08

Mine are wrong too. For the start and the end of this term.

I was booking pantomime tickets yesterday so I had to check the dates for four schools and I just went on the four websites and found them straight away. It might have taken five minutes but at least you feel confident that they are right.

I could have gone on the LEA's websites and then I would have only had to check two but then you don't feel as if the information can be relied on. I didn't know about websites like Our Jason's existed but if I did I wouldn't use it.

mummytime · 03/09/2016 09:12

Yeap dates forgot how my DCs educational establishments wrong. They don't include Inset days, and the correct dates are easily obtainable from the websites.

So a pointless service.

Only1scoop · 03/09/2016 09:17

Cap

Thanks for 'verifying'

I'm sure Jason is very busy 'helping the schools' Grin

Sagethyme · 03/09/2016 09:26

Hehehe I used this a website a few months back when the official school website to DC school was having a few gremlins! I wanted to check end of summer term dates, but they were completely wrong (I just assumed they had 2014 dates up!) Luckily school website was back up and working by the end of the day.
I really don't see the point in this website though!

PointlessUsername · 03/09/2016 09:40

I don't understand, How did Jason end up responding to the op on MN?

IfTheCapFitsWearIt · 03/09/2016 09:52

It maybe cookies? From the twelve hours since the op post, people reading it may have gone to have a look, causing and over night spike in traffic, Jason can tgen trace were they have come from.

IneedAdinosaurNickname · 03/09/2016 10:08

DS1s Secondary School (lea verified)- wrong. He'd miss the first day back if I believed that.

DS2s Primary School - not listed. I'm heartbroken Grin

Original poster
cittigirl · 03/09/2016 10:13

Gosh, a response Shock. All this bad publicity could have been avoided if you'd had the decency to respond to my email and phone call.

I couldn't check the school website as it was a new school for us with only parent access which I didn't have at the time.

Your website states that it's for parents to stop them having to trawl through endless sites looking for correct dates. It states the dates I looked at were verified with the school so why would I or should I look elsewhere? That would be a bit pointless wouldn't it?

So, do you intend on replying to this personally now?

OP posts:
Original poster
cittigirl · 03/09/2016 10:26

Soup dragon. I've been on Mn a loonnnnnng time, as far back as you. I just changed my name recently Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
cittigirl · 03/09/2016 10:32

I've now had a reply. Hold the front page. Sorry, it's ridiculous. You state the dates have been verified but you must check with the school. And the point is???????

OP posts:
Tiggeryoubastard · 03/09/2016 10:32

Once dealt with a company that had a shit product and even shorter customer service. They at least did have a product that could have been useful, though. They're no longer in business. And I'm not surprised.

Whatdoesaduckdo · 03/09/2016 10:53

Oh dear Jason
I feel I need to give you a geography lesson.
The U.K. Includes Northern Ireland
I cannot find one single NI school
Perhaps you should edit your website to read primary and secondary schools across Great Britain.