Anyone else's uni putting classes at times you can't attend?

[Pawslikepaddington]

It's driving me MAD! All the workshops are taking place after 6pm or at weekends, classes the same, and instead of re-scheduling them for times we can all make they are simply telling me to do without, or just read the textbooks, when part of the system is based on workshops and classes-I'm getting so . And when I say I cannot attend as I am an sp, so have dd and could they rearrange to when she is at school/afterschool club, the other's can't make it due to play rehersals etc and so their objections outweigh mine . Sorry, rant over!

That's really odd - can't imagine the academic staff are best pleased about it either. Do you have an advisor of studies you could discuss this with?

The two tutors in question are new, and one travels a long way to get here, so can only go from x time to later IYSWIM. I just feel like I'm failing already as I'm having to miss 3 days of lectures this week as I can only afford two days of holiday care (so picked days with classes and lectures), dd was ill last week so was off school, so managed to make classes but missed lectures, and now I'm having to miss classes because of bad scheduling, I want to run away!

This just doesn't seem right - is it a F/T course, and you're available 9-5ish?

It's F/T and I'm available 9-6 Mon, Wed and Thurs and 9-3 on the Tues and Fridays due to dd's afterschool activities/meetings with her friends, but 4 times now they have scheduled classes on the 9-3 days instead of the 9-6 days, and overrun until 3.30, meaning I didn't get to school until 3.50pm (poor dd sat in office crying) when I was supposed to be there at 3.20pm, meaning she missed her swimming lessons or visits with friends. I know they think I'm making a fuss, but I ended up walking out of one at 3pm because I couldn't do it to her again. They were so good last year, and this year it is like they are sick of my "excuses" (it feel like that anyway!).

I think you need to talk to your student support services - maybe called student development, or somesuch? You're a "non-traditional" student, and therefore part of the widening access agenda. I don't know what they'll be able to do, but you should certainly let them know about the problems you're having.

Oooh you are a lovely, thank you. I'm just fed up of having to be a nuisance all the time just to get the same teaching as normal students

Hope you get some help. Universities do get some money which is specifically for widening access, so they do have to try to support you in these issues - some of that money is spent on student support, so do give them a go. Good luck!