Will schools reschedule parent/ teacher meetings on strike day?

[PastSellByDate]

Just that really. Our end of year parent/ teacher meetings are scheduled for July 10th - which is meant to be a national strike day www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-27923260

Our school haven't made a decision on what to do yet - which is understandable I don't know whether they know how many teachers will be striking yet - but we parents are now wondering if we'll actually ever have the end of year parent/ teacher meeting.

What is your school doing if you're in this situation?

Thanks

Yes, ours have been rescheduled. Same times that we had arranged but different day.

Can I ask if all schools are on strike this day? I've heard nothing from either of my children's schools.

It depends on your school and whether the teachers in the school have decided to strike or not. Check with the office.
Did they strike last time?

One did and one didn't. Thanks will give them a call.

We were supposed to be having 'meet next year's teacher' after school that day but they have rescheduled for earlier in the week.

We don't know if/how many staff are striking yet and we're not allowed to ask. Parents will be told the night before, if the teachers tell us by then but they are under no obligation to do so.

In our school (assuming numbers striking are similar to previously) most meetings would go ahead as usual and the others would be rescheduled.

The night before?! That's absurd!

It's the law NickNacks. Where schools are able to tell parents earlier it's either because they are putting pressure on staff to tell them early (which is illegal) or through the goodwill of the staff - which kind of defeats the object of striking, which is to cause as much disruption as possible.

Law or not, it's still daft. (Not shooting the messenger btw!)

Schools seem to want to have their cake and eat it, parents can't take their children out of school but teachers can decide not to teach. Crazy double standards.

It's not teachers that have said parents can't take kids out of school, though, is it? And everyone has the right to withhold their labour - they are striking in an attempt to improve things for students.

Firstly, it's not "schools" that don't want you to take children out, it's mostly the Government, secondly, "schools" and "teachers" are different entities, thirdly, I really wouldn't want to live in a world where the workforce generally doesn't have the rights that have been won through industrial action and union pressure.

It's very inconvenient, I don't yet know if either of my DC's school will be open, but it's the price we pay for generally good working conditions in this country.

Our parents meeting has been rescheduled, yes.

Not 'everyone' has the right to withhold their labour no. Neither dh or I are in positions where we are able to strike to show our disapproval to our governing body/employer.

Yes you are NickNacks. Everyone has the right to join a union, even if you work in a non-unionised business you can still join a union. You might need some strength of character to take action but that is how paid holidays/sick leave etc has been won for all of us.

Some very specific positions waived their rights to strike. The police force is the only one I can think of (forgive me if there are more) but they do have rights above and beyond most other employees as part of that deal.

We were given a weeks notice and it is appreciated.

Hope you have learnt some useful facts, Nicknacks, from the wise Frontier.

It's up to you to take ownership of your rights - union and action wise if you can. But don't berate those who have worked hard for their rights and feel they must do what is right for their profession. There will be more action so get used to it. Gove has refused, since he took over his post, to meet the teaching unions for dialogue.

Talking of government, Frontier is absolutely right in that it is the government that is making things very, very hard for parents re term time holidays. If schools do not follow the diktats then Ofsted come down very hard.

I hope you can change your stance and be more sympathetic to schools.

As I said above, neither of us can.

Dh is, as you pointed out, in the police force. I am a self employed childminder. I'd love to strike against the regulations by which I have to work by but since I don't have a direct impact it would do sod all.

Despite this, we both do our jobs knowing the rules regs and consequences and would look elsewhere if we weren't happy. Please don't pull the 'we're doing it for the children card' because frankly the children need teaching.

And who exactly will be teaching the children in the future given that Gove is so completely trying to decimate teachers pay and conditions.
you may have no sympathy for teachers but if we don't strike to maintain the conditions we signed up for how on earth will good graduates or career changes be attracted to teaching?
Do you want barely qualified people teaching your child or would you prefer fairly paid, well qualified graduates?

Think long term benefit rather than short term gain.

Why are you only picking on the teachers though Nicks. Only one of the many teaching unions is striking next week, and most of the unions that are striking are not teaching unions. Why not pick on the fire fighters?

This isn't personal. I love my children's teachers and of course think they are doing a wonderful job.

I can still think it's appropriate that they give more notice than the night before. I'm a cm so this isn't about the childcare argument.

Maybe my personal view is skewed at the moment. Both my children's school are in special measures as of 3 months ago and they have drilled into us all how important attendance is and how dedicated all the staff are to bringing the school back up to where it should be. Having a day off when there is only 2 weeks left of term would be gutting.

Well the fire fighters aren't teaching my children....

We were told today. Dd's in school but has to be collected at lunchtime and returned afterwards as there won't be any midday supervisors, a bit of a pain but the price you pay for going to a school out of catchment I suppose. Breakfast and After school clubs and sports day have been cancelled, sports day will take place the following week.

The government has implemented rules on term-time holidays that most parents object to.

The government has implemented changes to the teachers' pay and conditions that many teachers object to

Both parents and teachers are pissed off. You should be pissed off with the same people though. It's not the fault of the teachers that term-time holidays are no longer allowed!

I imagine they are striking to ensure the school will be back up to where it should be.
Right now teachers aren't exactly clamouring to teach in RI schools. With the changes to pay and conditions there will be even less suitable people going for those roles.
Schools In RI need the best teachers not any old person who they can shove in front of a class. This is how education will end up if teachers don't strike to stick up for their rights and those of the children in their care.
parents should be with teachers on this NOT against. It is your child's future??? at his argument always puzzles me. I want the best teachers for my child, not the worst.

Even if all the teachers refused to strike many schools would have to shut anyway as they won't have the rest of the staff to be able to open safely, since those unions are also striking.

I'm guessing should you need the fire brigade he fact that your children aren't being taught will be the least of your worries. I know which I'd be more concerned about.