parent governors - what time are your meetings? because I am fed up...

[geekgirl]

with our school's 4pm meetings

why why why do they have to meet at 4?
It's just about the crappiest time for having to find a babysitter.

I've spent a fortune on babysitting since becoming a governor 2 years ago - if dh was to come home that early he'd have to take half the day off (and lose £££ in earnings as he's a contractor).

Other schools nearby do their governors' meetings either during the school day (not possible with ours) or in the evening. Even 6pm would be fab.

bumping this - would like to know if I'm being unreasonable?

we have them at 6 or 7pm

evenings here - don't they realise people have jobs and other committments? Raise it at the next meeting.

If we have this sort of meeting before 6pm, the school provides free childcare at its established after-school club.
(but this is the private sector I'm afraid).
It does seem inconvenient - why not suggest this? Either it's a tiny hit on their provision - how many parent governors are there? - or if they don't have after-school care on site, why not?

How old are your children? 4pm after school is just about the best time for babysitting for me, because I can ask another Mum to take them home from school. Are yours too young for this?

I have just been elected and was a bit horrified to be told the first meeting was at 3.45 with one day notice. I have to put my child in after school club, so it is going to cost me money [humph]
But I actually feel a bit better to see I am not alone

thanks all -

marina, we don't have after school care because the school is too small and there is no demand. they do manage to get a childminder in for PTFA meetings though, so I really don't understand why they don't do it for governors. Whenever I've raised it I get a sympathetic smile but that's it.

bozza - I have three v. young children, one with SN, and I really can't just lumber someone else with them at that time of day.

I do agree that staff need to get home at a sensible time....

Ours are all at 7.30pm, and the staff stay on. This has been agreed as the most convenient time, as most people have other jobs.

There are only 5 or 6 people on each sub-committee, so they choose times that suit the majority - sometimes they are in the morning after school drop-off, sometimes before pick-up and sometimes in the evening. This time we are going to a restaurant.

6pm

its too early IMO

but also tough on the teacher governors to have to stay that late

your governing body should be paying for your babysitters you know

Primary they are at 5pm, or 6pm.
Secondary at 6pm, unless lots of staff on, then it is 5pm.

We have ours at different times throughout the year - they either start at 5.30, 6.30 or 7.30. I would raise it as an issue - you cannot get a representative governing body if you make the meetings inaccessible to people who work and/or have childcare commitments.

We also pay expenses for babysitting - again we took the decision to ensure we were as inclusive as possible and to encourage people to volunteer.

I have the same problem, I joined, and then unjoined, a couple of school committees, as they kept meeting either when I was working or when I had to pay for 3 children in after school club.

Now I just don't volunteer for anything, that solves the problem.

Ours are at 7pm. I would raise the issue at a meeting. You may not be the only person it doesn't suit.

someone brought up paying for expenses last term but was quickly quashed because it 'would open the floodgates'

feel like chucking it in today TBH

We get 3 hours' babysitting paid for by Social Services so that we can have a night out once a month (because of dd2's SN) - I always use that allowance for governors' meetings instead.

Geekgirl I would raise it again. You really shouldn't be out of pocket. You are volunteering - you shouldn't be paying for the privilege too.

Tell them it's making you question whether you can continue.

the DFeS considers that governors should not be out of pocket...

My mother was a governor at my brother's school (and then later mine, when I joined) - initially a parent governor and then just a full governor. They had evening meetings. I remember going to them! (And sitting outside with a book) because my mother was a single parent. I know that a lot of schools round here have evening meetings, because they advertise for committee clerks to work in the evening and minute and prepare agendas.

6/7

4 is SHIT

Dh's meetings alternate 6pm and 3.45pm

Ours are at 7 (then we go to the pub). 4 is miserable. can you push for your expenses to be paid? Tbh, in your shoes, I'd make it a resigning issue, if they can't make a bit of effort to make it feasible for you.

And you need your night out with dh, you shouldn't have to use your paid-for babysitting for it.

Full govs at 6.30pm. Committees during the day, some early morning.

you need to say owt

you should get expenses. I do but it's not always the money, it's actually trying to find a babysitter at that time of day - very inconvenient.

Our full meetings are at 6.30 and committees are at 4.30.

A friend of mine was asked to stand for Chair ansd she said she only would if she could change the time of the meetings. They have theirs alternately at 7pm and 9am now

well wehave a freaky thing
FGB at 6 30

BUT we haev a comitte night
the head therfore only has to stya for one cometitte night a term( or two in a long term)

so learngin and teahcign is at 5
finance andpermises at 6 and personnle at 7

she floats

it works!