Have we made big mistake in our 'choice' of primary

[giveitago]

OK, we live very near a primary school - have applied and have got in.

As we lkive near I've seen the parents can be 'difficult' and we daily have people parking on our property and if you challenge them you really get in the neck.

Saw somone parking in our private parking - approached them - well within two minutes I was told by this 'man' 'if it weren't for the fact that you're a woman I'd blah blah blah' He then insinuates he's on the pta. Oh my god. I call the school to complain - not interested - call the council to complain - not interested.

LO starts there in sept - and I'm thinking living so near the school isn't such a great idea as 1) we have the hassle of parents with the most huge sense of entitlement blocking us in or taking my parking twice daily 2) if this 'man' is pta he was basically suggesting that I'd better watch out.

I think I should have called the police.

Really regret applying to what is a great school now. Am I being unreasonable - do I not have any rights as a resident also?

What exactly did this man say to you?

Buy yourself a clamp if it's private parking and you wil be raking it in (N.B this may not be legal ) Is this your drive?

FWIW if this man threatened you I would call the police.

He basically said he'd by violent to me if it weren't the fact I was a woman! So threatening violence and sexist. And on PTA - shouldn't be if he is. He might be lying about that.

I've never had violence threatened but I've had my tiny ds pushed off our own path to our home etc.

It's hard living near and also having to be a resident. Residents really don't like the parents and see why.

How about send your dc to the school, join the pta/make friends with the head, and start a campaign that encourages the school/parents to be more considerate of local residents and parking issues. Always easier to change attitudes from the inside rather than the outside.

How about send your dc to the school, join the pta/make friends with the head, and start a campaign that encourages the school/parents to be more considerate of local residents and parking issues. Always easier to change attitudes from the inside rather than the outside.

tbh - i'll be one of those that does drop off and picks up and no more.

I thought - great - we live near, nice and easy, but it certainly has it's disadvantages in that it's tricky to be a parent of a school and also push your rights as residents as well.

Ah well - you can't have it all.

Write to the chair of governors and tell them that people on the PTA are being aggressive.

Lol at man thinking he's got special dispensation by being on the PTA! He was probably selected to run the BBQ stall at last year's May Fayre and now thinks he's God.

I'm surprised at the school not being interested. We go out of our way to keep the peace with the surrounding residents and businesses and often send stern letters out aimed at serial parking offenders. And agree about reporting him for abuse - at least to the governing body.

I'm going to revert to my cool former self - till it happens again (it will) and then I'll just let rip!

And I'll have a right old reputation as an old bag when lo starts there.

You could try contacting a clamping firm, tell them the problem and see if they want the business. You won't make owt out of it but you'll only need a couple to be clamped and it'll stop.

Or...catch up with the parent and with a big smile on your face, ask if he is feeling okay now as his behaviour was so extreme. A friend of mine did this to a parent who was rude to her and it worked a treat.

make an official complaint to the police. my dc's school take parking issues seriously, anything that could potentially be a safety issue for the children and regularly ask parents to be responsible when it comes to parking near school. doesn't always work as certain parents are obviously above the rules , but this term it does seem to have made the 'pull up right outside the entrance and
drop the kids off without getting out of the car' brigade. the local support officer does spot checks and is sometimes there in the morning and will ask bad parkers to move

Thanks for the ideas! I'm now cool and I'm going to the type of parent who just takes kid and scuttles off home.

Most schools have a problem with parents and cars but that does not mean that parents should think they have the right to park anywhere and insult residents.

I would be tempted to write a polite letter to the Chair of Governors pointing out that you have been verbally assaulted and threatened by a parent. Ask them to take appropriate action to ensure that all parents do act more neighbourly and park only where appropriate. The bit about being on the PTA is simply bravado by the ignorant lump who made the comments. They have absolutely no sway in the school as such, only possibly with the parents!

OK I know from personal experience it is really a waste of breathe as the school can do little to curb the excesses of the paernts but you need to start somewhere in complaining and verbal complaints are easier to ignore. A formal writen complaint to the Chair cannot.

And even if he is on the PTA that doesn't mean anything. PTAs are social and fund raising organizations, and have no power whatsoever. So ignore that bit!

The police will actually do nothing if you are "parked in" either unless you own all the land he has parked on. If you are in your drive and he has merely blocked your drive, parking on land in front of your drive which you do not own, then the police will do nothing.

I do suggest clamps and the requisite signs.

Is it the police or the local council who enforce parking where you are? Our local council often send a parking warden if parents complain about non-residents in residents bay (the police did too in the old days).

Actually our local police have a fab scheme, they get groups of kids out with a speed detector and video. They then measure the speed of cars and video them. My Dds school is going to do it, I suggested we make sure they do it before and after school. As certain Mums in Chelsea tractors do speed near school.
I'm sure being caught out by your own child must be pretty humiliating.

Every parents is part of the PTA, if he is on the committee, then I would even more be ready to complain to the head teacher. IT has been known for our heads to put on reflective jackets and patrol the roads outside school.

Do get involved in the school, they obviously need more sane people.