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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Schools closing today

48 replies

Invisimamma · 20/12/2021 20:36

Anyone else's school shut by stealth? Our primary school shut today (monday) as not enough pupils to stay open, apparently it is not a covid safety risk issue or a staffing issue just not enough kids in to be worth opening (meant to close Wednesday). My children have just finished isolation so were really upset not to get last couple of days with their friends.
Around half the school were put on home learning last week.

Shouldn't schools be staying open for those who can attend? Now I'm losing another couple of days work (DH is NHS worker and can't take short notice leave right now).

Ds1 had 9 in his class today and ds2 had 7. So small numbers but still kids in...

OP posts:
rrhuth · 20/12/2021 20:37

I am sceptical that that is the reason - what is the actual wording in the letter/email you have been sent?

Why were half the school put on home learning?

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 20/12/2021 20:40

Sounds more like a Covid outbreak. A school won’t close if not enough pupils are in.

EbonanzaScrooge · 20/12/2021 20:41

I’m in west Dunbartonshire and ours are open until tomorrow despite at least two classes having big outbreaks. My DD is positive with covid and we know at least 6/7 others in her class that are positive too!

dementedpixie · 20/12/2021 20:46

My ds (15) was in all day today and is planning to go in the next couple of days. He might leave early on Wednesday if there's nobody in

Sally872 · 20/12/2021 20:50

Hardly any kids at our primary and staying open. Shocked at too few pupils being a reason, that's awful.

Original poster
Invisimamma · 20/12/2021 21:01

My reply didn't seem to post...

There has been a big outbreak over past 3-4 weeks. Most families around us have been affected but many children have now finished isolation and parents are keeping them home to 'save Christmas.' Understandable but school should still be open for everyone else right? I spoke to Head Teacher on the phone who said it's not staffing or covid risk issue, just low pupil numbers.

Communication from school attached (cropped identifying details).

Schools closing today
OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 20/12/2021 21:04

God who wrote that?! No grammar at all.

Seems it came from above school level,

StarryEyeSurprise · 20/12/2021 21:39

What's an education centre? Is that definitely from the school?

ecceromani · 20/12/2021 22:03

That sounds and looks dodgyConfused

Original poster
Invisimamma · 20/12/2021 22:10

This is standard kind of communication from our school. It's on the school app sent by the admin receptionist. I spoke to Head on the phone who gave me the same reason.

Education centre, they mean the local authority education department. On the phone they said its policy to go to home learning when attendance is below half of the class.

OP posts:
santaclothes · 20/12/2021 22:13

Goodness that's awful Hmm

I would be contacting the education board myself if my kids school sent me that!!

Original poster
Invisimamma · 20/12/2021 22:15

Just checked again its from the school clerical assistant. They seemed keen to stress it wasn't covid related. If it was covid safety as a reason I would be more accepting of that.

OP posts:
FallonCarringtonWannabe · 20/12/2021 22:15

God who wrote that?! No grammar at all.
I was about to say the same. That email is appalling. If that has actually come from the school, literacy would be my main concern.

Guttedbuyer · 20/12/2021 22:18

What fucking world are we living in where a school can just decide to close because of low numbers?! Would never have happened pre 2020!

Absolutely insane. Surely it’s Covid? And if so why not just say so.

That school should be open even if only one child there.

The messages we get from the school are certainly questionable at times too. I sometimes wonder if the office ladies have had a playtime gin before writing them.

Silverchamber · 20/12/2021 22:24

I've never heard of this happening due to low pupil numbers, and I'm a teacher in Scotland. If there's not many in we condense them and play games or show films. Are the teachers still in school??

Sweetnhappy1 · 20/12/2021 22:36

If there are so few kids due to Covid outbreaks, presumably the teachers have caught it too? In my friend's school, 20 of the teachers have it currently and the school weren't advised to close by the DofE. Once the TAs who are babysitting catch it, who'll look after the kids?

Throwntothewolves · 20/12/2021 22:36

That's a disgrace, I'd be furious! I think you should complain.

So many are keeping their kids away from school now 'because - Christmas' that I actually started getting Mum guilt when I realised I was the only one in a chat group who is still sending their child to school! Isn't this what we're all meant to do until school officially finishes? I guess anything goes now. I have to work outside the home this week (including Christmas) so I don't have the luxury to choose, but I wouldn't keep DS off anyway. It's ridiculous, selfish (as I'm sure OP can atest to) and sends the message that school closures and lockdowns are not unwelcome. I bet all those 'protecting their families' by keeping their kids off school will be the ones mixing with extended family all over the country over Christmas, helping speed up the virus spread.

CustardCreamsAndMintTea · 20/12/2021 22:41

In which area is this? I work in Education and it sounds very strange.

Original poster
Invisimamma · 20/12/2021 22:49

Falkirk Council, I don't want to say the exact school though.

We had classes off on home learning last week to contain covid outbreaks and that I can sympathise with - it was a pain but I understood why it was happening. I asked today on the phone if it was a staffing issue and they said no fortunately staff (in my son's year group) weren't affected and the teachers would deliver the home learning tomorrow. So if they can deliver home learning why can't they be in school? The last minute closure has really annoyed me. Who would I write a complaint to? The local authority?

OP posts:
Elmo22 · 20/12/2021 22:53

Are you in Scotland? Which council is this? I’m a teacher and we have incredibly low numbers of pupils just now and also lots of covid cases among staff and this would simply not happen. School closures are incredibly rare and would have authority approval only in exceptional circumstances. I would definitely contact your council if you are in Scotland (I don’t know procedures in other countries, sorry).

Elmo22 · 20/12/2021 22:54

Sorry, just saw your update. I’d definitely contact the council.

Original poster
Invisimamma · 20/12/2021 23:02

I will try and send an email tomorrow. So basis of complaint is...
A) short notice. B) not covid related. C) still children attending.

Anything else I should mention?im not usually a complainer but this has really annoyed me. My children are really not doing well being stuck at home with me stressed out trying to work.

OP posts:
Original poster
Invisimamma · 20/12/2021 23:22

The app message was also followed up by this group call text message.

Schools closing today
OP posts:
Abraxan · 21/12/2021 07:32

I,don't know about in Scotland, but in England there is no way the school could close due to 'not enough pupils' so they would have to be more to it.

It sounds more like a covid outbreak and they've been asked to close early.

Abraxan · 21/12/2021 07:34

The message is so bad, grammar and punctuation wise, that I'd be checking it wasn't a hoax by a child.
Is 'education centre' used in Scotland?