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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

expected response time from headteacher?

14 replies

ughseniorschool · 13/10/2015 17:38

Need a reality check ... if you sent an email to your dc's headteacher requesting a meeting, how quickly would you expect a response?

I sent an email to HT requesting a meeting as a follow up to our meeting in June. At that meeting, he recommended that we meet half way through Autumn Term to revisit ds's senior school options. So, meeting request is not urgent but there is a bit of time pressure b/c registrations need to be in at most schools just after half term.

Not sure when it is reasonable to chase him.

(You can probably read between the lines here that I am not a fan of his and am trying really hard to be reasonable despite his extreme arrogance)

Thank you for helping me stay calm

OP posts:

NewLife4Me · 13/10/2015 17:43

I would expect a response immediately tbh. Well, within the same day if the HT was in school.

If I were you I'd email again and remind him that he recommended a meeting to review.... etc and if this isn't convenient now in time for the time scale what he proposes you do.
Then you have it in writing should you need proof he didn't meet you half way.

shushpenfold · 13/10/2015 17:44

I would chase after two days, which is more than enough time to reply, or for his PA to send a holding email if he's not around.

Finola1step · 13/10/2015 17:46

Does he have a PA? If so, contact him or her directly to book in a meeting.

trinity0097 · 13/10/2015 19:16

2 working days is what our headmaster says parents they should receive a reply from teachers etc...

Leeds2 · 13/10/2015 19:35

I would email him now, with a gentle reminder.

If you don't hear anything by the end of the week, phone his secretary and ask for a meeting. S/he will probably say they will get back to you. Email said secretary, cc'd to HM, immediately following the conversation. I would lay a paper trail.

Kez100 · 13/10/2015 19:38

Does the HT have a PA - often you get a quicker response that way as they are in charge of the HT diary.

Passmethecrisps · 13/10/2015 19:38

I am not a HT but I am a bit if I haven't responded to a parent within 48 hours.

If I genuinely can't I have very rarely asked a colleague to make a quick holding call to explain what must be unusual circumstances.

Call again followed by an email.

Pointlessfan · 13/10/2015 19:41

I'd say 48 hours (working days). Head teachers are out of school at meetings etc often so there may be a good reason why he hasn't replied straight away. I agree about contacting his pa.

AChickenCalledKorma · 13/10/2015 22:38

In those circumstances, I would definitely follow up after 48 hours.

balletgirlmum · 13/10/2015 22:43

At primary/prep level I'd expect 48 hours max.

At seniors I'd have probably contacted the head of year & would expect 24 hours or if it was the head within 3-4 days.

ifonly4 · 14/10/2015 09:54

I would hope something like 48 hours, but give him a little extra time (ie end of week) before chasing. He may have passed it onto his PA who has a mountain or work or it could be there's a lot happening in the school at the moment that he has to deal with, so I'd try to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Original poster

ughseniorschool · 14/10/2015 11:14

Thank you to all - really appreciate the comments and suggestions.

I have waited a week now - so seems reasonable to check back in with he and his PA at this point.

Have a great day!

OP posts:

mandy214 · 16/10/2015 11:13

I sent an email to HT at 9.31 this morning. Got a response at 9.34.

To be fair, she will have been expecting emails today but I've probably sent emails 4 or 5 times directly to her in the last couple of years and she has always replied the same day.

heheheheheheh · 16/10/2015 22:47

I just phoned the school office when I wanted to schedule a meeting with the HM on senior schools. A HM is hardly going to manage his own diary, and presumably either you or your DP work or have some daytime commitments so perhaps an email isn't the best approach to setting up a meeting at a time that suits all three of you.

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