Advice please-school runners in secondaries?

[wednesday67]

My DCs secondary school use the children in year 7 and 8 as school runners. This entails the child missing a full day of school where they sit behind the school receptionist and run around the school with messages for her. They are not given any work to do (they usually just read a book between running errands) and they are told it is their responsibility to catch up on the lessons missed. I think it is old fashioned and a waste of 2 full days of education (each child does it for one day per year), plus in a massive secondary it is really hard for kids to catch up properly.
I have been told by the deputy head, that this is common practice but I don't know anyone else at a school where this happens.
I asked the school if they could make it clear to parents that this occurs, (as it is not on any of the bumpf) and consider consent. They said they did not want to get into the issue of consent and see it as a community service.
I would like to know if this happens at your child's secondary school and if so what you think about it.
many thanks!

My son's school did this in year 8 (presume they still do). It's an outstanding, high performing school so their education obviously didn't suffer from missing ONE day.
I can't believe how het up some people get over such trivial things.

Excellent post Cauliflower

It's only two days ( done in Yr 7&8) but It seems that no-one is checking if the child is missing something important other than a test. So for example the kids mentioned that a friend of theirs couldn't take part in a whole school cross country run trial ( which led to the county competition) because of it. Others miss revision sessions and so if they are below target anyway, it can't be good.
It's good to see the range of views and I am glad I am not alone in objecting to it. Many thanks to all posters.

Yes it is done, although not in year 7. I see it as early work experience. Same with showing parents round at open evening.

Did Running Duty in Year 7 with every other Year 7 in late 80s. It carried on as far as I know and was a tradition that taught us responsibility, facing our fears and learning the layout of school etc. If kids can't catch up on a day or 2 of work at that level then something is wrong

Sounds like a great idea to me. Ok in the OP's situation it seems it could be organised better. But as a general idea, I think it sounds great. They did something like this in my DC's primary school for the Y6s, but it wasn't a whole day thing. Mine worked in the school library, others used to do the errands in the morning, collect the lunch boxes from classrooms and take them to the dining hall.

They have student librarians in the secondary too, but they just help out before/after school or in break times. It's another good way to give kids a taste of work and responsibility though.