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Secondary education

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Original poster

Are your children expected to man reception in school?

50 replies

OrmRenewed · 19/05/2010 13:48

Whenever I've been into school there have been pupils sitting in the reception area. The children answer inquiries, take you where you need to go, and if neccessary pas you over to the office staff for more help. It frees the office staff to get on with other things I suppose. And I've always thought it was a good thing. But it was DS#1's turn yesterday. He and 2 other pupils spent all day in reception doing this.

Now I don't know how I feel. He's missed a day's lessons and been bored stupid. But he's been taking responsibility and learning how to deal with adult strangers (I hope) politely and efficiently.

He's only in Yr8 so not a significant year maybe.

Anyone else familiar with this?

OP posts:
EddieIzzardismyhero · 19/05/2010 13:50

Missed a day's lessons?!!

I wouldn't be happy personally. I thought they just helped out at break times?

ruddynorah · 19/05/2010 13:51

are you sure it was all day? not just to cover a break or something?

we used to do this in primary school but only over lunch break will the secretary had her lunch.

Original poster
OrmRenewed · 19/05/2010 13:52

Nope. He was annoyed because he missed maths and visual art.

But it's only once a year i think.

OP posts:
steamedtreaclesponge · 19/05/2010 13:54

We used to do this over the lunch break in Year 6 - no problem with that but all day sounds a bit extreme to me. Would not be happy about him missing whole lessons.

BendyBob · 19/05/2010 13:55

All day? Blimey that sounds too long.

Dd in yr6 and their year can help at lunchtimes if they volunteer it seems. I have mixed feelings about it tbh. I think it seems a bit odd, but I haven't said anything about it. If she was doing all day sessions I would though.

MadamDeathstare · 19/05/2010 13:56

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EddieIzzardismyhero · 19/05/2010 13:58

Hmm, tricky one. If it's only once a year then I suppose it's not sooo bad, but I still think it's a bit over the top. Even half a day would have been better. No wonder he was bored!

UnquietDad · 19/05/2010 13:59

We used to do this in school. There was a rota.

Danthe4th · 19/05/2010 14:02

Yr 9 they do this in my dd's school, i think she got to do it 3 times and thought it was a laugh!!!!

mnistooaddictive · 19/05/2010 14:04

This is standard practice in most schools. It is 1/2 day during their time there. It is a one off not an annual thing. It is an essential part of how a school operates. It is usually onhly one student at a time and they are set work to do during quiet times. i did it at school over 20 years ago so it is not a new thing. It gives them an experience of something different. 1/2 day is a very small amount of time compared with the hours they spend in school.

tiredemma · 19/05/2010 14:09

We used to do this at Secondary School. Cant say it drastically impacted on my education tbh. I can't really remember what we were supposed to be learning that day....

webwiz · 19/05/2010 14:16

My DCs did this - being "student receptionist" is supposed to be a great honour as you are representing the school. They welcome guests to the school and take them to whatever room they need and deal with simple enquiries. DS in year 8 (don't remember when the DD's did it but probably the same age) and he had work provided by his class teachers so he didn't miss anything. I think he quite enjoyed doing something different.

Shodan · 19/05/2010 14:33

Ds1 had to do it recently (he's Yr 9). Apparently everyone in year 9 has to take a turn.

And it was for a whole day. No work set for quiet times, so in between running errands for the teachers he sat and did nothing.

I can't say I was very impressed- it's not something we did at my school (although I went to private school, ds is at state school, perhaps that's the difference) but I suppose one day doesn't make a difference in the long run.

Eleison · 19/05/2010 14:36

Blimey. That's not on I think. Ok for students who have chosen to get work experience as office drudge (our school does a work experience scheme in Y10). But for anyone else it is just exploitative and dumbing of their school day. I would complain.

pagwatch · 19/05/2010 14:36

Nope. None of my childrens schools do this.
They only do prefct duty etc. Or , if there are visiting parents they may get pulled out of lessons to escort the parents around and deal with any questions.
That is done on a rota.

I wouldn't be terribly happy about a whole day sitting doing not very much

Eleison · 19/05/2010 14:38

I don't think they do it at our school. But it may just be that ds was excused the honour on the grounds of being too sullen and disorganised to contribute to the smooth running of Reception. In which case, good for him.

GrungeBlobPrimpants · 19/05/2010 14:44

Yes - all pupils years 7-11 on a rota basis, half day slot. Works out at about 2 half days per year. They do it in pairs.

Good for teaching responsibility, people management skills etc - I don't see why this should be limited to those who choose work experience and disagree with Eleison - not exploitative at all. If it's busy (usually is) then it can be good fun and enjoyable. No detrimental impact on academic work

bruffin · 19/05/2010 14:46

DS did it 3 times in year 8. I think it's normally twice but he was a house captain so did it an extra time. They don't really man reception,they run errands for reception. DS really enjoyed it but he was taken seriously ill the last time and scared the life out of the poor receptionists

Original poster
OrmRenewed · 19/05/2010 14:52

Thanks

So not altogether unheard of. I just wondered.

OP posts:
Original poster
OrmRenewed · 19/05/2010 14:53

I tend to think that being bored and taking responsibility is a fairly good lesson for the adult work place

OP posts:
Jux · 19/05/2010 15:00

They do it at dd's school. She's in Y6 and there are 2 or 3 at a time, who spend a week doing it - but it's only during break times, they don't miss lessons.

I think it's a great idea.

bellavita · 19/05/2010 15:37

Orm - I am a secondary school receptionist and we have a Y8 "Junior Leader" every period. So we work through the Y8 tutor groups and each pupil takes a turn doing our errands (no phone answering or looking at private info on the computer. They will go to the lesson they should be in and get some work and bring it down to our reception which they will do in between our errands.

The errands consist of parents bringing forgotten packed lunches in or dinner money, forgotten work, pe kits etc etc. Getting work for pupils who are in seclusion and those that are in a smaller environment (not in normal lessons) for whatever reason.

mummytime · 19/05/2010 16:51

Most schools around here do it. They are supposed to go and collect work to do during quiet periods. But one day a year in years 8 and 9 doesn't impact too much.

SmellsLikeTeenSweat · 19/05/2010 16:56

My dcs did a day each & found it dull. There always seems to be some poor slave child sat there in Reception & used to run errands.

PixieOnaLeaf · 19/05/2010 17:00

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