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Original poster

Not AIBU, but am I?

26 replies

EvilTwins · 08/04/2014 16:37

Easter holidays day 2. I teach a practical subject. Practical exams are two weeks after we go back. I asked my GCSE class (1 class but 4 groups within that) if any of them wanted to come in during the holidays to go though their exam piece. They all said yes. They all arranged separate times and days to come in so that I could spend time exclusively with their group. I then paid for my DTDs to go to holiday club for the days requested by the students. Guess what, of today's 5, only one bloody well turned up. OK for him - we were able to go through his stuff, but since it's a group thing, there was only so much we could do. I called the others - got through to 2 mums, who were both mortified (I told them that it was their DC who had requested it and that I had paid for my own kids to go to holiday club) Apparently one had decided to go to do the induction for his new job (they'd told him he could do any day this week and he'd said he'd do today because he "could go to school any time" Angry) The others had just decided not to come in - but not one of the buggers had let me (or the other boy in their group) know.

AIBU to be really really pissed off with this??

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 08/04/2014 16:42

No.

This is why I've stopped doing Easter revision sessions

Lottiedoubtie · 08/04/2014 16:44

No of course Yanbu. I'd put them all in detention and get them in front of SMT as soon as term starts again.

What a waste of your time, I'd be furious.

echt · 08/04/2014 22:37

Not sure they can be given a detention for not coming in on their holiday, but I'd document the whole thing, especially the financial cost to you, to SMT. And refuse to do any future catch-ups that cost you money unless the school reimburses you.

Lottiedoubtie · 08/04/2014 22:39

Of course they can. They made a voluntary school commitment and they let the OP and the other students down by not showing up.

Original poster
EvilTwins · 08/04/2014 22:40

I think it's the kids who should reimburse me - they were the ones who asked for the extra time!

OP posts:
Lottiedoubtie · 08/04/2014 22:42

They should, but you can't make them mores the pity. I'd make damn sure they knew the personal cost to you though, and explain that that is the reason they will be getting no further weekend rehearsals before the exams.

Original poster
EvilTwins · 08/04/2014 22:45

I've sent them all emails explaining exactly why their conduct was unacceptable. I've copied in their HOY and my line manager (who is Deputy Head) so I've got some evidence of the efforts I have put in, if and when they don't make their 4 levels of sodding progress. Of course, that relies on them actually checking their school emails before the end of the holidays!

OP posts:
echt · 08/04/2014 22:46

Still not sure about it. It's the holiday. It's voluntary.

Ethically I think they are entirely in the wrong. The school could try to impose this sanction but the parents could cite the reasons above.
Gallingly, the teacher could not even exclude the boys from future catch-ups.

echt · 08/04/2014 22:49

Good for you, Eviltwins. When teachers are derided, as they so often are for having it easy, your efforts are an example to the contrary.

Original poster
EvilTwins · 08/04/2014 22:51

Yes it's the holidays but I was there today because they had asked me. They had asked if we could do an extra session today, starting at 10am.

I'm not going to give them a detention because I actually don't want to have to sit with them for an hour. I am livid at their lack of consideration and total inability to realise that I have a life outside of school. Fortunately, the two mothers I spoke to did realise this and were apologetic. Mind you, I asked both to ask their DC to email me so I could let them know what the other boy and I did, and neither have.

AngryAngry

OP posts:
Lottiedoubtie · 08/04/2014 22:52

They made the commitment, doesn't matter when it is!

I have and (if needed) will put pupils in detention for this again. It has never been anything but entirely supported by my SMT.

I agree you can't force them to make the commitment, but once they have school rules apply.

And of course the OP can refuse to run further catch up at weekends- they are voluntary for her as well! Although if SMT aren't supportive (four levels of sodding progress...) she may be shooting herself in the foot by doing it. I'd push for 'off timetable' rehearsal time in the lead up to the exam instead though in this circumstance.

Lottiedoubtie · 08/04/2014 22:53

Ah, I forget that my school is a rarity, in that if I put them in detention, it'd be a Saturday morning and a member of SMT would supervise it....

Original poster
EvilTwins · 08/04/2014 22:57

I would love to take them all off timetable - one of the most frustrating things is that they would have 5 lessons before the exam but because I see them on Mondays, I actually only have 3 lessons. If I asked for them to come off timetable though, all the other teachers who are also chasing their 4 levels of progress would be after my blood!

OP posts:
echt · 08/04/2014 23:06

Gove should read this thread, and consider just how any teacher should be held responsible for the progress of those who refuse opportunities to learn.

Lottiedoubtie · 08/04/2014 23:09

Tbh I just wish Gove would read more about education full stop.

Original poster
EvilTwins · 08/04/2014 23:12

The only thing Gove would pick up on is the fact that I'm missing two Mondays. Then he'd ban bank holidays for teachers Wink

OP posts:
Lottiedoubtie · 08/04/2014 23:26

Either that or he'd fail to understand why you can't run these sessions every day!

Or sadly more likely, he'd tell you not to worry, practical subjects will be abolished soon anyway! Hmm

noblegiraffe · 09/04/2014 08:15

I'd want them to write you a letter of apology, not in detention but in their own time.

Just goes to show what kids think of teachers though, that they should be at their beck and call. Such a sense of entitlement.

Philoslothy · 09/04/2014 11:53

I would be furious.

This is the danger you run when you provide holiday revision sessions though, one of the many reasons I would never do them.

rollonthesummer · 09/04/2014 12:01

That is disgusting-I would be furious!

TalkinPeace · 09/04/2014 17:28

I'm sure you saw my other thread in Secondary on this topic.

As a parent
a) if I'd have known about it I'd have dragged my little so and so's in regardless, as they had asked for it
b) if I'd not known about it I'd have been livid to hear that my kids had bunked and would tell them in no uncertain terms to expect the sky to fall on them at the start of term.

You are utterly correct to feel utterly pissed off.

Original poster
EvilTwins · 09/04/2014 18:11

Fortunately, the kids who had arranged to come in today turned up. Much happier!

OP posts:
Lottiedoubtie · 09/04/2014 18:44

Good! There are nice kids out there! And if it is only a few who have let you down it's much easier to bollock them next term Wink

ilovesooty · 09/04/2014 21:04

I think it might be worth pointing out that you can hardly comment positively on their reliability/commitment if they require a reference for college.

fourcorneredcircle · 10/04/2014 09:36

This happened to me too recently - my grandmother was seriously ill so I was on compassionate leave (carer). I'd agreed with a student to do her controlled assessment in speaking on a certain day during registration. So as not to mess her revision and preparation up I decided I'd go in and do it - a round trip of 80 miles for 10 minutes with this one student... Yeah... You can guess what happened! I don't think I've ever been so fruitlessly angry (since she wasn't there for her to see the effect!) before. My SLT colleagues were very supportive though - The deputy head even went and picked her up at home for the rearranged time and escorted her to my office! Bloody teenagers eh... :) I have a teenager at home and sometimes it's all I can do to not scream when he fails to see the bigger picture!

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