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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Original poster

Staff to make decision whether they will travel or not?

86 replies

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:02

What do we think of this ?

All the schools round here are shut : but not DH's (private) school.

Mine announced it was shut just now which was annoying enough after all other schools called it yesterday afternoon . But his staff have just had an email saying they 'intend to remain open. More snow is forecast at 4 pm when his school finishes.

The email says 'they will understand if staff decide they cannot make the journey' Really?? How many kids do they think will turn up??! How is he supposed to know what the journey is like exactly?

What does anyone think union stance would be on forcing staff (and parents...) to make decisions about their own safe journey?
I reckon they will frown upon people who don't try and that he will go in and end up doing lots of cover. What really even is the point. (we all know it's so they don't have to issue refunds...)

Not sure who will be handing out the medals...

OP posts:

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/03/2018 07:06

Do they have boarders? In any event they probably feel they have to justify opening if parents are paying fees. Ds fee paying school has struggled to stay open all week but he hasn’t been able to get in. No lessons have taken place, so seems pointless anyway.

They’ve announced this morning that they are closed today and tomorrow as heavy snow is expected. It’s a relief they’ve taken that decision out of our hands tbh.

NapQueen · 02/03/2018 07:07

I would imagine the individual is better placed to decide how safe and possible it is to travel from their home that the school.

Surely he can make an attempt to get in and if he finds that it is not possible (or not possible without putting his life in danger), then he comes home and informs work he is unable to get in.

wysteriafloribunba · 02/03/2018 07:08

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

I think the school is doing the best it can in difficult circumstances.

VikingVolva · 02/03/2018 07:08

Well, what they are asking if him is what many workplaces ask of their staff - to get in if they can do so safely.

And how is he supposed to know? Again, like everyone else, by trying. If he decides it is not safe to continue, or if you are in an area with emergency service advice not to travel, then of course the attempt is abandoned,

Aragog · 02/03/2018 07:10

DD's independent school and the local boys schools are open this week, but with skeleton staff. The messages just say open if you can get in but don't worry if not. It eats as if they are open for childcare for parent who really need it to be honest. I can understand that - they don't want parents trying to claim money back.

I kept year 11 Dd off - we could have got in in dH's car but it's a pain and we'd struggle to get home. And at school they've had mixed year groups and revised timetables - I stress she's done 2 days if gcse revision and got lots done .

Aragog · 02/03/2018 07:11

At my school of school is open we are expected to try and get in if we can. But out Head is great and she already knows roughly who can and can't on the whole. We're opening later to allow more staff to get in

otherdoor · 02/03/2018 07:11

It seems like a sensible approach to me to be honest. Surely the individuals, all travelling in from different locations, are best placed to decide if their journey is safe or not?

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:12

I knew someone would say that Viking but I can tell you no one is driving past my house ! And the bus hasn't been past so it seem sin so called 'real life' people aren't going in.

The point is staff will be paid whether they go in or not, I suppose.

OP posts:

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:14

aragog that's actually the sort of thing that concerns me... the idea that a head would have a mental list of who 'ought to be able ' to get in.

There are no boarders. Many students live 20 -40 miles away sot hey won't come. Lots of staff have children in schools that have closed. It just seems a bit pointless.

OP posts:

parrotonmyshoulder · 02/03/2018 07:15

I absolutely think it should be up to the staff to decide! We’re all responsible for our own health and safety at work, making risk assessments all the time.
Our schools are closed, so no decision to be made (I’m expected to work at home - which I will while looking after my own children). DH is a doctor and risk assessing his own journey at the moment. He won’t be able to drive but is deciding whether to walk to where buses are running from or to delay his journey for a few hours by which time it might be clearing. He hasn’t got a boss making this decision for him.

jelliebelly · 02/03/2018 07:16

My dc go to a private school and this is what they usually do - if parents are paying they want to be able to take their children so they generally stay open even if all the kids do is watch movies all day!

Having said that we did get a text at 630am telling us they were closed - first time ever I think

LizzieSiddal · 02/03/2018 07:16

Surely he can make an attempt to get in

That’s such stupid advice. Thousands of people have been stuck for hours overnight on British roads because they didn’t heed warnings about not travelling, putting the lives of emergency services at risk.

OP his employers have told him to make his own mind up. He needs to base that on knowledge of local roads conditions so he should be googling local traffic conditions and listening to local radio. I expect there will be warning NOT to travel unless absolutely necessary.

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:17

Anyway, DH himself says the roads are fine (although he is shouting at me because my school is shut)

OP posts:

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:18

lizzie see now you are the voice of reason!

We are on the very edge of amber warning (in yellow) so it's anyone's guess.

OP posts:

LizzieSiddal · 02/03/2018 07:18

Why is he shouting at you?

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:20

It's also about site safety of course but they have a team of jolly site agents with big shovels at his place. Unlike mine where the car park is an ice rink.

OP posts:

IrisAtwood · 02/03/2018 07:20

I usd to work at a private school that rarely closed and staff were told to walk or use public transport but that they had to be in.
Why the head thought that if it wasn’t safe for cars and the advice was to not travel unless absolutely essential it was still safe for public transport and to walk no one knew. Let alone the risks to the pupils using very old buses - most travelled up to 10 miles from rural areas.
It was useless anyway because no one had a full class and up to half the pupils weren’t in! Meaningful teaching couldn’t take place. Basically we were providng childcare for working parents. Even some parents thought it was the wrong decision, but felt that had to get their kids to school because it was open.

Millybingbong · 02/03/2018 07:21

What! He needs to make an independent decision himself?

Well ain't that crackers.
Where is the nanny state when you need it?

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:21

Because he is annoyed and hates school lizzie!

OP posts:

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:22

All those people who keep telling unhappy teachers to go and work in private schools really do need to think about how private school staff are treated as commodities sometimes. They had a parents' evening in the snow this week, too!

OP posts:

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/03/2018 07:24

He hates school. Now he sounds about 8. I don’t think the school is unreasonable here, they are leaving it up to staff. I also don’t think it’s unreasonable that he sets off and turns back if worried about conditions.

Thought it would be Lizzie post you liked and highlighted OP!

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:24

parrot teachers can't delay arrival at work by a few hours...

OP posts:

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:25

thick lots of teachers hate teaching!
yes, he is being a bit childish (since all the rest of the household have a snow day). he is entitled to a little sulk but he is going in. No doubt to find very few students there.

OP posts:

parrotonmyshoulder · 02/03/2018 07:30

Of course teachers can delay arriving at work by a few hours! If it’s safe to drive by then and the school is open, that would be a sensible and professional decision to make.

HamishBamish · 02/03/2018 07:30

Most of the private schools here are closed, with the exception of ones with boarders. It wouldn’t occur to me to ask for money back due to missed days. Teachers still have to be paid and buildings maintained. These are exceptional circumstances and I’m glad they are protecting both staff and pupils by making the decision to close.

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