View Full Version : Schools closing early for the World Cup.
Poppopity
22-06-2010, 11:21am
I have just recieved a text telling me that school will be finishing at 2.30pm tommorrow to allow pupils to watch the England game.
WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!
:angry::loco:
Damsella
22-06-2010, 11:23am
To allow teachers to watch the match, you mean :rolleyes:
That is scandalous. How are working parents supposed to cope? Why can't they watch the match in school, if it's so important? :no:
dingbatsbird
22-06-2010, 11:24am
What if the kids prefer tennis? Can they finish at mid-day every day for a fortnight? :puzzled:
Hmmm ... thought not!! :rolleyes:
Methinks this is probably more for the teachers' benefit :bwahaha:
glitterygirl
22-06-2010, 11:26am
DS's school are watching 1st half at school & are inviting parents to go along & watch it there with the kids if we want.
A much more sensible idea me thinks
Poppopity
22-06-2010, 11:26am
Exactly, and to give you a days notice :angry:.
I had plans !!!!!!!!!
Damsella
22-06-2010, 11:27am
Oh wait, you mean school is finishing, not closing, early? That makes more sense.
Poppopity
22-06-2010, 11:31am
Oh wait, you mean school is finishing, not closing, early? That makes more sense.
Sorry finishing / closing it's the same thing to me. We have to collect the children 45 minutes earlier than normal because of some match.
Damsella
22-06-2010, 11:32am
Sorry finishing / closing it's the same thing to me. We have to collect the children 45 minutes earlier than normal because of some match.Ah, then I rever to my previous opinion that that is scandalous! :angrybot:
Tigerpants
22-06-2010, 11:32am
I agree with the bit about working parents - makes life very difficult :nod:
But my boys are desperate to watch the whole game and won't be able to, particularly DS1 who doesn't finish until 3.30pm.
Its a one-off I suppose (actually thats a little defeatist but you know what I mean :lol: )
I like the idea of them watching the first half in school though - thats cool!
Miss P
22-06-2010, 11:32am
DS's school are watching 1st half at school & are inviting parents to go along & watch it there with the kids if we want.
A much more sensible idea me thinks
This is a nice idea :nod:
My boss has said we can finish at 1.30pm tomorrow so I've booked a hair appointment for 2pm then straight back to watch the football at 3pm :cheer2:.
I'm now hoping my DD's school will let them stay there for the first half so I don't have to do the school run at 3.15 and can collect her at half time :teehee:
My boys' school is giving parents the option to collect kids at 2.40pm if they want to watch the football. However, having spoken to DS3's teacher this morning, it sounds as though they will be watching at school if they are not collected early!
I can just imagine the scandal if we shut antenatal clinic early tomorrow so we could watch football!
silverpod
22-06-2010, 11:48am
I don't think it's on either.
I remember once :old: there was a match that started at something like 8am and we were worried all the kids would be very late. We opened the hall early and if they wanted to they came early and watched it there, coming up to class when it finished at 9:15.
DillyDally
22-06-2010, 11:50am
Oooh, that would pi$$ me off :nod: But then I hate all sport, and don't understand it's importance at all *shrug*
When J was in Year 3 and it was the World Cup there was an England match on very early (2002 - was it in Japan *puzzled*) and the teachers opened the school early so they could go in and watch - J was in heaven, watching the match with all his footie mad little friends :lol:
Elle Driver
22-06-2010, 11:51am
We've been given the option - which I think is the fair thing to do re. working mums/childcare etc.
I wouldn't be best pleased by that. The final maybe (as if) but for a group match? :no:
The kids can watch the match at nursery, they're putting the TV on for it, but certainly not closing early for it. I'd be fine with that at school too.
Thats madness, I'd be pretty peeved too :bwahaha:
When England played Brazil a few years ago now DD was at first school and they were all allowed to watch the match in the school hall and go through to class afterwards. (It was a really early match)
My sons secondary may be finishing early, they hadnt decided yesterday whether to put it on a screen or close early. My son will have to cycle home and watch it there. Shouldnt be a problem for secondary school kids unless they live a long way from school?
I work in an after school club and had one parent ring up to book her two children in as Dad was supposed to be collecting from school but couldnt due to watching the football. £12 they have to pay!
August Girl
22-06-2010, 12:23pm
Nothing has been said by our school. If there was the option of an early escape I'd go for it but not to watch football. I'd take them out to the forest or something instead.
Legitimate skiving off school is not to be sniffed at :wink::lol:
Frosta
22-06-2010, 12:28pm
DS1 is allowed home tomorrow at 2.30pm too. t's optional though, the school wont close. I will be collecting DS1 as OH is off and he LOVES football so they'll watch it together.
I do think it's a bit unfair on the kids who like football but their parents are working. That said, I dont really agree they should get time off for a football match but on the flip side, it's only an hour and it only comes round every 4 years.
I dont understand though, these are secondary school children who can surely be left at home for an hour or so. 30 mins earlier than usual?
1980babe
22-06-2010, 12:31pm
Imagine it the other way around. You taking your child out of school to watch football.
Frosta
22-06-2010, 12:41pm
I dont understand though, these are secondary school children who can surely be left at home for an hour or so. 30 mins earlier than usual?
My son is 4. It's not JUST secondary school children.
Dunkling
22-06-2010, 12:55pm
Oh wait, you mean school is finishing, not closing, early? That makes more sense.
No it doesn't.
I think it's outrageous!!! I would be spitting fathers!!
August Girl
22-06-2010, 12:59pm
Just had the text from the school. Looks like it's an afternoon outside tomorrow :ellie: No way am I leaving them there if everyone else is coming out.
TBH I can see people's point, I would happily take my kids out of school for a special occasion that doesn't happen often, like a concert or something. It's just we don't like football.
Cerise
22-06-2010, 12:59pm
I would like ours to have the option of watching the first half at school. It might not be the final, but I fully expect it to be England's final match.
But then we were glad to be home for the last game of the Federer match yesterday!
I don't think I really approve, but for the happiness it would bring my son, I bet he wouldn't miss much education in the last half hour of the school day with them all sidetracked thinking about the football.
BellaDonna
22-06-2010, 01:03pm
Bella's school has said children can be collected from 2pm onwards if the parents want.
DH and I have opted to earn "Brownie Points" at work and stay behind to "person" the office - my mum is collecting Bella at the normal time :lol:
I think this is outrageous. Schools closing for a football match??? I would be annoyed beyond belief if this affected me.
cheeky_biscuit
22-06-2010, 01:48pm
That is outrageous!
I don't think our school is doing it but our LEA fine parents £50 for taking their kids out of school for a day, so surely they wouldn't get away with it?
I've got a meeting 4-5pm (:doh: ) someone in America organised it.
My school is giving parents the option to collect their children early if they wish to, but we are open as normal. Chances are half the school will be watching it in the hall anyway!
It is all a bit bonkers anyway!
ChelseaHarvey
22-06-2010, 01:56pm
Yes same here, we had a letter last week saying if you wanted to pick the kids up early then you could & they were letting them go at 1.50pm
Just send a letter in & you can collect them with the game starting at 3pm
-x-greeneyes-x-
22-06-2010, 01:59pm
My college aren't however everyone is taking the afternoon off to watch it.
My son is 4. It's not JUST secondary school children.
Ah right, I've not heard of any primaries closing early. The one I work in isnt but I bet the pressure will be on from some parents once everyone hears about the other schools.
cheeky_biscuit
22-06-2010, 02:16pm
I work in an after school club and had one parent ring up to book her two children in as Dad was supposed to be collecting from school but couldnt due to watching the football. �12 they have to pay!
My DH was considering putting Em in after school club on Wednesday, instead he has got his mum picking her up.
WiCkEd_WeNcH
22-06-2010, 02:17pm
Our school aren't, they are making it into a school fundraising day. For a quid they can wear their own clothes with something red and white and they are putting the first half of the match on big screen in the hall.
That way they can comoe home during half time
DD's school is showing the match to kids after school if they want to stay. They finish at 3 anyway so you can either pick them up then, which is usual time, or let them stay on to watch.
Tigerpants
22-06-2010, 03:59pm
Just been up to school and nope we're not closing early :cry:
Not heard anything from the secondary either so I presume thats all business as usual.
Am going to go against the grain and say I think its a shame - there are very few times things like this happen. Its very difficult for working parents and agreed they could watch it at school in the hall but I do think its quite a big thing - I will now duck behind my screen and avoid the buns that will be coming my way :lol:
Jubjub
22-06-2010, 04:22pm
William's school is closing early. It's fine by me.
My mum's gutted that her school is in Wales, and therefore won't be affected by the World Cup.
scrobble
22-06-2010, 04:26pm
My sister told me this and I thought it was ridiculous - I think she teaches at the school your DS is at?
Apparently the kids have been less than useless on match days in general and the head decided there wasn't much point trying to keep them there - loads tend to bunk off anyway.
Alabama
22-06-2010, 04:27pm
WTF? Closing schools for a televised football match? I'd be fecking livid :faint:
Twistarella
22-06-2010, 04:38pm
WTF? Closing schools for a televised football match? I'd be fecking livid :faint:
I totally agree! If A was at a school that was closing early because of a few blokes kicking a ball around a pitch, I would be outraged.
Elle Driver
22-06-2010, 04:52pm
I wonder if the schools will close early if Murray gets through to Wimbledon men's final! :scratchchin:
dingbatsbird
22-06-2010, 04:54pm
It never happened while I was at school ..... back in 1966 :no:
Think its madness but as others have said football means nothing to me.
calfee
22-06-2010, 05:39pm
I haven't read this, and obviously I won't be watching the match anyway, but I think it's ridiculous! If Scotland were in I still wouldn't want the school closed early. Unless we're going to close for rugby matches, the Olympics, the Commonwealth games and every other sporting occasion which *may*be important to a significant number of people in the country! :doh:
~Twiggy~
22-06-2010, 05:40pm
I wonder if the schools will close early if Murray gets through to Wimbledon men's final! :scratchchin:
Will we have to bow down to him, if they do?! :wink:
I think it's ridiculous. If it were our school, I'd be complaining. I can't imagine I'd get a good reception if I kept DS home and and sent him back with a note saying "sorry, I kept him home to watch the footy" :rolleyes:
Mrs Flowers
22-06-2010, 05:49pm
my school is not closing early nor showing it (no tv license) but i dont work wed pms anyway lol! some teachers and kids are disappointed but the kids are only 3-7
Bubble
22-06-2010, 05:52pm
I wonder if the schools will close early if Murray gets through to Wimbledon men's final! :scratchchin:
It's on a Sunday :tongue:
Our school isn't closing early, I wish it is actually cos DH's company are letting them finish at lunchtime so they can all get home to watch the match, so it would have been nice to watch it all together as a family. No doubt muggins here will have to miss some of the match to do the school run :rolleyes:
Not sure how I feel about it, but I read one Head teacher say that they had rearranged the school day and finishing early so that kids wouldnt miss any lessons, rather than having a normal school day and kids bunking off to watch the game. Makes sense, but doubt if they would do it for any game other than football!
flipflop
22-06-2010, 05:54pm
I think it's outrageous for schools to close early for a group match. Possibly acceptable if England get to the final.
Neither my school nor my children's are closing early.
Re the Andy Murray thing - Englad are the national team, Andy Murray doesn't represent England.
Elle Driver
22-06-2010, 05:59pm
Ah, you all knew what I meant :rolleyes:
Rolling eyes in a jokey way before anyone gets the hump :lol:
We have the option to pick our children up 15 minutes early tomorrow.
Another that doesnt see the need, when I was at school, we didnt finish early, I remember a kid having a radio and he was listening to it, telling us the score!
The juniors have the option to stay after school to watch it.
schnapps
22-06-2010, 06:03pm
We've had an email to say the children will be able to watch the first half at school so can come at 3.45pm to pick them rather than 3.30pm which is normal home time. I need to pick up somewhere in between as have to take L to a piano lesson!
We have had no word on it from our school but I really disagree with it.
There is a certain fun factor to it, we're going to someone's house after school for a teatime/football play date but to finish school early I think is totally unnecessary. So they will miss a few minutes, big deal.
Like others have said, it would be far more understandable if it was a final but it's a group match! That said, it's probably the final match we'll be playing in given current form so maybe that's the reason!
Katoid
22-06-2010, 06:43pm
How are working parents supposed to cope? Why can't they watch the match in school, if it's so important? :no:
Our school is televising it for those who would like to stay behind and watch, otherwise pick up is at 3pm ass normal.
BonnieTyler
22-06-2010, 07:11pm
I don't see the problem with it TBH. I'm not a lover of football, but I get into to the spirit of the world cup and watch England's matches. I don't actually know if dd1's school is finishing early as she's been off ill all week. But I'd be chuffed if they did as I'm definately watching tomorrow's match. I have the nice Asda man bringing my crate of beer tomorrow morning in preperation. :wink: If they weren't finishing early and she was in I would have roped my mum into picking her up.:lol:
I think it's nice to get into the spirit of it all. And I suppose the schools are just preparing for a lot of kids to have sudden doctor's or dentist's appointments tomorrow afternoon.
Alycat
22-06-2010, 07:21pm
To put a childs education over a football match, and a group match at that is IMHO out of order.
As far as I know Evie's school are not doing this and if they were then ai would espect them to jolly well pay for the extra out of school club fees
lafleur
22-06-2010, 07:28pm
I must admit I'm a little bit shocked by the outrage.
My school is closing half an hour early to give the kids a chance to get home and watch the match with their families. I know it's a bit different as it's secondary, so they can make their own way home. The other thing is that the majority would just go home anyway, so it makes sense to make it official and let them all have the chance to watch.
I know it's only a group match but it's one of the few matches that fall in office hours, so it's not that big a deal, especially as it's only half an hour out of school.
It's nice to see young people passionate about sport. There are loads more kids at the moment out playing football at break and after school, so if the World Cup is promoting that I think that's much better than sitting cooped up on th xbox. I also don't think it's a bad thing to encourage a bit of national pride. We have kids from lots of different nationalities in the world cup and I quite like the sense of pride in their country they all have.
So I'll be happily blowing my vuvuzela out of the school gate at half two and enjoying the positive excitement and atmosphere that we don't often get at this stressful time of year.
I think it's outrageous!!! I would be spitting fathers!!
:lol::lol::lol:
I have nothing else useful to add. Sorry.
clowe74
22-06-2010, 08:26pm
I have just asked DS1 if they are closing early. His school is letting them out 10 mins early to go to the hall and watch if they want to
I thought we'd got away with the match interfering in our lives but was told by nursery this afternoon that they will be watching the football tomorrow so to dress the kids in red and white.
i am a bit annoyed actually. My son is 3 and doesn't care about football and I pay them to look after him not to sit him in front of the TV all afternoon.
Outrageous :no: They'd never get away with using that excuse for James - he has no clue what a football match is, let alone being able to sit and watch it :teehee:
Shamu
:wink:
thirzasmum
22-06-2010, 09:35pm
To allow teachers to watch the match, you mean :rolleyes:
That is scandalous. How are working parents supposed to cope? Why can't they watch the match in school, if it's so important? :no:
DD1s school is staying open late so they can watch in school- how cool is that if you are a teenager!
Northern Angel
22-06-2010, 10:11pm
We have an open event at DS's primary school tomorrow and they have sent a letter home saying they will screen the match in the junior hall for parents and children. I'm guessing the main school will shut at 3pm instead of 3.15pm?
I don't really see the big deal as its a pretty quiet time of year in the school academic calendar, most exams and pressure points are out of the way by now.
My kids secondary school is finishing 5 mins early at 2.55,which I can cope with.
The primary school are going to let the children watch the first half in the hall and then be picked up at half time if they want. I'll be picking my kids up as normal, but think that it's a good way to do it.
zwinnie
22-06-2010, 11:56pm
I must admit I'm a little bit shocked by the outrage.
My school is closing half an hour early to give the kids a chance to get home and watch the match with their families. I know it's a bit different as it's secondary, so they can make their own way home. The other thing is that the majority would just go home anyway, so it makes sense to make it official and let them all have the chance to watch.
I know it's only a group match but it's one of the few matches that fall in office hours, so it's not that big a deal, especially as it's only half an hour out of school.
It's nice to see young people passionate about sport. There are loads more kids at the moment out playing football at break and after school, so if the World Cup is promoting that I think that's much better than sitting cooped up on th xbox. I also don't think it's a bad thing to encourage a bit of national pride. We have kids from lots of different nationalities in the world cup and I quite like the sense of pride in their country they all have.
So I'll be happily blowing my vuvuzela out of the school gate at half two and enjoying the positive excitement and atmosphere that we don't often get at this stressful time of year.
Totally WSS.
Elle Driver
23-06-2010, 07:07am
Yes, I agree with you too, La Fleur!
It's more the finishing early for a flimsy reason that I find bonkers. I can understand letting them watch it until normal going home time, but not everyone can arrange to collect their children earlier on short notice. It often means calling in a favour at work, or having to work earlier or later to make up the time, and that's not fair.
Elle Driver
23-06-2010, 07:11am
I agree Jelly (I'm very agreeable this morning it would seem!)
We've been given the option - which I think is the fair thing to do re. working mums/childcare etc.
I think if you want to then fab but if you cannot/don't want to then, the choice should be yours, as a parent.
DD1 has a playdate this afternoon so it's obsolete but I would have picked her up early so we could have all watched it together with family and friends :nod:
Dunkling
23-06-2010, 07:56am
:lol::lol::lol:
I have nothing else useful to add. Sorry.
:doh::doh::doh:
August Girl
23-06-2010, 09:43am
I'm also a bit :puzzled: at the outrage. The schools aren't closing, it's just the option is there to get them out early if you want to. Less than an hour is hardly going to make a difference to their education, they have been slacking off doing sports day practice all last week anyway! It's good to have a change from the normal day. My kids got sent home because all the toilets flooded a few weeks ago and they were overjoyed. I'm sure if I think back to my school time I remember being sent home for boilers breaking down and bad weather and stuff. It's really no big deal IMO.
We're not even watching the match, don't like football. :lol:
Day_Dream_Believer
23-06-2010, 09:48am
I asked my dd (year 3) if they were going to be watching the football and she told me in disgust that years 2 and 4 are but not year 3 - how very unfair! I bet they do watch in the end.
Damsella
23-06-2010, 09:53am
The schools aren't closing, Some of them are. Which I think is awful, for working parents.
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