School swim gala - should teachers be there?

tibawo

I am not to sure where to oat this one so have opted for this forum!

I am open to opinions on this one as my parent head says one thing and my governor head thinks another.

Basically I have just been to a school event tonight for my daughters school. A parent took it upon the self to enter the team as no member of staff could not be bothered ( harsh but true). The parent themselves was keen but not policed checked so she felt she could only ask reliable parents who would stay as she would not be covered.
Personally I think this is quite bad as the kids were keen and did us proud.

Now the other side. The school has been put in special measures and the staff have been working hard. It is impoant that we get the academic side up to speed and I appreciate the staff need a rest etc. especially as I am a teacher and worked in a special measures school. So I do sympathise though.

The school has always been a involved with all competitions and even at the gala a head who was a former teacher at our school expressed his concerns, and asked me to make sure the parents got the recognition.

I'm really curious to know whether I am wrong in thinking that there should have been at least some supportive presence from the staff there?

Yorkie1

Given that the school did not make the decision to enter the swim team, I don't think it is then reasonable to expect teachers to attend. If it had been the school's decision to enter the team, it would be completely different.

Otherwise, where do you draw the boundary every time a parent decides to do something which the school doesn't have capacity or desire to do? The teachers end up being blackmailed into attendance irrespective of preference or other commitments.

de_g.

From a child protection perspective, there is no fundamental reason why a parent should not organise this participation - its not a regulated activity (because it doesn't take place regularly) as defined in the HMG DBS Guidance. It's unfortunate that children who could have been attending were excluded unnecessarily, but that demonstrates the need for people to better understand DBS (formerly CRB).

As for the school having people attending, I agree with Yorkie1. As a governor at a large primary, our teachers already do huge amounts of effectively unpaid discretionary work to support extra curricular activities, and I'd be uncomfortable with any of them being pressured by the school leadership to take on more over and above that.

Fire_Fox

Was the event really 'for' your daughter's school? Seems to me the kids were effectively entered as an unofficial school team not an official one. Parents get recognition for what, ignoring the teachers wishes, not supporting the teachers in front of the children? What if they'd entered the kids in the New York marathon, would you expect teachers to jump on a aeroplane? It is not fundamentally any different.

snozberry

If it was a school organised event then yes but it wasn't so no. It sounds as though a parent took it upon themselves to go behind the teachers backs and arranged it themselves. As a teacher yourself you should realise the added pressure that special measures brings.

duchy

The team wasn't a school team but a team consisting of children from the school so there was no obligation for teachers to attend as it wasn't an official event.

What would concern me is the division between the head and the governors especially in a school that is trying to move out of special measures when unity and working together is essential. I do find it sad not one teacher attended but maybe that isn't down to lack of commitment but the sense to keep out of a squabble between the head and govenors who you'd expect to be mature enough to compromise.

Sounds like it isn't about swimming at all but school politics.

ValHaller

duchy wrote: »

The team wasn't a school team but a team consisting of children from the school so there was no obligation for teachers to attend as it wasn't an official event.

What would concern me is the division between the head and the governors especially in a school that is trying to move out of special measures when unity and working together is essential. I do find it sad not one teacher attended but maybe that isn't down to lack of commitment but the sense to keep out of a squabble between the head and govenors who you'd expect to be mature enough to compromise.

Sounds like it isn't about swimming at all but school politics.

May be it was wise for no teacher to attend - may be they were ordered not to attend to avoid muddying the waters ('scuse mixed metaphor) over whether it was or was not an official school event

tibawo

Thanks for your input... I have a good relationship with the staff and apraently it was because the team did not do well last year and the member of staff did not want to be embarrassed if they came last. If I had not heard this first hand I would have thought it was a joke.

This school did enter lots of events and had lots of activities which is what attracted both staff and students.

Mind you having just had overheard a complaint from a parent about another club finishing she was asked if she would like to help and her reply was basically she was just busy and it is not her responsibility.

Least I put my money where my mouth is and stepped up to coach the netball.

Reggie_Rebel

If the team was entered in the school name then there should have either been a school presence or the team withdrawn.

If the OP was there and is a member of a governing body then that I think is acceptable

tibawo

Sorry someone came door so didn't quite finish updating the response. it was school who sent out the letter to the chosen children.

As I mentioned there is no gripe between staff/govenors as we are ahead of our action plan and due to be statistically above and beyond expection early next year.

I was just asking for feedback mainly to see if this was now the norm at other schools. If so I want to think about proposing ways we tackle this next year.

heretolearn_2

I don't think teachers should feel at all obliged to go to events outside of their working hours. I don't work for free - why should they?