Idiots running Schools

Noffles

The community school my son goes to has been closed all last week due to the weather, that was fine...

A text was sent out to the parents last night saying that the school would be open for 3rd, 5th and 6th year pupils only today and that it would not open until 10:15.... all well and good.... until the pupils that need transport to the school come into the equation!

We rang the bus service who said they had not been inormed that the school would be opening at 10:15 and that they would have to run at normal times....

So this morning, as both my wife and I had to commute to work... our son got the bus at normal time... that no one else got and arrived at the school to find no one there either...???!!!!!

Surely the school should of had some communication with the transport services to let them no of this change of plan and had something worked out?

I can not for the life of me believe how inept the school is, Gorey Community School btw...

Nevyn

Bring it up at the next board of management meeting. Find out what that policy and proceedures are and if they don't have any then push for the changes to be made.

MagicMarker

Was your child left waiting outside for the school to open?

Noffles

Yes, he has now met 2 friends and has gone for a tesco coffee

lynski

have seen similar posts in the past and in fairness to the schools it is usually the buses that will not change times, not saying this is the case, but a possibility.
I think you school is to be commended for at least trying to get the exam years back to school and open as much as they can.

Noffles

lynski wrote: »

have seen similar posts in the past and in fairness to the schools it is usually the buses that will not change times, not saying this is the case, but a possibility.
I think you school is to be commended for at least trying to get the exam years back to school and open as much as they can.

I agree at least there was effort... but there was no communication regarding the transport...

I then recieved a text at 09:15 this morning saying that there were buses available... but not the bus my son required...? They obviously did not know if the buses were running or not!

Kristopherus

Perhaps you might change the title of your thread. They way it is worded is more suited to After Hours IMO.

byhookorbycrook

Our text-a-parent went down last night, so the school may well have had the same problem.

Nevyn

Kristopherus if you have an issue with a post or thread please use the report post function do not back seat mod.

Noffles

My issue here is with the school and the comminication... or lack of... with the bus service....

My son is now not sure as to whether the bus will be there to take him home...

My wife has rung the school and they stated that they may be open tomorrow but do not know whether the bus will be running... How can this be possible, it is a bloody rural area and the bus service is vital... ESPECIALLY with parents who have to commute to work...

The lack of interest in the administrative staff who answer the fones there is very annoying as there attitude is they don't know so they don't really care either....!!!!

Ginger Nut

transport to schools is run by the Dept of Transport not Education. The late start was probably to allow all students/staff to get to school safely-

The school - like many others closed last week to ensure that students would be safe.

I'm sure if you read the insurance policy - bet it does not cover snow/ice etc.

My local primary school closed last Thursday & Friday - we do not have any students using public/school bus transport. However -lots of parents were annoyed as they had to pay childcare for the full day - Me thinks this is the real reason most people want the schools open every day

Butterflylove

Is the bus privately connected with the school .ie its a school bus intended on bringing the kids to that school only

if so then the school should be in contact with the bus service as its provided as part of the schools services,

otherwise its actually up the bus themselves whether they change time or not, they are a seperate entity,a business.
I would be making a complaint with the bus service instead of the school as they should be thinking of their customers best interests,

Noffles

Ginger Nut wrote: »

transport to schools is run by the Dept of Transport not Education. The late start was probably to allow all students/staff to get to school safely-

The school - like many others closed last week to ensure that students would be safe.

I'm sure if you read the insurance policy - bet it does not cover snow/ice etc.

My local primary school closed last Thursday & Friday - we do not have any students using public/school bus transport. However -lots of parents were annoyed as they had to pay childcare for the full day - Me thinks this is the real reason most people want the schools open every day

My issue is not with the school being closed it is the lack of interest in how the children get to and from the school... it is all well and good that they say it is open at 10:15... how do the children get there at this time???

My son had to turn up at a bus stop, hoping that the bus would be there then get to the school 2 hours prior to it open in baltic conditions...!

Ginger Nut

Noffles wrote: »

My issue is not with the school being closed it is the lack of interest in how the children get to and from the school... it is all well and good that they say it is open at 10:15... how do the children get there at this time???

My son had to turn up at a bus stop, hoping that the bus would be there then get to the school 2 hours prior to it open in baltic conditions...!

I agree - not a good situation - If it serves other schools then it would have to go at the usual times. You should contact the principal/parents council/board of management as this cold snap is meant to continue and I'm sure this situation will arise again.

Noffles

Ginger Nut wrote: »

I agree - not a good situation - If it serves other schools then it would have to go at the usual times. You should contact the principal/parents council/board of management as this cold snap is meant to continue and I'm sure this situation will arise again.

We're going to do that in mail once all the weather has cleared up and there's nothing to distract the teachers etc..

implausible

Ginger Nut wrote: »

transport to schools is run by the Dept of Transport not Education. The late start was probably to allow all students/staff to get to school safely

+1

Noffles wrote: »

My wife has rung the school and they stated that they may be open tomorrow but do not know whether the bus will be running... How can this be possible, it is a bloody rural area and the bus service is vital... ESPECIALLY with parents who have to commute to work...

The lack of interest in the administrative staff who answer the fones there is very annoying as there attitude is they don't know so they don't really care either....!!!!

Op, you have no idea what a nightmare schoolbuses are to deal with. Their schedules are set in stone and 99% of the time, schools have to work around them. Whether they are running tomorrow depends on the weather and the drivers, two massive variables. It sounds like the school was trying to do its best not to have students missing school and I find the title of this thread offensive.

If memory serves me correctly, this particular school is one of the biggest in the country, so I'd imagine the admin staff have been flooded with identical calls. They don't know, what do you want them to tell you?:rolleyes:

astra2000

Noffles wrote: »

My issue is not with the school being closed it is the lack of interest in how the children get to and from the school... it is all well and good that they say it is open at 10:15... how do the children get there at this time???

My son had to turn up at a bus stop, hoping that the bus would be there then get to the school 2 hours prior to it open in baltic conditions...!

You are the parent ultimately your child is your responsibility, your son didnt have to turn up at a bus stop hoping the bus would come, you choose to let him, you as a parent are passing the buck by blaming the school. I am a parent too by the way not a teacher, and last week I experienced the same late opening as you did. It was obvious to me that if the buses ran it would be at the normal time and that school was not going to be open until the time stated on the radio. A lot of drivers would not make the decision on wheather they will do the bus run until they hear reports in the morning, some routes would be too dangerous to run.

Noffles

astra2000 wrote: »

You are the parent ultimately your child is your responsibility, your son didnt have to turn up at a bus stop hoping the bus would come, you choose to let him, you as a parent are passing the buck by blaming the school. I am a parent too by the way not a teacher, and last week I experienced the same late opening as you did. It was obvious to me that if the buses ran it would be at the normal time and that school was not going to be open until the time stated on the radio. A lot of drivers would not make the decision on wheather they will do the bus run until they hear reports in the morning, some routes would be too dangerous to run.

Yes... BUT, I give responsiblility of the child to the school when we let them take the transport to THE SCHOOL... I am not passing the buck, I am completely reliant on this service as I have to work in Dublin and live in a ****ty rural area...

So what point is a bus service taking a child to shool when it will not open for 2 more hours.....?????

Noffles

deemark wrote: »

+1



Op, you have no idea what a nightmare schoolbuses are to deal with.

I beg to differ, I have my son using it everyday??

It sounds like the school was trying to do its best not to have students missing school and I find the title of this thread offensive.

I have already stated they were doing this, what I find "Idiotic" is the lack of communication between the bus and the school.

If memory serves me correctly, this particular school is one of the biggest in the country, so I'd imagine the admin staff have been flooded with identical calls. They don't know, what do you want them to tell you?:rolleyes:

I would like them to tell me when the school is open AND when the bus will be available... is that too much... is it???:eek:

astra2000

The school transport system is seperate from the school, for instance if your child was been bullied on the school bus you would have to take it up with the dept of transport not the school. The drivers have set times to do these runs that is their working hours some would have other employment or responsibilities after their run is complete and a some of the drivers carry out a primary school bus run after they do the secondary run so it would not be possible to change the route times.
I live in a rural area and due to schooling times clashing between secondary and national schools I too am reliant on the bus service, but at the end of the day my children are my responsibility and if circumstances dictate change on occasion then I as a parent take responsibility and step up to the mark.

implausible

Noffles wrote: »

I would like them to tell me when the school is open AND when the bus will be available... is that too much... is it???:eek:

Yes, in these circumstances! They presumably have a text service or will tell the children, but can't make this decision until they know the weather conditions. Schools have a very delicate balancing act to carry out between the health and safety of their students and their education.

It's been explained here a few times that the school and the buses are two different entities. The school does not run the buses!

That school has what, 1500 students? I can't even hazard a guess as to how many buses service that number of students. Seriously, with all the communication and good will in the world, for Mary answering the phone in the school to know when your child will be picked at his stop for his particular bus in unpredictable weather conditions would be impossible!

Noffles

deemark wrote: »

Yes, in these circumstances! They presumably have a text service or will tell the children, but can't make this decision until they know the weather conditions. Schools have a very delicate balancing act to carry out between the health and safety of their students and their education.

It's been explained here a few times that the school and the buses are two different entities. The school does not run the buses!

That school has what, 1500 students? I can't even hazard a guess as to how many buses service that number of students. Seriously, with all the communication and good will in the world, for Mary answering the phone in the school to know when your child will be picked at his stop for his particular bus in unpredictable weather conditions would be impossible!

Silly me for thinking that this would happen...

Noffles

astra2000 wrote: »

as a parent take responsibility and step up to the mark.

Lol..

"Step up to the mark".....

My wife and I work I Dublin and have to leave early... due to the ****e infrastructure it takes us 90 minutes to travel to Dublin, my son then has to leave a little later to get the bus... please do not preach about marks and stepping up to them... life is difficult enough in this country!

astra2000

Noffles wrote: »

Silly me for thinking that this would happen...

I am unclear here do you believe all the responsibility should be the schools and the dept of transport and you should bear none of it?

Noffles

astra2000 wrote: »

I am unclear here do you believe all the responsibility should be the schools and the dept of transport and you should bear none of it?

Erm... I pay the bus service to take my son to school... at the time that the school will be open... I ensure my son is ready and able to get to the bus at the given time... and I would expect the bus to be there for this.. and the school to be open when he arrives?

Ok... but anyway... I'll close this off as it's getting away from my main point and I've changed the subject heading...

My last gripe would be that my son has just rung me to say the bus to take him home has not turned up.... grrrreat!

astra2000

Noffles wrote: »

Lol..

"Step up to the mark".....

My wife and I work I Dublin and have to leave early... due to the ****e infrastructure it takes us 90 minutes to travel to Dublin, my son then has to leave a little later to get the bus... please do not preach about marks and stepping up to them... life is difficult enough in this country!

As parents we made big changes in our lives when we had kids so that we could parent them effectively so your "poor me" routine gets no sympathy from me. Your passing the buck and trying to blame someone else for your son waiting out in the cold why cant you accept that your dealing with two different sectors here and move on, if this is your biggest problem during this cold spell you got off lightly.

Noffles

astra2000 wrote: »

As parents we made big changes in our lives when we had kids so that we could parent them effectively so your "poor me" routine gets no sympathy from me. Your passing the buck and trying to blame someone else for your son waiting out in the cold why cant you accept that your dealing with two different sectors here and move on, if this is your biggest problem during this cold spell you got off lightly.

There's no "poor me" routine... it's the "poor service" that I don't like...

And read previous post you're a tad slow.

MagicMarker

astra2000 wrote: »

I am unclear here do you believe all the responsibility should be the schools and the dept of transport and you should bear none of it?

Erm, yes.

It is the school's responsibility to liaise with the transport services to make alternative arrangements if possible.

If they couldn't do anything about the bus services then at the very least it was their responsibility to have someone at the school to allow children to wait inside.

implausible

MagicMarker wrote: »

It is the school's responsibility to liaise with the transport services to make alternative arrangements if possible.

Oh my god, how many times?!!:eek: It's not a matter of someone ringing up Jimmy the bus-driver and asking him when he might be in!

In a school that size, I'd imagine there's at least 15 buses, directly contracted to the Dept and sub-contacted private buses. The Principal would have to go through the School Transport division to find anything out and that's without taking individual bus driver's willingness to take his/her bus out that morning and/or the state of particular roads and lanes, never mind the other routes and schools these buses might have to service.

School buses are a type of public transport, which despite the name, are not answerable to schools.

Khannie

Just a gentle reminder to keep things civil. If you're taking this personally, don't. It's a general statement.

MagicMarker

deemark wrote: »

Oh my god, how many times?!!:eek: It's not a matter of someone ringing up Jimmy the bus-driver and asking him when he might be in!

In a school that size, I'd imagine there's at least 15 buses, directly contracted to the Dept and sub-contacted private buses. The Principal would have to go through the School Transport division to find anything out and that's without taking individual bus driver's willingness to take his/her bus out that morning and/or the state of particular roads and lanes, never mind the other routes and schools these buses might have to service.

School buses are a type of public transport, which despite the name, are not answerable to schools.

Why don't you quote my whole post?

If the school couldn't do anything about the transportation then they have a duty of care to the children to have someone on the premises to let students wait indoors.

Noffles

Since the school could not tell us if the bus was running and if so what time I've had to keep my son home this morning... as yesterday he was 2 hours early with no school open and then there was no bus to pick him up on his return home...

When it is all said and done they may be two separate entities but they are intrinsically linked together and there should be dialogue between them to run smoothly.

metrovelvet

Yes it's nincompoopery of the highest order but saying that and knowing how chaotic and badly organised this country is in a crisis, I would not have relied on the bus knowing that they were going to do their normal time pick up and not accommodate the alternate opening time of the school and put my son in a position where he would be standing around in the cold for two hours. I would have kept him home first or gave him money for a taxi [presuming age appropriate].

Captain Commie

Noffles wrote: »

Yes... BUT, I give responsiblility of the child to the school when we let them take the transport to THE SCHOOL.

Doesnt matter when YOU give responsibility to the school, the school is not responsible for the safety of your child unless they are on School property or on a school organised trip, therefore you are responsible for your child getting to school safely. You have still not answered if this bus service is one that the school contrats just to bring pupils to that school or if a public service/used by multiple schools.

My wife is a teacher and as soon as i read the title of this thread i was annoyed, and when i read deeper into it i was even more annoyed, your problem is not with the school, its with the bus company.

Couple of finer points re: responsibility for children and insurance;

1, Child is only insured to be on school property during the standard school day or unless you have given written consent to allow the child to be involved in any out of hours activity.
2, Until the Child crosses the school gates (and within the parameters above) they are YOUR responsibility
3, Unless the school explicitly provides a private transport service then it is your responsibility to get your child to school.

Just some food for thought, obviously you are a little confused over what you are saying

Noffles

innovated wrote: »

Doesnt matter when YOU give responsibility to the school, the school is not responsible for the safety of your child unless they are on School property or on a school organised trip, therefore you are responsible for your child getting to school safely. You have still not answered if this bus service is one that the school contrats just to bring pupils to that school or if a public service/used by multiple schools.

My wife is a teacher and as soon as i read the title of this thread i was annoyed, and when i read deeper into it i was even more annoyed, your problem is not with the school, its with the bus company.

Couple of finer points re: responsibility for children and insurance;

1, Child is only insured to be on school property during the standard school day or unless you have given written consent to allow the child to be involved in any out of hours activity.
2, Until the Child crosses the school gates (and within the parameters above) they are YOUR responsibility
3, Unless the school explicitly provides a private transport service then it is your responsibility to get your child to school.

Just some food for thought, obviously you are a little confused over what you are saying

Nope not confused... this bus takes kids from this area to the one school... simple as that... No other school... just this one school.!!!

And this is School Transport to the SCHOOL!

And how am I confused, my son was brought to school 2 hours early and not able to get in to school...? Then he was not able to get home.... where the **** is the confusion?

Khannie

Second reminder to be civil. I don't want to ban people, but I bloody will. This thread is heading down a path that it's difficult to return from.

RedXIV

I went to that school and from my memory of the school days, we were usually allowed in the back door at the gym? the caretakers were definitely there anyway and they used to let people in.

Just saying that if your child doesn't know the caretakers in the school, they are definitely a worthwhile ally

Also, there was 1700 of us when I was there, and I left about 5 years ago.

To be fair, they are usually very well organised

BostonB

Noffles wrote: »

... where the **** is the confusion?

Is the school bus run/managed independently of the school. Because that might explain what happened. The school might have little control over the bus. You'd need to find that out.

If its an independent bus company, they may have other runs later, that they didn't want to let down.

BostonB

Our school was bit useless. Texting parents just as school opened, hardly any warning if the school was closed or opened. How hard is it to put it on their website so people can look it up.

implausible

MagicMarker wrote: »

Why don't you quote my whole post?

If the school couldn't do anything about the transportation then they have a duty of care to the children to have someone on the premises to let students wait indoors.

Because I was focusing on the misconception that the school bus is run by the school. Not having someone there is most likely an insurance issue.

Noffles wrote: »

When it is all said and done they may be two separate entities but they are intrinsically linked together and there should be dialogue between them to run smoothly.

Agreed, there should, but there isn't and it's been this way for decades.

Noffles wrote: »

Nope not confused... this bus takes kids from this area to the one school... simple as that... No other school... just this one school.!!

This is unusual. Most school buses service several primary schools after the first run to a secondary school. Sub-contracted buses can have all sorts of commitments after the school run.

Believe me, I'm no fan of the school bus system and I'm not defending them, just trying to explain to people how it works (or doesn't). I spent many a cold morning and wet evening waiting on a bus that didn't come or left me at school early or late when I was at school myself. In my school, there has been a row ongoing for 10 years, over getting the buses to stop on the same side of the road as the school! That is how bad communication is.

E.T.

BostonB wrote: »

Our school was bit useless. Texting parents just as school opened, hardly any warning if the school was closed or opened. How hard is it to put it on their website so people can look it up.

We had to close our school this morning - nobody knew anything about how bad the area around the school was until we got there this morning, and I'm guessing a lot of schools were in the same situation. If schools decide to close before it's actually necessary they get nothing but abuse from parents, so realistically unless the conditions are bad enough the night before, then this doesn't happen. Our area hasn't been badly hit by the weather so even parents said they hadn't counted on this happening this morning.

We had lists ready and each staff member rang parents from their own phone (at this stage it was too dangerous to go past the school gate). We couldn't get into the school to get on the website, and our internet is so unreliable anyway that you couldn't tell parents to check the website at short notice. I've actually updated it from home by now though.

BostonB

I don't believe its impossible for someone to check the school area an hour before school and update a website, from anywhere on the planet.

E.T.

BostonB wrote: »

I don't believe its impossible for someone to check the school area an hour before school and update a website, from anywhere on the planet.

I'd agree with you here - if/when it's expected. As I said, we're in an area that has been ok up to now, roads are driveable still. All the parents I spoke to on the phone hadn't sent their kids to school anyway as they'd said they felt it was too icy. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as this yesterday, so it really wasn't expected.

BostonB

I would have though some immediate notification system would be in place in any school, if theres was some other events, no heating, no water, health alerts if theres an outbreak of something etc. Something that can't wait for the monthly newsletter.

Noffles

A school website with an update is cheaper and easier... why don't they all use them... and the even better news is I now get to pay 50 quid more for my sons Bus Travel ticket..... :eek:

gowayuwilya

Noffles wrote: »

The community school my son goes to has been closed all last week due to the weather, that was fine...

A text was sent out to the parents last night saying that the school would be open for 3rd, 5th and 6th year pupils only today and that it would not open until 10:15.... all well and good.... until the pupils that need transport to the school come into the equation!

We rang the bus service who said they had not been inormed that the school would be opening at 10:15 and that they would have to run at normal times....

So this morning, as both my wife and I had to commute to work... our son got the bus at normal time... that no one else got and arrived at the school to find no one there either...???!!!!!

Idiot school...Idiot parent! May be a personal attack but so was your slant on the school authorities

Surely the school should of had some communication with the transport services to let them no of this change of plan and had something worked out?

I can not for the life of me believe how inept the school is, Gorey Community School btw...

Idiots running school...more like idiot parent.
As other posters have pointed out the school in question made an effort to open for exam years when many more schools in the area remained closed. You were informed of the exact day and time the school was opening , but still make a further request for more info...on a website,wtf!!! What more information do you want regarding opening hours/days??
And in agreement with other posters I can assure you not only would any caretaker worth his salt be there well before opening hours, the Principal/Deputy of any school turn in to work at least an hour before school starts....check your sons story again
You made the decision to send your son to school, no one else.
You knew when sending him on the bus the school was not opening.
Dope

Noffles

gowayuwilya wrote: »

Idiots running school...more like idiot parent.
As other posters have pointed out the school in question made an effort to open for exam years when many more schools in the area remained closed. You were informed of the exact day and time the school was opening , but still make a further request for more info...on a website,wtf!!! What more information do you want regarding opening hours/days??
And in agreement with other posters I can assure you not only would any caretaker worth his salt be there well before opening hours, the Principal/Deputy of any school turn in to work at least an hour before school starts....check your sons story again
You made the decision to send your son to school, no one else.
You knew when sending him on the bus the school was not opening.
Dope

You need to check your font....

My issue was that the school and the bus service were not in communication thus he was there too early and eventually there without a bus to take him home, please see further on where I have made some clarity on my gripe.

DO NOT TELL ME TO CHECK MY SONS STORY....

gowayuwilya

Noffles wrote: »

You need to check your font....

My issue was that the school and the bus service were not in communication thus he was there too early and eventually there without a bus to take him home, please see further on where I have made some clarity on my gripe.

DO NOT TELL ME TO CHECK MY SONS STORY....

If to check my font is the best argument you can come up with it shows just how inept you are...never mind the school!!I checked further, unlike yourself I can take and act on information I do not need it to be relayed via text AND a website. DO NOT check your sons story so, Gorey must be the only school in the country where ancillary staff and school management turn up minutes before school starts...you're an even bigger fool than I realised.

Noffles

gowayuwilya wrote: »

If to check my font is the best argument you can come up with it shows just how inept you are...never mind the school!!I checked further, unlike yourself I can take and act on information I do not need it to be relayed via text AND a website. DO NOT check your sons story so, Gorey must be the only school in the country where ancillary staff and school management turn up minutes before school starts...you're an even bigger fool than I realised.

Checking your font an "argument" ?... :rolleyes:

It's clear you can't grasp the notion of this... and I'm loath to repeat it again but since you're keener to call people names than comprehend, I'll dumb it down a little.... whether the school update on what time they are open or not, it is almost irrelevant if the bus service is not in tandem to this... *sigh*

Khannie

gowayuwilya banned for personal abuse.

edit: Actually, this thread is going nowhere. Locked.