No ones said they would, just feel parents should try to support their schools, in any attempt to improve their childs education. Again I can only speak for Bedford but before the GCSE exams they now take some of their kids on FREE revision weekends, to some place in wales, and old trafford, they try to show them the balance by mixing it up between learning time and play time. Wonder if those who are opposed to this idea from Westleigh would turn down a couple of free weekends?

I don't do one minutes overtime for free, why should teachers?

But isn't this week really 'School time'

Plenty still do mate, and not just sport either.

I would say that Mr Farrimond from Twelves is a teacher/head who goes far beyond giving his spare time to the children of his school and most of his staff do the same.

And can be seen on the terraces at 1st and reserves

More Teachers did seem to do more back then, than they do now but playing devils advocate did they? (this is a genuine question as I actually do feel they did)

But could it not just be that we remember the few teachers who seemed to go the extra mile, and gave us something to do? Making Canoe's for weeks and then being taken to Rivy canoeing in the holidays with Mr Ball from Mary's was superb, but if our teachers did so much out of school, why in the mid-70's did my Mum and Dad and their friends start Higher Folds kids disco, lots of others being run at the similar times, Mad Haggis, Sacred Heart, etc. Wasn't it around this time East and Miners junior sections were formed, if our teachers did spend so much more time, why did parents feel that it was necessary to form these organisations, or with the exception of HF where they originally formed by teachers? (Again a genuine question)

Anyway regardless of anything I've written here, I think your main point is more teachers could help the voluntary organisations, which I have to agree with.

I believe that the schools have posted coursework on t'internet and schools are open for kids taking exams.

If they can open for kids doing exams, they can open for all the kids then. If someone taking an exam it wouldnt be anydifferent with the health and safety issues would it?

THis idea is the best Ive seen and teachers would then get the time off they missed paid so they d be quids in, kids would be able to catch up too.

My daughters school has already had two days off before xmas due to the heating breaking down so they ve missed 6 school days this school year.

Not counting the day of in May for polling that about five people turned up for and then they ll have another for the general election later this year.

I'm sure the children I have already given my half-term up with my family (including my own children) to take away on a school trip would love that, maybe you could explain to their parents about loss of money paid etc.

As for being quids in I'm not sure what you mean. And whilst I'm at it if your school is used as a polling station although the children do not need to attend school staff do, well at least in my school they do!

One last thing then I'll duck whilst all the bullets come firing back, no head teacher wants to have their school closed however being told that you can be held personally responsible for all accidents on your premises makes you think twice in the current weather conditions, remember our wonderful council have not provide any grit or facilities to clear school sites. Schools will have to fund that out of their own budget and I'm sure most parents would rather have it spent on their child's education. Maybe all those out their who have made false claims and turned this country into the litigious society we are need to take a long hard look at themselves.
Rant over.

It's interesting that you make that point meandal, about head teachers wanting to keep their school open.

I was reading today that some head teachers are keeping schools closed because they don't want to look bad in their ofsted reports. If a school is open but lots of kids can't get there it's attendance figures plummet and it is then marked down by government inspectors. If the school closes then no data is collected for those days so some head teachers are deliberately keeping the schools closed to avoid adverse reports.

I read that also Mish but you can't tar everyone with the same brush. I bet nearly all the schools would love to two fingers up to that points system.

You're quite right Mish you can be classed as unsatisfactory because of attendance but I think you'll find any head worth their salt cares far more about the health and safety of their children than Ofsted. Unfortunatley this is yet another example of some of the silly markers schools are judged against. We were open last Tuesday and only 30 children came in, how can that be the schools fault, yet we will have to include that in our figures.