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How many half days? - J (8th Feb 2013 - 15:27:25) Bohunt have yet another half day next week, I don't think they have done a full week this term.

Re: How many half days? - Jay W (8th Feb 2013 - 21:07:48) I think you are right there. We worked out they won't do a full week until after half term - but don't forget, it doesn't matter because the students are doing all their lessons crammed into the shortened day (just shorter lessons and shorter breaks) so that's alright then! It's to allow for all the parents' evenings for the different years - they run from 4pm to 8pm so the students have to leave school at 1pm. Then factor in the INSET days - 5 per year? Early closing at the end of each term ......... and we working parents are supposed to be able to carry on with our jobs? I know the schools are not a childminding service but we are expected to work when our children go to school (well, those of us that haven't had to work since the end of maternity leave any way) and it doesn't make employers look kindly on working mothers in particular.

Re: How many half days? - CR (8th Feb 2013 - 23:19:53) I don't work at Bohunt, so cannot comment on their method of parent consultations, however on the issue of INSET days please do not blame the teaching staff. These were formerly called 'Baker' days after the politician who took the days from teachers holiday time and made it into training days. So, in fact, days you had off from school when you where there are still days off for your kids but not for the teaching staff.

Re: How many half days? - Andrew (9th Feb 2013 - 09:24:01) Just had a look at the school calendar and 1st week was a full week, plus 2nd one would have been had it not been for the snow. Was that the schools fault too?? My son is at Bohunt and although its not ideal I'm sure that the school have done this for a reason

Re: How many half days? - Shelly (10th Feb 2013 - 17:34:36) Personally i have found their new way of doing these parents evenings a complete nightmare and i share lifts to/from school with some other mums but having to constantly take 1/2 days off work is a nightmare. When it was just one 1/2 a day per year group it was bad enough but now they've split each year into two it just makes the whole system impossible! Also i dont understand why the kids have to finish at 1pm for the parents evening starting at 4pm! I do think the school needs to look at this and look for a workable alternative.

Re: How many half days? - Jay W (11th Feb 2013 - 19:09:23) Andrew, I don't think anyone (apart from you) mentioned the closure due to snow. I am sure we would all agree that it is unreasonable to expect the school to be open then, putting both staff and children at risk. Since the majority in the area were in difficulties at that time, employers are bound to be more sympathetic. The main issue was the half day closing for parents' "evening". I imagine your wife or partner sorts out your childcare (apologies if my assumption is incorrect and it is you). Does she not find it inconvenient or perhaps she is fortunate enough not to have to go out to work and keep explaining to her employer? Local employers who probably employ more than one local parent with a child or children at Bohunt must also find the situation difficult. Yes, of course we have always had INSET days under one name or another and we do realise that the teachers are in school on those days but the children are not and COMBINED with the half day closures AND early closing on the last day of term it all gets a bit much. Again, I don't think anyone actually mentioned putting blame on the teachers - we are well aware that they do not make the day to day decisions and work extremely hard (as we working parents are trying to do).

Re: How many half days? - Mrs (12th Feb 2013 - 11:16:53) The website informs me on the half days that they should finish at 1, but they come out at 12.45. So children are left in the cold waiting for the parents to pick them up,

Re: How many half days? - James (12th Feb 2013 - 12:26:42) My son tells me that the half-day finishing time is now 12.45pm to allow children to catch the train.

Re: How many half days? - Mrs (12th Feb 2013 - 19:04:47) They should change the website then, and tell the parents so the can leave work a extra 1/2 hour early to pick said child up in time.

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