trousers

@jordansibley: Saints Vs Doncaster: Davis. Richardson, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox. Hammond©, Cork, Schneiderlin. Lallana, Guly, De Ridder #saintsfc

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/06/top-gear-bbc-worldwide-profit

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8930218/Jeremy-Clarksons-execute-strikers-joke-was-cleared-by-BBC-producers.html

I totally agree with you. The only silver lining in this whole sorry banking excess episode is that we had the B-Liar/Brown/Darling trio in office for 13 years to ensure the bankers didn't get away with it, let alone be knighted in the process.... P.s. On a train from London back to Hampshire after downing a few pints so it is conceivable that I could be talking nonsense (just for once)

Ok. Thanks

Ok, hands up....fair assessment (especially the last bit!) My intentions were genuine. I still think knowing how likely your child's school is to close next time (if there is a next time) is useful information to know. But I'll concede I should have asked the questions in a less direct manner. Heading into town for a beer so over and out.

As I mentioned above, my questions were in response to the head writing to parents to advise: "We have now had time to assess the impact of the national industrial action on our staffing and we cannot guarantee a safe site on that day". I assumed from that statement that the head was in possession of the at least the basic facts regarding staff numbers. What else would they be "assessing" other than staff numbers based on the ballot results? If the closure was a fait acomplis ordered from above then there would be no need to "assess" the situation, surely? Even if the head was ignorant of the facts that could have answered my questions, the professional thing to have done would have to pointed me in the right direction: "Dear Mr Trousers, Thank you for your valid questions about your son's school. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to provide you with the information you've requested, however, if you contact blah at blah I'm sure they will be able to help you. Yours...." It wasn't my intention to use the stats to "second guess a senior teaching professsional". I was simply interested to know whether it was a close call or not. Fair point. I do indeed intend following it up with "the powers that be". As I've said all along, I still don't understand why anyone would want to keep the high level percentage stats a secret in the first place. Surely having acccess to facts in any debate is a good thing?

Thanks for the reply. I think we'll have to agree to differ as I think they were valid questions. I was simply interested in how close the school had come to staying open. But, as I say, the nature of the response I received indirectly told me much more than I had asked for.

It doesn't say where they got the money from....

The questions I posed were in response to a 'school closed' announcement email from the headmistress which included this sentence: "We have now had time to assess the impact of the national industrial action on our staffing and we cannot guarantee a safe site on that day." Why would it be wrong from that to assume that she knew percentages of staff that had decided not to turn up for work? What had they been assessing if not staff numbers...?

How was it obvious?

So, as a head, you'd be happy to share a "private and confidential" email from a parent around the staff room having just extolled the virtues of privacy and confidentiality to them...? ;-)

I've always admired the insightful wit of staff rooms

I beg to differ

The answer I got told me all I needed to know.

What was "ignorant" about the questions? I was genuinely interested to know what percentage of teachers at my son's school had decided to go on strike. Plain and simple curiosity. I still don't see why people apparently don't have any desire to be candid or transaparent with the situation. I don't see how that helps build their case and garner more sympathy from parents etc. Yours ignorantly....

If they're that easily pleased I might just take to the stage. Money for old ropethis making people chuckle malarkey. Sigh.

Why do you want to know why I want to know? Your go...

All fair enough but I don't see why anyone involved would want to cover up the stats? In a general election I don't need to know who voted for which party but I still get an overview of how many peopele voted for who. Why the closed shop? Edit: I'm sure if the figures had been really good they'd be shouting them from the rooftops... ;-)

How would she be able to make an informed decision on whether to close the school if she had no idea of how many of her staff were not turning up for work? Unless that decision is taken for her by a higher authority? Whether it's her decision to conceal the figures or the union's (?) I still don't understand what anyone has to hide.

Ah. When did they start that? I'd "work from home" more often if I'd known!

Here's an extract of an email I sent to my son's school 2 days ago: Please could you provide me with the following figures: a) the percentage of school staff that voted in the strike ballot b) the percentage of school staff that voted to strike (including those who didn't vote in the ballot) c) the percentage of school staff who, in light of the strike vote, have decided to go on strike on Wednesday (including those who originally voted against strike action and those that didn't vote) d) how many staff you are short of in order to provide a "safe site" And here's the reply I just received from the headmistress: Thank you for your email. I am afraid that I am not able to comment on many of your questions as that information is not available to me. Here are my responses in the order you posed your questions: a.) Private and confidential – not able to comment b.) Private and confidential- not able to comment. c.) Private and confidential- not able to comment. d.) Private and confidential as it is not just teaching unions which have been balloted to take industrial action. Releasing this information would break confidentiality. Erm....what's to hide? I wasn't asking for names of who voted and who didn't, just percentages. I thought they'd be really keen to share the figures in order to highlight the high level of support for the strikes. How is hiding under the convenient "Private and Confidential" unbrella going to engender support from the general public?

I've just noticed that the BBC have replaced their usual schedule with a double bill of 'Only Fools and Horses' this afternoon. Someone at the beeb has a wry sense of humour (not that I'm sitting at home watching TV when I should be working of course....)

The main contributors to public sector wages are the top 1% who pay 27% of all taxes collected by the exchequer. Just think how much they would contribute if they weren't so busy avoiding tax...