A PARENT of a Year 11 pupil at Rhyl High School has criticised the school for postponing its online parents’ evening due to adverse weather.

Rhyl High School was due to hold the event virtually this evening (February 8), but has rearranged it to February 22 amid yellow and amber Met Office warnings of snow and ice.

But the parent, who asked not to be named, took issue not only with the re-arrangement, but the fact that this parents’ evening is not being held in person.

She said that the new date for the online parents’ evening will come just weeks prior to her child’s first GCSE exam in March, and pleaded for “more support” from the school.

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The parent said: “My child is in Year 11 at Rhyl High School, so it’s an important school year, with GCSE exams starting in a matter of weeks.

“An ‘online’ parents evening was scheduled for today. This is where we are allocated 10-minute slots with each subject, when the time is up we are automatically cut off.

“I’m not entirely sure why we are still having virtual meetings anymore, as this is such an important parent evening. They were introduced during the pandemic due to being unable to have face-to-face meetings.

“Yesterday morning, Year 11 parents received an email from the school advising the online parents evening is cancelled due to the forecast of snow.

“It’s ridiculous; I don’t feel they are taking anything seriously. Everything is directed online since COVID, there’s no personal help anymore.

“This is a typical scenario for the school. I just want there to be more support, and more interaction with parents.”

An email from Rhyl High School, circulated to parents of Year 11 and shown to the Journal, said that the online parents’ evening was postponed “to ensure everyone can attend”.

A new link to the online appointments would be sent in due course, it added.

In response to the parent’s comments, Rhyl High’s headteacher, Claire Armitstead, said: “The Year 11 parents’ evening has only been postponed - it will be taking place on the first Thursday after half term. This was to allow as many people as possible to take part.

“We consulted with parents at the start of the academic year regarding whether the preference was for online or face-to-face, and took this into account when planning the parents’ evenings for the year.

“Based on the feedback and responses from parents, it was decided that the Year 7 parents’ evening, Year 9 options evening, and Year 11 parents’ information evening would be face-- face and the other parents evening would be remote.”