PARENTS have been left fuming after a school’s communication blunder means they have been forced to make last-minute child care arrangements.

Oak Academy - which serves West Howe, Kinson and Bearwood - has apologised for failing to inform parents that the summer term would finish three school days earlier than planned.

One parent, who asked not be named, said she’d been left in the dark as a result of the school’s mistake and, despite both parents working full-time, will now have to find ways to ensure her daughter is looked after in their absence.

She said: “We’re really fed up and very annoyed at having to make changes with our employer to accommodate the school’s last minute term-time changes, for the second time in a year. We’ve had to lean on the good will of our employers and, in one instance, have even taken unpaid leave to cover the changes – it just isn’t good enough.

“It is causing undue stress and anxiety for us as we try to flex around the inset days and, to be honest, I can’t see why we should have to bear the cost of these changes, when no notice has been given of them by the school. We were promised the earth when we chose Oak for our daughter, and we, along with all of the other parents, have been badly let down.

“The Ministry of Education talks about fining parents for unauthorised absence - how about parents being able to fine schools for changes to the published term dates without due warning?

“Our daughter is trying to understand the importance of being prepared, providing accurate feedback and learning to manage her time effectively – maybe the school should take a dose of its own medicine.”

In a her formal complaint the unnamed parent said this was not the first time the school had failed to inform them of last-minute changes and, even after four days of phoning the school demanding answers, she has yet to hear from them directly.

Richard Burgas, principal of Oak Academy, said: “Feedback from parents has identified an oversight on our part to update the calendar on the school website.

“I can confirm that for students term ends on Friday July 15, with Monday, [July] 18 through to Wednesday [July] 20 being staff inset days.

“I would like to apologise to parents for the late notice in publishing this information and a letter will be going home with students next week to clarify our end of year arrangements.

“My thanks again to those parents who brought this matter to our attention, clearer communication between the school and the wider community is something that I as the new principal am keen to improve.”