How much holiday do you think teachers really get?

[Fairenuff]

I was reading a thread about inset days and inevitably it led onto the amount of holidays teachers get and I was wondering whether Joe Public thinks that the teachers get the same number of days off as the children?

Alright, they are not actually in the classroom, but the teachers I know all work during holidays (and also evenings and weekends). My estimate would be that they plan a fortnight summer holiday with the family and the rest of the time they are planning, assessing, marking, report writing, etc.

Perhaps they should be renamed 'child holidays' rather than 'school holidays' to help clear up the confusion?

[LaurieFairyCake]

I'm married to a teacher (secondary and Head of large faculty though) and I know exactly how much holiday he gets.

He takes 2 clear days in every half term holiday and 2 weeks in the summer (one week away, one week broken up over the six) and one week at Christmas and 3 days in the 2 week Easter break.

so, 24 days a year. On every other day he is working and unavailable.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I should say that this is the way it's been for 10 years but will change in 6 weeks time when he departs for an FE college - and I expect

[itdoesnthurttohavemanners]

Lots of teaching bashing going on at the moment isn't there?!

Holidays. Oh well OBVIOUSLY I have the full 13 weeks off. Every year. Every single day of that 13 weeks. ;) in my dreams

You've got the right idea OP, I reackon I have less now than I used to in my old job for sure. Just worked the entire half term writing reports. Most half terms are spent assessing pupil progress, marking and planning - with 2 days thrown in for classroom tidy/displays/organisation etc that the govt will tell you is an admin job and not done by the teacher (big lie)

£23k a year for all this work - don't start me on my hourly rate, I once worked it out and wanted to cry!!!!!! :) (but I do love the kids!)

[Juniper904]

Same, itdoesnthurttohavemanners

I love being with the children, but they make me ill continuously (had sinus surgery in Feb and seem to pick up every single germ going!)

I have done a lot of ranting conversing on the AIBU thread, and I am meant to be writing reports today! It is an INSET day, but we're allowed to work from home. Shh! I didn't mention that on the other thread...

[Sparklingbrook]

The more I hear about teaching the more that I am that anybody would want to be one. I know I couldn't do it whatever the pay, holidays etc. It sounds exhausting and thankless and underpaid.

[Feenie]

I would like to point out round about now that teachers are not paid for 13 weeks holiday.

[Sunscorch]

It sounds exhausting and thankless and underpaid.

It's also fun :)

[Sparklingbrook]

I still couldn't do it Sunscorch. I definitely think it's a vocation. One of Ds's teachers from years ago didn't seem to like children very much though-that was weird.

[Juniper904]

I've just planned a maths lesson for Wednesday where groups of 8 year old children are going to fill bin bags with 5 litres of water... we are all going to end up drenched, I can see it now.

If I didn't enjoy my job, I wouldn't do stupid hands-on things like this.

[Sunscorch]

For Wednesday?

If you're doing it outside, you're going to get drenched regardless of your pupils' care and attention the their bags =P

[Clarabumps]

is this the mutual appreciation society??

[itdoesnthurttohavemanners]

Juniper oooh like the sound of using bin bags ha. Haven't tried that one before. Definitely going to steal with pride :) after marking SAT papers and seeing half of class think that a kettle holds 20 litres of water

[Sparklingbrook]

I think being an optimist must be an essential job requirement for teaching if bin bags and water and children are being planned. I wouldn't pass that that test.

[Sparklingbrook]

or that test, even.

[stargirl1701]

In Scotland we officially get 40 days paid holiday every year.

In addition, there are 26 days unpaid leave called school closure days.

Teachers work in school and at home in both the 'holidays' and the school closure days.

[Juniper904]

itdoesnthurttohavemanners it turns out I'm on PPA tomorrow, so the other teacher is going to have to do it!

[NiceHamione]

I enjoy every single day of my holidays because that is what they are meant for, so I have all 12/ 13 weeks.

[NiceHamione]

It can be exhausting, it certainly is not thankless and not really underpaid. I live well on my wage and have an excellent quality of life.

[Fairenuff]

Nice do you never go into school during the six weeks over summer, to tidy or re-arrange the classroom, or put new names on pegs or any prep for the new year? When else do you do all that stuff, in the evenings before you break up?

[NiceHamione]

I teach secondary.

I may go in for a few hours one afternoon if I haven't managed to get things done by the end of the summer term.

But to be honest I have quite a lot of gained time from exam classes and I always work late after the two inset days in September , so no need to go in over the summer.

[knackeredmother]

I know anyone who doesn't agree that teachers are hard done too are accused of teacher bashing but..... My SIL is a primary school teacher, qualified 10 years. She freely admits she gets most of the holidays off. She will work 2 days at the end of the 6 weeks and leaves work by 4pm at the latest every day to pick up her dd. She rarely works in the evenings. I also have a few friends who do similar. All have been qualified a good while so maybe that is the difference?

[knackeredmother]

To not too. Bloomin autocorrect

[Hulababy]

I would say most teachers take no more than half of the actual school holidays - rest of time is planning, prep, marking, reports, etc. So 6-7 weeks a year. That is certainly been my experience of when I was teaching, and also of the teachers I know now in both primary and secondary.

[Fairenuff]

knackered a primary school teacher who leaves school at 4pm and rarely works in the evenings? When does she do her planning, assessments, report writing, etc? Surely not during teaching time, that's not good practice.