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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not go on the residential?

829 replies

Youthiswastedontheyoung · 11/09/2024 23:22

I've just started a new p/t teaching role. Towards the end of the academic year the whole year group go on a residential which is about 3.5 hours away, for a full school week.
I have a just-turned 4 yo and other academic commitments outside of school.
AIBU to say I can't attend the residential?
As an aside, my mum (love her) thought teachers got paid for any additional hours regarding this. She was surprised to learn I'd just be getting my standard pay!

OP posts:
TheaBrandt · 13/09/2024 11:26

Exactly Procon. I also sympathise with teachers my family are teachers but ones who have only taught can get caught up in the negative attitude. Most jobs can be tough. Us small business owners don’t get paid if we don’t get clients which is pretty flipping stressful!

ProCon · 13/09/2024 11:15

As a full-time NHS hospital consultant, it always amuses me when teachers whine about unpaid extra hours and just how much ‘responsibility’ they have ‘on-call’!

And all the petty nitpicking about paid and unpaid days. Teachers receive x amount of money a year and y weeks of official time off. Exactly which days are technically paid and unpaid are irrelevant and tedious to read about.

I have never commented negatively online about patients or relatives. There is plenty wrong with the NHS system but I never blame patients. So many teachers moan about kids and parents. I wonder why they entered the profession.

The OP clearly dislikes her role. I would not want her on a residential with my kids. I would rather the trip didn’t happen.

Iwasafool · 13/09/2024 09:51

Konstantine8364 · 13/09/2024 09:26

Most professional/corporate jobs require some working over your contracted hours. My job involves working away a couple of times a year, working 14+ hours a day for no extra pay for example. But my salary is good and I can mostly work from home. I don't think one week of long hours is unreasonable, but if you do and it's part of the role, you need to look for something else!

How many children are you responsible for even when you go to bed?

Konstantine8364 · 13/09/2024 09:26

Most professional/corporate jobs require some working over your contracted hours. My job involves working away a couple of times a year, working 14+ hours a day for no extra pay for example. But my salary is good and I can mostly work from home. I don't think one week of long hours is unreasonable, but if you do and it's part of the role, you need to look for something else!

Konstantine8364 · 13/09/2024 09:26

Most professional/corporate jobs require some working over your contracted hours. My job involves working away a couple of times a year, working 14+ hours a day for no extra pay for example. But my salary is good and I can mostly work from home. I don't think one week of long hours is unreasonable, but if you do and it's part of the role, you need to look for something else!

StolenChanel · 13/09/2024 09:20

PicturePlace · 13/09/2024 09:19

Where was that established?

RTFT

PicturePlace · 13/09/2024 09:19

StolenChanel · 13/09/2024 08:57

@Fluufer what is the purpose of pointing out that she’s not a single parent? What is the purpose of pointing out that the residential isn’t “for ages yet”? It seems to imply that her husband can look after her 4YO when we have already established that he cannot.

Where was that established?

PicturePlace · 13/09/2024 09:18

Probably because 2000+ adults don't need someone to be solely responsible for them in the way children need a responsible adult.

The point is that you are not solely responsible for 60 children, just because your name is on a risk assessment. You have five other adults there. So while there is a legal responsibility, in practice, there is a 1:10 ratio. Hth.

PicturePlace · 13/09/2024 09:16

And are you responsible for those 2000 adults if they throw up at night, wake up sobbing, get ill, have an accident or just need someone in loco parentis in the evening to stop them running from room to room til all hours?

No, much more taxing and serious activities than that, thanks for asking!

PicturePlace · 13/09/2024 09:15

Oh yes. I expect his serious spinal condition will be gone in a few weeks or whenever the residential is.

The residential is next summer.

Gogosmarty · 13/09/2024 09:12

'For all the PP’s saying that teachers get 13 weeks holiday a year, perhaps I can try and explain it better.'

All the teachers I know call it holiday... and if you're going down the ' it's part-time work' route then most teachers are pretty well paid for that...

Gogosmarty · 13/09/2024 09:11

If you don't want to go or can't go, then don't but it's not unusual in a job to have to work out of hours without being compensated for it.
I travel to conferences and meetings, which mean I can be away from home for a week at a time, and the days are long and there are evening activities etc. that I have to attend so it is work with little free time.

Pookerrod · 13/09/2024 09:06

PicturePlace · 13/09/2024 08:30

but nobody else talks about how they have 2 days every weekend unpaid

This is spot on

For all the PP’s saying that teachers get 13 weeks holiday a year, perhaps I can try and explain it better.

Teachers don’t get 13 weeks holiday a year, they effectively work part time. The same as if you have someone in your place of work who works term time only or 3 or 4 days a week. They get the same pay every month but are not being paid for the days that they don’t work and the pay is spread equally over the 12 months. You wouldn’t accuse someone in your work place who works 3 days a week as having 2 days paid holiday per week would you?

StolenChanel · 13/09/2024 09:04

@Fluufer you make no sense but ok.

Fluufer · 13/09/2024 08:59

StolenChanel · 13/09/2024 08:57

@Fluufer what is the purpose of pointing out that she’s not a single parent? What is the purpose of pointing out that the residential isn’t “for ages yet”? It seems to imply that her husband can look after her 4YO when we have already established that he cannot.

Does it need a point. She isn't a single parent. If you don't care, don't acknowledge my statement.

StolenChanel · 13/09/2024 08:57

@Fluufer what is the purpose of pointing out that she’s not a single parent? What is the purpose of pointing out that the residential isn’t “for ages yet”? It seems to imply that her husband can look after her 4YO when we have already established that he cannot.

Fluufer · 13/09/2024 08:55

StolenChanel · 13/09/2024 08:49

Sorry Dr Fluufer, how much time should it take him to recover enough to look after a 4YO alone for a full working week?

And as Dr StolenChanel you know he won't be recovered in 10 months time do you? She's not a single parent, that's all I said.

Garnet6 · 13/09/2024 08:51

PicturePlace · 13/09/2024 08:45

I guess I don't describe myself as solely responsible for 2,000+ adults, just because I've signed risk assessments, in the way that teachers on here have. It's very dramatic, disingenuous, and makes you look a bit silly.

Probably because 2000+ adults don't need someone to be solely responsible for them in the way children need a responsible adult.
Thank goodness you aren't in the teaching profession with your attitude.
As for looking silly, I think that ship sailed with your comments way back!

StolenChanel · 13/09/2024 08:49

Fluufer · 13/09/2024 08:07

Did I say it did? I just pointed out, correctly, that she is not a single parent.
The residential isn't now anyway is it?

Sorry Dr Fluufer, how much time should it take him to recover enough to look after a 4YO alone for a full working week?

Zonder · 13/09/2024 08:47

PicturePlace · 13/09/2024 08:45

I guess I don't describe myself as solely responsible for 2,000+ adults, just because I've signed risk assessments, in the way that teachers on here have. It's very dramatic, disingenuous, and makes you look a bit silly.

And are you responsible for those 2000 adults if they throw up at night, wake up sobbing, get ill, have an accident or just need someone in loco parentis in the evening to stop them running from room to room til all hours?
Or all day are you responsible to make sure they're safe, learning, taking part in all the activities (usually while you're doing the activities too)?

Zonder · 13/09/2024 08:45

Fluufer · 13/09/2024 08:07

Did I say it did? I just pointed out, correctly, that she is not a single parent.
The residential isn't now anyway is it?

Oh yes. I expect his serious spinal condition will be gone in a few weeks or whenever the residential is. 🤔

Redlettuce · 13/09/2024 08:45

It's only a week! I would go unless you genuinely can't find childcare.

Loads of jobs expect you to stay away or work extra hours for free. I often have to attend evening stuff at work because its part of the job.... or work ridiculous hours because I'm travelling to an office 5 hours away.

PicturePlace · 13/09/2024 08:45

I guess I don't describe myself as solely responsible for 2,000+ adults, just because I've signed risk assessments, in the way that teachers on here have. It's very dramatic, disingenuous, and makes you look a bit silly.

ArdMhaca · 13/09/2024 08:43

Youthiswastedontheyoung · 12/09/2024 12:37

@PicturePlace Will you pay my childcare costs for me?!!! Fantastic!!!!

I think if the cost of the week long residential trips to parents were to include childcare costs for the adults in attendance you would see a very different response.

Garnet6 · 13/09/2024 08:40

PicturePlace · 13/09/2024 08:36

My point is that signing risk assessments isn't so outstandingly unique. Some teachers on this thread were listing this as something the rest of us couldn't possibly understand, when in reality, it's a normal part of lots of jobs. Yes, we take it seriously, but we don't start forums complaining about it.

The OP didn't start a forum complaining about risk assessments.....nobody did!
The topic arose when posters were trying to make other people understand (including yourself) how one teacher would be responsible for all of the children attending a trip.
Who is complaining about signing risk assessments? You seem to be creating your own agenda here which suits your need to take a pop at teachers.