To not go on the residential?

You are deliberately trying to muddle the waters. Fixed or flexible leave is not the issue here at all. As a teacher you know you’re going to have fixed leave which may change if you move local authority. The issue is that I am not paid for the 13 weeks the children are not in school. That implies that I am paid holiday or leave for every one of those days. I am not and neither is any teacher. I am paid for 40 of those days and the rest are unpaid closure days. To make salaries manageable for HR departments, our annual salary is spread across 12 months equally.

When it comes to teacher pay the thing that causes outrage in the wider population is the idea that we get 13 weeks paid holiday. We don’t. We get 13 weeks and the rest are unpaid days. Being paid in the holidays is not the same as being paid for the holidays which you are well aware of.

I never said anxious parents target their kids, I said some parents are extremely anxious and that anxiety can transfer onto their kids. I have some families who very happily let one go, and then a younger one who has a small additional need, which we are very able to support, isn't allowed to go. That is absolutely their choice, but it was a huge shame for this child who was devastated that their friends were going and they weren't. We had more tears from that child in the week running up to the trip, than I have had in total whilst away.

I'm very sorry that your child had a bad experience whilst on their residential, was that something specific which hapenned or just being away was very challenging for them?

On any residential, in fact on any trip outside of school even just for an hour, a lead teacher must write a risk assessment. That teacher's name is on that document as the lead. Regardless of how many groups and other adults there are, the buck stops with that lead teacher as they are ultimately responsible for the content of the risk assessment and the visit overall.

I mean, yeah, I understand the concept of risk assessments. We have them in every workplace. My name is on hundreds of them. I don't quake in my boots at the thought. It's never occurred to me to think about it in such a Henny Penny was as the teachers on this thread.

Risk assessments are normal in the workplace. And, before you ask, yes, risk assessments that cover the health and safety of > 30 people - in my case, thousands of people. And for activities far more dangerous than going for a walk 😂

Hahahahahhajahahahahahahhahaha.

I’m sure you know, surely, surely that of course many are.

Doesn’t mean you should do this, but your argument isn’t helped by a complete ignorance of the reality of work for many professions. You really, really aren’t alone.

@Fluufer no, but her DH is unwell. I mention “single parents” in relation to the wider issue of residential trips.

They do, but OP is not one of them.

I think it’s time to start ignoring that poster. They clearly have an agenda. If they hate teachers so much, I think they should open a free school and show everyone how it’s done. I mean, I won’t be sending my kids there because clearly there will be residentials every week and there won’t be any safeguarding measures put in place because they’ll do it all within 30 seconds, but I would come for CPD visits so I can see how we should really be getting things done.

I can’t decide if @PicturePlace is a troll is just a generally not nice person, but either way I hope their kids don’t go to my school! What a nightmare parent to deal with.

Already corrected it further down the thread, do try and keep up. :)

Eh?

The OP will be in charge of 30 children for literally 24 hours a day.

My gosh, she won't get to sleep, or have any other responsible adults there to share the load with? Sounds treacherous!

The OP has already stated that her husband is ill.

but teachers are not paid for the holidays. they are paid for 195 days, which is then spread over the year to make budgeting easier. Not because they are paid for the holidays.
As a former teacher you should know this.

Residentials are absolutely not a fundamental part of teaching. Many schools don't do them at all, and those that do often only do them for Years 5 and 6.

I'm assuming OP became a teacher because she wanted to teach children.

Do single parents not exist?

You are paid equally over the 12 months of the year, yes? So you are being paid whether it is term time or holiday time, aren’t you? So as in every profession, you agree to an annual salary and that is what you are paid. The main difference being that other professions can request their annual leave allowance when they want to take it, but teachers have to take their leave during fixed school holidays.

sorry missed out the word "not"
as in not part of your job

I think if your primary and it's your class, then it's pretty much a given that residential is part of teaching that year group rightly or wrongly.

On any residential, in fact on any trip outside of school even just for an hour, a lead teacher must write a risk assessment. That teacher's name is on that document as the lead. Regardless of how many groups and other adults there are, the buck stops with that lead teacher as they are ultimately responsible for the content of the risk assessment and the visit overall.

I hope that clarifies your misunderstanding for you @PicturePlace

I know, but my original reply was to the OP who was talking about SUMMER residentials 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was a Secondary School teacher for 6 years, left to work in other sectors and then returned to teaching for another 6 years, leaving in 2022. But I didn’t word my previous reply very well. Yes, teachers are contracted to work the proscribed number of hours over the year, etc, but every teacher ends up doing a lot more than that outside of contact time. Teachers DO get paid their annual salary spread out over 12 months, so they ARE paid over the holidays. That is a fact.

I’ve also worked in the public and private sectors in various roles and never have I experienced the amount of whinging that I’ve heard from other teachers.

I left because I hated the job - dealing with incredibly rude teenagers every day; dealing with aggressive/entitled parents. It’s a really hard job. But so are lots of other jobs…

PicturePlace

It would never occur to me to moan about the things teachers on this thread are moaning about. They are normal parts of normal, good jobs!

Except that what teachers are talking about on this thread are part of your job.

But you weren't actually doing your job during those unpaid hours while you were away. The OP will be in charge of 30 children for literally 24 hours a day.

Ah, great, a 1:10 ratio, thank you for being more honest.

@Fountofwisdom I wasn’t correcting the OP, I was correcting this from you:

These residential trips happen in the summer term

We are not paid over the 12 months to compensate for extra work. I teach in Scotland. We have 40 days paid holidays including bank holidays and 26 closure days which are not paid. Salary spread equally over 12 months. Not paid for 13 weeks off. It’s very plainly and clearly set out in my contract.