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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
Helpfullright · 12/09/2024 00:18

You clearly don’t want to see that other roles have different responsibilities and expectations and actually people do work outside hours, at senior level roles in lots of organisation your contract is “for the needs of the business”

I will leave you to your only teachers work outside working hours narrative!

Original poster
Youthiswastedontheyoung · 12/09/2024 00:14

@JaxiiTaxii Do you mean it is, or isn't, exclusive to teaching?

OP posts:
Original poster
Youthiswastedontheyoung · 12/09/2024 00:13

@Helpfullright How are you equating travel with a full weeks' residential in which you are responsible for 60 children?
In addition, I only work p/t.

OP posts:
JaxiiTaxii · 12/09/2024 00:12

You're not obliged to go & have the right to exercise that, but this is not a wild & outlandish expectation, exclusive to teaching.

AlisonChains · 12/09/2024 00:12

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NewtonsCradle · 12/09/2024 00:10

Just say no. You aren't getting paid for it, it puts you under a huge amount of unnecessary stress and creates endless risk assessments. Your first priority is your 4 yo, the only tool the school has is emotional blackmail, just be consistent in saying, 'no.'

Helpfullright · 12/09/2024 00:10

as a parent yes I would expect my child’s teacher to attend with the relevant year group.

as much as I don’t know the ins and outs of your work contract, I would hazard a guess you don’t know the ins and outs of your parents work contracts! I work for a large organisation including off shore travel….guess what not paid for outside of my contracted hours.

Original poster
Youthiswastedontheyoung · 12/09/2024 00:08

@AlisonChains "Doing your bit." Hmmmm.
Genuine question...how many hours would you be prepared to work unpaid in a week in addition to your paid ones?
Apologies - assuming you work?

OP posts:
AlisonChains · 12/09/2024 00:05

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Original poster
Youthiswastedontheyoung · 12/09/2024 00:03

@SaffronsMadAboutMe Did.you think teachers are paid to attend residentials? Things like parents' evenings?

OP posts:
Original poster
Youthiswastedontheyoung · 12/09/2024 00:02

@AlisonChains Sitting around chatting?!!! You clearly have no idea what the average primary residential involves!
@Ihateslugs Yes this! They truly are massively exhausting!

OP posts:
AlisonChains · 11/09/2024 23:59

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SaffronsMadAboutMe · 11/09/2024 23:59

Youthiswastedontheyoung · 11/09/2024 23:56

@SaffronsMadAboutMe I suppose to gauge what others think? I suppose I knew that for a lot of parents it is more of an expectation than anything. It's incredulous really what is often expected of teachers.
Would any other profession be expected to work for free the hours we put in?

Have you started this thread to slag off parents?

I don't get it.

If you don't want to do it then don't but if parents aren't aware of the ins and outs of a teacher's contract, that's hardly their fault is it?

They're not the ones organising the school trips anyway, so have a word with your SMT if you don't want to go.

Ihateslugs · 11/09/2024 23:58

My year 7 residential to Paris as a teacher was spent shepherding them around all day, persuading them to eat without having a food fight then sitting in corridors outside the bedrooms until they were asleep to stop them wrecking other rooms, fighting, having water fights or just mucking around! The teachers were all spread out around the hostel so no socialising with each other - it was often 4 am before we could go to bed!

This took place during half term and I was exhausted when the next term started!

Original poster
Youthiswastedontheyoung · 11/09/2024 23:57

@AlisonChains You think we are permitted to drink alcohol of an evening for a start?!
Were you responsible 24/7 for 60 children during these overnights? Not comparable really.

OP posts:
RockyRogue1001 · 11/09/2024 23:56

Not sure if this is some kind of reverse.

But if not, then I'm not sure teaching is the right career for you

Original poster
Youthiswastedontheyoung · 11/09/2024 23:56

@SaffronsMadAboutMe I suppose to gauge what others think? I suppose I knew that for a lot of parents it is more of an expectation than anything. It's incredulous really what is often expected of teachers.
Would any other profession be expected to work for free the hours we put in?

OP posts:
AlisonChains · 11/09/2024 23:54

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HeddaGarbled · 11/09/2024 23:53

I think if you can go it would buy you some goodwill from colleagues and SMT which is always useful, but it very much depends on whether there are people at home who can step up for your child.

SaffronsMadAboutMe · 11/09/2024 23:52

Youthiswastedontheyoung · 11/09/2024 23:49

@StormingNorman No. It cannot "expected" insofar as all staff going on residential ultimately do so on a voluntary basis.
Would you personally work a huge amount of extra hours a day, five days a week, for no pay? Even if you didn't have caring responsibilities?
It is a massive thing to do and I do think so many parents take it completely for granted when teachers give up their time in such a way.

Edited

So why the thread?

Original poster
Youthiswastedontheyoung · 11/09/2024 23:52

@AlisonChains You are pulling my chain, aren't you?!!!!!

OP posts:
StolenChanel · 11/09/2024 23:51

Of course YANBU and the 26% of people who think you are must be having a laugh. It’s completely voluntary, 4YO or not.

AlisonChains · 11/09/2024 23:50

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Original poster
Youthiswastedontheyoung · 11/09/2024 23:49

@StormingNorman No. It cannot "expected" insofar as all staff going on residential ultimately do so on a voluntary basis.
Would you personally work a huge amount of extra hours a day, five days a week, for no pay? Even if you didn't have caring responsibilities?
It is a massive thing to do and I do think so many parents take it completely for granted when teachers give up their time in such a way.

OP posts:
StormingNorman · 11/09/2024 23:42

Youthiswastedontheyoung · 11/09/2024 23:38

I do know that attendance is not of course compulsory. There is no way it could be unless you signed a clause agreeing to work additional hours free of charge above and beyond your contracted ones.

Did you know it was expected of you?