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AIBU?

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Original poster

Teacher lunch hour!

366 replies

everychildmatters · 10/10/2025 00:10

First off, I am glad I left primary teaching last year after 20 years in; things are only getting worse. I feel for the colleagues I left behind.
It is now becoming a common expectation that, for many different reasons, teachers are now being expected to supervise children over the lunch hour.
I used to avoid this by taking the time to which I was entitled but in order to do this I had to physically leave the building - go for a walk etc. In reality of course this was only for about half an hour or so as I wanted to be back in time to prepare my afternoon lessons.
AIBU to think teachers should be entitled to a lunch break?!!

OP posts:
HerNeighbourTotoro · 10/10/2025 18:10

Peridoteage · 10/10/2025 17:44

All teachers should be entitled to their (unpaid) lunch break. I'm assuming you get a lunch break if you work?

Teaching really isn't unique in this. Ive worked in loads of offices where hardly anyone takes lunch, they just eat at their desk. I'm often cramming mine in in between meetings. I've certainly not taken longer than 15 mins or so in years!!

It's not a race to the bottom and just because some people agree to shitty working conditions doesnt mean everyone else should too.
Most of my friends in private sector by the way have a full lunch hour they can chose to do while working, most don't, some go for a jog or to the gym. The ones who work like dogs throughout lunch usually do so because the environment is toxir and/or because people dont unionise or cant unionise to fight for something better. But this should not be a gold standard we should aim for as a society. Know your worth!

Original poster
everychildmatters · 10/10/2025 18:09

@MagicLoop Give me an example of a job in which one is in loco parentis for multiple children over their 15/20 min lunch/loo break?

OP posts:
MagicLoop · 10/10/2025 18:08

Peridoteage · 10/10/2025 17:44

All teachers should be entitled to their (unpaid) lunch break. I'm assuming you get a lunch break if you work?

Teaching really isn't unique in this. Ive worked in loads of offices where hardly anyone takes lunch, they just eat at their desk. I'm often cramming mine in in between meetings. I've certainly not taken longer than 15 mins or so in years!!

Please do show me where anyone said this was unique to teaching. I honestly have no idea why people insist on thinking that teachers mean 'no other jobs do this' when they mention anything annoying or difficult about teaching.

WearyAuldWumman · 10/10/2025 18:07

WearyAuldWumman · 10/10/2025 17:26

I'd rather that they be given a budget big enough to fund both.

Actually, I've had a spiffing idea. It used to be the case that headteacher's spouses didn't actually have a job of their own - they spent all their time supporting their significant other and being involved in the "school family".

We should go back to that. Remember to take your rubber gloves into school with you.

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Yup - the apostrophe is in the wrong place.

HerNeighbourTotoro · 10/10/2025 18:07

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 18:00

Teachers must carry out any reasonable instruction from the headteacher. That can absolutely include ancillary tasks if the head wishes.

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'Reasonable'.

HerNeighbourTotoro · 10/10/2025 18:06

BluntPlumHam · 10/10/2025 00:12

Who is supposed to supervise children? I recall there always being a teacher present. Usually they would take it in turns like some rota.

Poeple who volunteer to do lunch duties and are paid for them (lunch is unpaid and not part of our directed hours). As well as senior leaders because their pay is increased and extra duties are in their contract.

MagicLoop · 10/10/2025 18:05

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 18:00

Teachers must carry out any reasonable instruction from the headteacher. That can absolutely include ancillary tasks if the head wishes.

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Have you heard of unions?

Caroparo52 · 10/10/2025 18:04

In my day.. 60's and 70's there were lunchtime staff on duty so the teachers could have a proper fag break from us little shits

ClawsandEffect · 10/10/2025 18:03

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 18:00

Teachers must carry out any reasonable instruction from the headteacher. That can absolutely include ancillary tasks if the head wishes.

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So you'd ask someone responsible for the exam results for the school, who affects the school's OFSTED result, to hoover and clean the tables, rather than carefully planning lessons and marking?

I'd prefer to hoover frankly. It's a lot easier. But I wouldn't do both after a full days teaching. Take your pick. You could always ask the cleaner to sub for a couple of classes. They cost less than teachers.

Frankiecat2 · 10/10/2025 18:01

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 18:00

Teachers must carry out any reasonable instruction from the headteacher. That can absolutely include ancillary tasks if the head wishes.

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That’s not actually true

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 18:00

Frankiecat2 · 10/10/2025 17:40

They’re really not.

Technically there’s a whole load of non teaching stuff (displays, even photocopying) that teachers could opt not to do if they were really working to rule. (Not that this is what most teachers do).

Cleaning as a routine expectation though? You wouldn’t really have a leg to stand on trying to enforce that.

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Teachers must carry out any reasonable instruction from the headteacher. That can absolutely include ancillary tasks if the head wishes.

Original poster
everychildmatters · 10/10/2025 17:59

@Peridoteage Yes but the main difference being that you are not in loco parentis of children whilst you eat that lunch.
The fact that you can't recruit lunchtime supervisors should not mean an expectation that teachers supervise children over their lunch break.

OP posts:
Peridoteage · 10/10/2025 17:44

All teachers should be entitled to their (unpaid) lunch break. I'm assuming you get a lunch break if you work?

Teaching really isn't unique in this. Ive worked in loads of offices where hardly anyone takes lunch, they just eat at their desk. I'm often cramming mine in in between meetings. I've certainly not taken longer than 15 mins or so in years!!

MagicLoop · 10/10/2025 17:42

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 17:09

There is no way that any headteacher should be carrying out cleaning and maintenance. The role is to offer strategic leadership and ensure teaching and learning is the best it can be, not pick up litter.

Teachers should be flexibly timetabled throughout the day so that some of their time is spent in the classroom, and some supporting with lunch catering or office admin.

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Absolute horseshit. I've taught for 30 years in both state and private schools and I've never heard such nonsense. Assuming you're not making it up, I find it hard to believe your husband would find any teachers willing to work in his school (especially given the dearth of available teachers), unless they are absolutely awful and can't get a job anywhere else.

suburburban · 10/10/2025 17:42

Frankiecat2 · 10/10/2025 17:40

They’re really not.

Technically there’s a whole load of non teaching stuff (displays, even photocopying) that teachers could opt not to do if they were really working to rule. (Not that this is what most teachers do).

Cleaning as a routine expectation though? You wouldn’t really have a leg to stand on trying to enforce that.

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The things you cite are reasonable but not cleaning or making the lunches

Peridoteage · 10/10/2025 17:41

I know from a governors meeting that our school has tried and failed to hire lunchtime supervisors.

Its not enough hours for a job. You used to get reams of women who did it for pocket money, who's going to do it now?? No one wants a job that only provides about 5 hours work. Its not even enough to make you eligible for benefits & its slap bang the middle of the day so it won't fit around other work.

Frankiecat2 · 10/10/2025 17:40

suburburban · 10/10/2025 17:35

I’ve never encountered this. What a cheek

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They’re really not.

Technically there’s a whole load of non teaching stuff (displays, even photocopying) that teachers could opt not to do if they were really working to rule. (Not that this is what most teachers do).

Cleaning as a routine expectation though? You wouldn’t really have a leg to stand on trying to enforce that.

MagicLoop · 10/10/2025 17:39

Muchtoomuchtodo · 10/10/2025 17:16

In our health board only clinical areas get cleaned by housekeeping staff. That results in nurses, therapists etc (of all bands) having to hoover, mop and dust their non clinical areas, after finding a member of housekeeping staff to borrow the equipment. I suppose we don’t have to but if we don’t it doesn’t get done!

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In schools, cleaning staff should clean all areas. Teachers don't do cleaning.

Parker231 · 10/10/2025 17:37

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 17:34

They are paid to support students in any way necessary.

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Not according to teachers contracts

AppleandPB · 10/10/2025 17:37

suburburban · 10/10/2025 17:35

I’ve never encountered this. What a cheek

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Because it doesn’t happen in any uk state school.

suburburban · 10/10/2025 17:35

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 17:34

They are paid to support students in any way necessary.

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I’ve never encountered this. What a cheek

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 17:34

suburburban · 10/10/2025 17:30

Are you having a laugh

they are paid to teach not to clean and cater

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They are paid to support students in any way necessary.

ThanksItHasPockets · 10/10/2025 17:33

Please don't engage with the poster who is clearly either a fantastist or a general provocateur.

suburburban · 10/10/2025 17:30

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 17:09

There is no way that any headteacher should be carrying out cleaning and maintenance. The role is to offer strategic leadership and ensure teaching and learning is the best it can be, not pick up litter.

Teachers should be flexibly timetabled throughout the day so that some of their time is spent in the classroom, and some supporting with lunch catering or office admin.

Show quote history

Are you having a laugh

they are paid to teach not to clean and cater

AppleandPB · 10/10/2025 17:28

BeachLife2 · 10/10/2025 17:24

Would you rather the NHS cut doctors and nurses to fund more cleaners?

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And what if they’re too knackered and don’t clean? Would you be happy being treated by staff spending time in dirty areas of hospitals?

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