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Original poster

Do teachers get paid for running revision sessions in the school holiday?

206 replies

rosemarble · 08/04/2025 13:28

As the subject says.....just wondering.
Obviously I hope they do, but you hear so much about teachers working so much during school holidays that I wonder where the line is.

While I'm here, thanks to the teachers who are running them; DS2 really benefits.

OP posts:
midnights92 · 08/04/2025 19:03

Not when I was last teaching (ca 2016). I doubt it's changed. We were expected to do lunchtime intervention, afterschool exam prep and holiday prep on top of everything else for free. Was standard for the area so just moving schools wasn't a solution, before anyone suggests that.

Purpleturtle45 · 08/04/2025 18:59

I'm a teacher and no way would I be going into school to teach during my Easter holidays, we work enough unpaid overtime during term time.

28Fluctuations · 08/04/2025 18:51

FrippEnos · 08/04/2025 18:21

Welshmonster

What would they put you on a support plan for?

In my case it was
"Pupils are not making enough progress"
When pressed the HT kept saying "The data shows"
And couldn't give me any idea of how to improve as "it was down to my HoD, to sort out the plan"

When they couldn't get me out on that, they started making life more and more difficult until I was forced out. All done in such a way that I had no comeback to them.

So saying "No" isn't always a possibility.

Unfortunately, extra sessions are now becoming the norm.

What has been the union's response to this threat?

Extra sessions, taught unpaid, only become the norm if teachers agree to it. Say no.

Wisenotboring · 08/04/2025 18:50

I imagine some.do,.but never in any institution I've worked for!!

mumnosbest · 08/04/2025 18:50

Some schools do offer paid overtime and if teachers choose to take this then fair enough. For those teachers saying they have to do extra unpaid, you absolutely do not and should not. If you feel pressured to do so, contact your union otherwise say NO! By martyring yourself, you will get no thanks and do no favours to the teaching profession.

Icecreamandcoffee · 08/04/2025 18:45

Many years ago our school offered TOIL for revision sessions. So you could do 2 mornings and get a full term time day off. I know a colleague who did 4 sessions and got 2 days TOIL which she took to attend a family wedding. The head covered the class for the TOIL so no need to use supply. Nowadays, I know barely any teachers that get paid or TOIL for running revisions sessions and it's almost all compulsory.

sharkanado · 08/04/2025 18:38

My SIL is a teacher and has done 2 sessions this week 9-3 at £25 per hour

My SIL gets £40 an hour

LuluDelulu · 08/04/2025 18:37

At some schools you do. At most, no.

sharkanado · 08/04/2025 18:36

Wherever I have worked it's been a fixed rate

PTSDBarbiegirl · 08/04/2025 18:35

Teachers work 195 days where I am, 7 paid hours a day. 8 weeks paid holiday & 4 weeks unpaid. Salary divided across 12 months.
Holiday play schemes or tuition schemes would require to be negotiated separately and any staff doing freebies quite simply create a rod for every other teacher's back. Sorry for the rant but this drives me crazy.

sharkanado · 08/04/2025 18:34

My friends & family who teach do but it's school specific

slummymummy24 · 08/04/2025 18:34

cestlaviecherie · 08/04/2025 15:56

I think expenses should be paid, and TAs should be paid, but I don't see why someone on an annual salary would be paid any more in terms of salary. You're getting paid to do the work, not per hour/day. (I will caveat that by saying I do believe teachers should have an equivalent of a legal secretary/PA to do admin and help with marking etc).

Please read the article another teacher has posted about how teachers are paid - same as nursery workers (term time ones) and TAs; our basic pay is split over the 12 months to ensure we get paid every month. Teachers are not paid to be on holiday!!

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 08/04/2025 18:34

They did pay when I last did it (probably about 25 years ago!). I'm shocked to hear they don't now. It's outrageous not to pay, and even more outrageous to force teachers to do it and not pay them. My (lovely) school does not offer Easter revision courses and would not force teachers to run them even if it did.

BellissimoGecko · 08/04/2025 18:31

BumbleBeegu · 08/04/2025 13:48

Nope! I’m a primary teacher and have to run Year 6 SATS revision this week and next week - 5 mornings this week, 4 mornings next week. My holidays…but I’m working for free! I have to plan these revision sessions too, so I’ve been planning each afternoon for the following days sessions.

Obviously, this means that I have not been able to go anywhere myself 🤷‍♀️😩

I also had to go on a 5 day residential to Italy with a group of Pupil Premium children recently…it was bloody awful! They weren’t even children from my class but I was told that as I’m the only ‘single and unencumbered’ staff member, it ‘makes sense’ for me to go, with the Head also going. I was completely exhausted after, and we were ‘on duty’ 24 hours a day…I wasn’t given an option to say no (was informed I had to go) and it cost me a bloody fortune. I had to put my pets in boarding and renew my passport as it was out of date. I couldn’t afford this (the passport or the boarding fees) but was not reimbursed, even though school paid for every single thing for the PP children, including passports, new bags, new clothes and all their toiletries!

It must be illegal to force you to go. Doesn’t matter if you have dc or not. Talk to your union!

slummymummy24 · 08/04/2025 18:29

BumbleBeegu · 08/04/2025 13:48

Nope! I’m a primary teacher and have to run Year 6 SATS revision this week and next week - 5 mornings this week, 4 mornings next week. My holidays…but I’m working for free! I have to plan these revision sessions too, so I’ve been planning each afternoon for the following days sessions.

Obviously, this means that I have not been able to go anywhere myself 🤷‍♀️😩

I also had to go on a 5 day residential to Italy with a group of Pupil Premium children recently…it was bloody awful! They weren’t even children from my class but I was told that as I’m the only ‘single and unencumbered’ staff member, it ‘makes sense’ for me to go, with the Head also going. I was completely exhausted after, and we were ‘on duty’ 24 hours a day…I wasn’t given an option to say no (was informed I had to go) and it cost me a bloody fortune. I had to put my pets in boarding and renew my passport as it was out of date. I couldn’t afford this (the passport or the boarding fees) but was not reimbursed, even though school paid for every single thing for the PP children, including passports, new bags, new clothes and all their toiletries!

Year 6 SATS revision?! That sounds hideous all round!
Sounds like you need a change of school!

MrsHamlet · 08/04/2025 18:26

WearyAuldWumman · 08/04/2025 18:16

The worst HT I ever had would say "Oh, but staff will want to..."

No. No they won't.

Show quote history

Since I'm a union rep, the head does not presume to tell me what "the staff" will want to do.

My classes have plenty of resources and they can email me this week if they get stuck. But am I going to go to school, unpaid, in the holiday? Nope.

FrippEnos · 08/04/2025 18:21

Welshmonster

What would they put you on a support plan for?

In my case it was
"Pupils are not making enough progress"
When pressed the HT kept saying "The data shows"
And couldn't give me any idea of how to improve as "it was down to my HoD, to sort out the plan"

When they couldn't get me out on that, they started making life more and more difficult until I was forced out. All done in such a way that I had no comeback to them.

So saying "No" isn't always a possibility.

Unfortunately, extra sessions are now becoming the norm.

Do teachers get paid for running revision sessions in the school holiday?
Shmee1988 · 08/04/2025 18:17

My SIL is a teacher and has done 2 sessions this week 9-3 at £25 per hour

WearyAuldWumman · 08/04/2025 18:16

MrsHamlet · 08/04/2025 18:05

My hod wanted us to run some. For free. I declined that very generous offer of my time.

The worst HT I ever had would say "Oh, but staff will want to..."

No. No they won't.

cunningartificer · 08/04/2025 18:15

Our school pays staff who choose to run revision sessions. No pressure to do so but some departments are keen on them, as they’re seen as traditional and there can be a parental expectation as well. We did some research into impact and it’s not huge so we’re discouraging them—generally the kids come who don’t really need them, and there are better interventions on offer during school time that don’t cut into the break. But we’re very keen on wellbeing so this is factored into all whole school decisions.

MrsHamlet · 08/04/2025 18:05

My hod wanted us to run some. For free. I declined that very generous offer of my time.

LadyRoughDiamond · 08/04/2025 18:03

Not at my current school, no. There were pockets of money a few years ago for this sort of thing from a Covid Catch-up Fund, but this has finished now. Nothing new has come up from central government.

Peacepleaselouise · 08/04/2025 17:51

BumbleBeegu · 08/04/2025 13:48

Nope! I’m a primary teacher and have to run Year 6 SATS revision this week and next week - 5 mornings this week, 4 mornings next week. My holidays…but I’m working for free! I have to plan these revision sessions too, so I’ve been planning each afternoon for the following days sessions.

Obviously, this means that I have not been able to go anywhere myself 🤷‍♀️😩

I also had to go on a 5 day residential to Italy with a group of Pupil Premium children recently…it was bloody awful! They weren’t even children from my class but I was told that as I’m the only ‘single and unencumbered’ staff member, it ‘makes sense’ for me to go, with the Head also going. I was completely exhausted after, and we were ‘on duty’ 24 hours a day…I wasn’t given an option to say no (was informed I had to go) and it cost me a bloody fortune. I had to put my pets in boarding and renew my passport as it was out of date. I couldn’t afford this (the passport or the boarding fees) but was not reimbursed, even though school paid for every single thing for the PP children, including passports, new bags, new clothes and all their toiletries!

Madness! No wonder recruitment and retention is so poor.

28Fluctuations · 08/04/2025 17:48

BumbleBeegu · 08/04/2025 13:48

Nope! I’m a primary teacher and have to run Year 6 SATS revision this week and next week - 5 mornings this week, 4 mornings next week. My holidays…but I’m working for free! I have to plan these revision sessions too, so I’ve been planning each afternoon for the following days sessions.

Obviously, this means that I have not been able to go anywhere myself 🤷‍♀️😩

I also had to go on a 5 day residential to Italy with a group of Pupil Premium children recently…it was bloody awful! They weren’t even children from my class but I was told that as I’m the only ‘single and unencumbered’ staff member, it ‘makes sense’ for me to go, with the Head also going. I was completely exhausted after, and we were ‘on duty’ 24 hours a day…I wasn’t given an option to say no (was informed I had to go) and it cost me a bloody fortune. I had to put my pets in boarding and renew my passport as it was out of date. I couldn’t afford this (the passport or the boarding fees) but was not reimbursed, even though school paid for every single thing for the PP children, including passports, new bags, new clothes and all their toiletries!

What happened when you said 'no'?

We have a union. Please use it.

When teachers agree to work for no pay, they create an expectation that teachers should work for no pay. They create the demand from SLT that teachers be treated as you were.

I am very sorry that this happened to you. I hope that you have been able to find a better employer.

Welshmonster · 08/04/2025 17:45

BumbleBeegu · 08/04/2025 13:48

Nope! I’m a primary teacher and have to run Year 6 SATS revision this week and next week - 5 mornings this week, 4 mornings next week. My holidays…but I’m working for free! I have to plan these revision sessions too, so I’ve been planning each afternoon for the following days sessions.

Obviously, this means that I have not been able to go anywhere myself 🤷‍♀️😩

I also had to go on a 5 day residential to Italy with a group of Pupil Premium children recently…it was bloody awful! They weren’t even children from my class but I was told that as I’m the only ‘single and unencumbered’ staff member, it ‘makes sense’ for me to go, with the Head also going. I was completely exhausted after, and we were ‘on duty’ 24 hours a day…I wasn’t given an option to say no (was informed I had to go) and it cost me a bloody fortune. I had to put my pets in boarding and renew my passport as it was out of date. I couldn’t afford this (the passport or the boarding fees) but was not reimbursed, even though school paid for every single thing for the PP children, including passports, new bags, new clothes and all their toiletries!

The word you need to practise using is NO. Believe me, it’s hard.

They can’t make you do school trips or revision sessions. No matter what they say. And they are discriminating against you for not having kids. They don’t why you don’t have kids. Also you could have other caring responsibilities. I wouldn’t pay for my dogs to be boarded without reimbursement.

I would contact my union and tell them everything. What would they put you on a support plan for?

Y6 SATS are the responsibility of every teacher in the school. Every teacher that has marked the pupil as Expected just to get through performance management. It all comes out in the wash in y6.

I would be sick for the rest of the holiday. Get signed off if you need to. But you can self certify anyway for 7 days.

the world won’t end with SATS. My kid didn’t do them as Y6 in 2020 and is now in Y11

I left after 20 years and feel better. I was on my knees. Find a new school or make a plan to get out of teaching. You deserve better.