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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:
hadtonamechangeobviously · 08/04/2025 16:02

This is nuts!

Thank you to all who have given up their free time to do this especially unpaid and even more so when at great financial cost/hassle.

And the poor y6 children who had to revise for SATS in their spare time. This makes me just as mad.

Teenybub · 08/04/2025 16:01

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).

But I am paid by the day, because my contract says 195 days.

WearyAuldWumman · 08/04/2025 16:01

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.

It depends on the school.

I've worked in schools where the HT leaned on staff to work for free; have also worked in schools where the HT did offer payment but also leaned on the staff to provide sessions.

FrippEnos · 08/04/2025 15:57

oustedbymymate · 08/04/2025 15:52

No. Not usually. I did it because I wanted to. When I didn't want to I said no thank you.

However the school cannot force teacher to do it either if not paying. Unless they factor it into directed time but then everyone in the school would need to attend and that's never going to work.

Those who are saying you are 'forced'. No you are not. You can refuse. Involve your union.

It can't be directed time as schools can only direct you in the 195 days.

And yes schools do force teachers into doing these extras.
They are not supposed to but they do.

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).

oustedbymymate · 08/04/2025 15:52

No. Not usually. I did it because I wanted to. When I didn't want to I said no thank you.

However the school cannot force teacher to do it either if not paying. Unless they factor it into directed time but then everyone in the school would need to attend and that's never going to work.

Those who are saying you are 'forced'. No you are not. You can refuse. Involve your union.

Teenybub · 08/04/2025 15:50

Not in my school and some teachers have been coerced into it, a couple have had to pay for childcare so that they can be in work not getting paid! Not taking into account the time they’ve also worked planning the sessions and petrol into work. SLT aren’t in though!

MyUniqueDeer · 08/04/2025 15:49

I work in a state school that’s heavily deprived, and over the past few years has paid us at Easter and May half terms to do a revision session.
I did it before being paid, so it’s a nice bonus.

Original poster
rosemarble · 08/04/2025 15:44

BumbleBeegu · 08/04/2025 15:40

@rosemarbleIt is a commonly believed myth that teachers are paid for all the holidays. We are not! Our salary is divided over 12 months so we receive a regular ‘pay check’ but only 5.6 weeks are actually ‘holidays’ (pretty standard holiday entitlement in the UK I guess?)

Here’s a good article explaining this: https://www.educationcorner.com/are-teachers-holidays-paid-in-the-uk/

I think I do understand this. I didn't understand what Owmyelbow meant by "I've not giving up my unpaid holiday too".

OP posts:
HollyGolightly4 · 08/04/2025 15:42

@BumbleBeegu you need a new job. I promise all schools are not like that. Don't get sucked into the martyrdom!

BumbleBeegu · 08/04/2025 15:40

@rosemarbleIt is a commonly believed myth that teachers are paid for all the holidays. We are not! Our salary is divided over 12 months so we receive a regular ‘pay check’ but only 5.6 weeks are actually ‘holidays’ (pretty standard holiday entitlement in the UK I guess?)

Here’s a good article explaining this: https://www.educationcorner.com/are-teachers-holidays-paid-in-the-uk/

Are Teacher's Holidays Paid in the UK? - Education Corner

In this article, you will learn about how teachers in the UK are given holidays and how they are paid for them.

https://www.educationcorner.com/are-teachers-holidays-paid-in-the-uk/

HollyGolightly4 · 08/04/2025 15:36

Paid in the holidays (1 day) Saturdays (not a cat in hells chance I'm giving up Saturday, unless it's right before the exam) but not for the after school revision programme I've been doing since September.

Normandy144 · 08/04/2025 15:34

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!

That's crazy! Are children expected to attend? Seems like overkill for SATS. I'm very glad my children's school takes a much more laid back approach.

ItsUpToYou · 08/04/2025 15:33

No, we just get emotional blackmail instead.

Skipthisbit · 08/04/2025 15:32

Teachers on the leadership scale are only entitled to 30 days holiday so they can be directed to deliver in school holidays as long as they get their 30 days.

Other teachers are paid for statutory holidays only; all
the rest is unpaid. So they are working with no extra payment during their statutory holiday.

But the whinging continues about how much holiday they get & what an easy job it is

Headingforholidays · 08/04/2025 15:32

We get time of in lieu at the end of term once all the exam classes are gone.

inquisitivemind · 08/04/2025 15:28

DH has always been paid or he wouldn’t do it.

Original poster
rosemarble · 08/04/2025 15:17

Owmyelbow · 08/04/2025 15:06

No and I refuse to do them. I give up enough of my life in the weeks I'm paid to be there. I've not giving up my unpaid holiday too. Kids need to take some responsibility for themselves

Kids need to take some responsibility for themselves

I think that's a bit unfair in many cases.
My son is doing revision in his own time and I am supporting him as best I can.
The classes have given him a focus for the 3 days they are being held, he learns so much more in face-to-face teaching than from books and online resources (which isn't unusual).
Like many (most?) students in State schools, his education has been impacted hugely by staff shortages. That's not his or the school's fault, but if extra support is being offered, he's going to take it.
They have ONE business studies teacher for the whole school. There are 2 business classes in his year and the other class got the teacher. He got a stream of supply teachers. The stats teacher they got for year 11 was met with a cohort of students with such huge gaps in the curriculum I bet she didn't know where to start. She has been amazing in getting them near to where they need to be.

Sure, there are some very self-motivated, mature 15 and 16 year olds that do a tonne of independent study, and there are students whose parents can pay for tutors.

For the rest, if the school are offering additional classes for the students then I think good for them for attending.

I thought teachers got paid for the school holidays. Or do you mean you're not giving up your school holiday for unpaid additional work?

OP posts:
ThreeImaginaryBoys · 08/04/2025 15:14

I am currently doing revision sessions, paid. I said I wouldn’t do them if I wasn’t.

Owmyelbow · 08/04/2025 15:06

No and I refuse to do them. I give up enough of my life in the weeks I'm paid to be there. I've not giving up my unpaid holiday too. Kids need to take some responsibility for themselves

caringcarer · 08/04/2025 15:04

Not retired yesterday.

caringcarer · 08/04/2025 15:02

At my former school before I retired yesterday, but I had to go in for 6 days. 2 days each for 2 X GCSE groups and an A level group. In addition I also set my A level revision work online and marked too.

Anewdawnanewname · 08/04/2025 14:59

It depends on the school and the funding, but I know plenty who do it for free. I’ve worked in schools where it was unpaid and compulsory. In my current school, it’s unpaid but not expected by the head. Parents, however, expect it. We had parents’ evening recently and I’d be saying about how effort was low by some of the class, homework wasn’t done, behaviour not great etc. We have them hours a week and their behaviour was like this. Yet all parents wanted to know was what extra would I be doing? When will revision start? What can they pass back on to me because they can’t get them to do homework or revise at home? I very honestly told them that I wouldn’t be doing it, and if I did then it would be invite only for the ones who work hard and don’t disrupt lessons.

Hendersonsisnotrelish · 08/04/2025 14:50

There is no expectation at my school but pay is given for each 2hour session

MrsSunshine2b · 08/04/2025 14:44

The education system runs on "good will" which in practice means that teachers are guilt tripped into giving up hours of their free time without pay or even gratitude. If they object then there is the strong implication that they clearly do not care about the children. Regardless of what detriment it puts their own children, family, friends or health to.