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Original poster

Teachers, how do you feel at the end of summer term?

111 replies

pinkclip · 20/07/2023 22:19

Just filled out a card & sorted gift for DS last day at nursery tomorrow. I actually got really emotional at the thought of him leaving, as it's absolutely flown by and I can't believe he will be starting Reception in September!

His teachers are lovely and they've been amazing this year. He has SEN and they have helped so much, I'll be forever thankful.

Do teachers really get emotional when kids move on or is it kind of that they are used to it after a while? I can't imagine it would be easy at all but I'm curious for honest opinions Smile

OP posts:
Moonshine86 · 21/07/2023 23:00

I absolutely love my job. I have felt extremely fragile at times this year but as the academic year has come to an end I can now pause and reflect without feeling the pressure! Honestly though, I’m really sad as yesterday I said goodbye to a few students that have gone on to pastures new… one to a SEN school (I worked closely with this individual) and one that has moved to a new foster family and new school. Teaching is hard. It’s not just teaching it’s nurturing and caring for students. Parental support is vital right now! I say that as a teacher and a parent.

millym102 · 21/07/2023 23:33

I get so emotional. I just finished teaching a year 9 group who I don't have next year and I will miss them so much. Absolutely awesome kids. And I can't even imagine how I will feel when my current 10s finish 11 next year. I will have had them for three years and they are wonderful. I've been teaching for 16 years and yes, it still makes me super emotional. (Obviously not for every class!)

Rycbar · 22/07/2023 00:19

I cry every year. It used to be worse when I was preschool and they’d go off to school. Now I teach reception and they just move up to the next class but it’s still emotional.

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sophiasnail · 22/07/2023 06:33

I get very emotional when year 13 leave! It is proper bittersweet because on the one hand, I am so excited for them stepping out into the big wide world, mostly off to university with so many opportunities ahead, but on the other hand I feel like after 2 great years of working so hard, laughing lot , crying a bit, trying to avoid too many details about college "mingles" and a LOT of revision biscuits, I get left behind in my classroom and they all move on.

This year my two year 13 classes clubbed together to get me a joint present connected to a nickname they gave me years ago, which sent me into a whole new level of emotion! Every year I convince myself I will never love a year group quite as much as this one!

itsgettingweird · 22/07/2023 06:36

I work in a SEN school. It's 3-19.

I can confirm there were tears galore when we had our leavers assembly today.

Especially from me as I had some of those pupils in nursery their first year there and again in KS3/4.

We do genuinely care.

Dinofuror · 22/07/2023 06:47

I used to get very emotional, especially when I taught year 6 as they weren't just moving up in the school but leaving for pastures new. It's a weird mix because although you're excited for them and understand its the way it is, you do also feel sad and reflective. To be honest although I still enjoy teaching, now I have my own children although the quality of my teaching is the same I don't feel as attached to it, it really is just a job for me now whereas I did used to see it as a core part of who I was which I don't think is very healthy in hindsight. I do have waves of sadness in the final week but it definitely doesn't affect me as much as it used to.

Hiddenvoice · 22/07/2023 06:50

I feel exhausted and emotional. You get so close to a class over the space of a year and they are your little team. There are obviously tough days but every job has that. It’s emotional seeing them move on and seeing them excited for the year ahead.

NotQuiteUsual · 22/07/2023 07:02

It's emotional in so many ways. Exhaustion, missing the kids, pride of their achievements, happiness for six weeks off and knowing the kids are moving on to great things. I especially miss the difficult ones, the ones who say rude things because they don't trust adults. Or who have behavioural needs. Their progress is less obvious than most kids, but seeing it is a joy still. Leaving them, knowing how hard it was for them to trust you is tough. They have to start again building trust with someone new. I wish I could keep the kids who struggle with me forever and look after them in school. I hate letting them go knowing it's harder for people to get them. The worry keeps me up at night. It's why I'm leaving education.

Believeitornot · 22/07/2023 07:05

beeonmybonnett · 20/07/2023 23:19

Teachers, how did it feel at the end of the summer 2020 Term? Because schools were closed and it was remote teaching so there was no face to face goodbye and you hadn’t seen your pupils since the March ?

Schools opened before the summer broke up in 2020🤨

Misty84 · 22/07/2023 07:11

I’ve adored my Reception class and it’s been an emotional few days, however I get to go up with them to Year 1 which I’m delighted about! Best job in the world🥰

NovacDino · 22/07/2023 07:12

It's a big mix for me. Mostly exhausted and a bit overwhelmed because you've got to end the year with your class but have to start thinking about the following year. Knowing I haven't really finished myself, I will be in a lot next week doing classroom things. I don't think it all settles in until the first few days that I get away from school. I always miss my class but as a KS1 teacher it is nice to see them grow and move through school.

Mble · 22/07/2023 07:14

I feel really emotional when a form group moves on as I usually have them for several years. Yr11 and Yr13 going is bit emotional. Results days for gcse and A level classes are always a big deal.

I do always feel quite depressed on the last day of term but the next day I feel relaxed and happy about the summer holiday.

Grimwood · 22/07/2023 07:24

@NotQuiteUsual - as a parent of one of those ‘difficult’ children your post really touched me.

We had one teacher for my DS who ‘got’ and understood him. I wrote to her and the head after that year saying she’d never know the massive difference she made to my whole family’s life that year. Just being able to send my DS into school without that feeling of fear and having someone who genuinely saw all his positives who I ( and he trusted). I don’t want to sound patronising, but I hope you know quite how massive the difference a teacher who has compassion for these difficult kids (which you’ve expressed) can make.

Zonder · 22/07/2023 07:27

30 years in and I no longer feel particularly sad about children moving on.

I do however generally need a sofa day for the first day of the holiday and can barely drag myself off the sofa to do anything. When my kids were smaller I used to book them into an activity day so I could switch off on the first day.

thatone · 22/07/2023 07:34

Emotional but also relieved as the last few days are spent handing out work, collecting reading books and shutting down the classroom. It is sad as it's an ending (Year 1) but also a relief on the whole.

There are some children I will worry about due what I know about their home lives and also some children who needed more support than I could give and I feel very bad for that.

lavenderlou · 22/07/2023 08:06

Primary teacher and it depends on the cohort. This year I've had a very challenging class and while there were some lovely kids in there my overall feeling is relief that they are moving on. An example from the last day is that I spent ages making them each a personalised gift and while I was handing them out a few of the kids just kept shouting out "when are we getting the cakes" because my TA had brought in a couple of packs of fairy cakes. Kind of left things ending on a sour note although most of the parents were kind and expressed their gratitude.

Other years it's been sad when you've had a great year with a class but it's always time to move on.

LadyPenelope68 · 22/07/2023 08:13

beeonmybonnett · 20/07/2023 23:19

Teachers, how did it feel at the end of the summer 2020 Term? Because schools were closed and it was remote teaching so there was no face to face goodbye and you hadn’t seen your pupils since the March ?

It was absolutely dreadful ☹️ I had one of the nicest year groups I’ve ever taught that year and they’d been amazing with the online learning and I’d missed them so much. The day school closed for Covid, we had a bit of a party in the afternoon as everything just felt a bit weird so I decided fun was the best thing. Quite a few of them (and me) cried when they were going home as it was such an unknown. I was so glad I’d done that as they never got to “leave” properly and I’ve not seen some of them since.

LadyPenelope68 · 22/07/2023 08:18

I’m a Year 6 teacher and I think it’s quite difficult at the end of the year as you know you may never see some of these children again. In other year groups, you still see them around school the next year even if you’re not teaching them.

I always get quite emotional and yesterday, I did start to fill up a little when I finished our Leavers Assembly. We had quite a few years together during the day and once the last child has left and we shut the door, my TA and I always hug each other and have a bit of a cry.

I also cried a lot last night when I read messages in cards from the children and parents, makes the hard work all so worthwhile knowing you’ve made a difference.

Allyliz · 22/07/2023 09:02

I've been a nursery teacher for more than 20 years. I can assure you that the bonds we form with the children and some of the families are very strong. We are those childrens main person for a large chunk of most days and they become like family. We share their happiness when great things happen, their tears when they are hurt or upset and watch them grow and change through the year. Every time it rolls round to July our hearts get a little bit broken. We love when our 'old' children come back to visit and show us their school uniforms etc. Sometimes we're luck enough to get siblings and so the bond continues. Some children do stay in your hearts forever. It's why most of us do what we do children are amazing and very precious 💖

rainbowstardrops · 22/07/2023 09:06

I always get emotional at the leavers assembly and things like that and there are children that I have a close bond and connection with that I miss and sometimes worry about but there are also some children (and parents), that you can't wait to see the back of!
Always a bit emotional seeing the yr2's moving off to the junior school.
The summer term is often long, hot, busy and exhausting so it's usually a feeling of utter relief when I walk through the school gates!!!

Rocknrollstar · 22/07/2023 09:09

As a secondary school teacher, by the end of the year I was just grateful to have survived intact and I was thinking about packing and going off on holiday. And then a few weeks later it all started again. It was when a colleague said to me in September ‘back to the real world’ that I knew I had to leave.

liveforsummer · 22/07/2023 09:11

TA here but can assure all the team feel the same - absolutely relived and exhausted but also devastated, I've absolutely adored this year group and although pleased to be staying in my current stage I will miss them hugely and check in on them whenever I can

loveandwarmth · 22/07/2023 09:39

I'm a primary teacher and I normally get so so emotional. I've moved about over key stage 2 the past few years and the year I taught y6 I actually found it really hard that some kids would move on and I would never be able to know what they do with their life. Some children make such a big impact on you!

This year however I'm 37 weeks pregnant with a preschooler and a toddler at home finishing the term and I really couldn't have been more ready to say bye to them! They will be there when I go back though so I'll see them all again.

NotQuiteUsual · 22/07/2023 09:40

Grimwood · 22/07/2023 07:24

@NotQuiteUsual - as a parent of one of those ‘difficult’ children your post really touched me.

We had one teacher for my DS who ‘got’ and understood him. I wrote to her and the head after that year saying she’d never know the massive difference she made to my whole family’s life that year. Just being able to send my DS into school without that feeling of fear and having someone who genuinely saw all his positives who I ( and he trusted). I don’t want to sound patronising, but I hope you know quite how massive the difference a teacher who has compassion for these difficult kids (which you’ve expressed) can make.

I really hope if your 'difficult' one is still in school that they get a team who get them next year. Makes all the difference doesn't it? I'll always have a soft spot for those kids. It's not their fault the world is harder for them than their peers.

LodiDodi · 22/07/2023 09:43

I work as a TA alongside a teacher in reception. The teacher and I are concretely frazzled, but her even more so due to her ridiculous workload. There's a mixture of feelings, we genuinely love all of the children and it is sad but there is also real relief as PPs have said to not have to deal with certain children and their parents anymore. Of course, there will be more like that in the following year. But not for me as like many others in education I am leaving for a job that actually basically respects me and my time.