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Original poster

Teachers - when do you break up?

75 replies

40andlovelife · 19/11/2023 13:59

We break up on the 22nd December so another 5 weeks of what is proving to be an awful HT. Poor behaviour, apologist parents and excessive workload that does not benefit the kids along with shite weather and dark mornings/ evenings are making me long for this 5 weeks to be over. This is really sad because no one should be wishing the weeks away!

What are you doing to pass the next 5 weeks and look after yourself?

OP posts:
RSintes · 19/11/2023 15:56

We have a dumb-ass staff gathering on the 20th so it's now a non-teaching day. Colleagues and I have spent all HT and last trying to get a trip authorised for next year and it's been declined due to "missing valuable learning time" yet it's fine to cancel everything on the 20th and force us to do some shite festive-themed INSET? Go figure.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 19/11/2023 15:57

ShowOfHands · 19/11/2023 15:07

Finish the 22nd. Back on the 3rd. Take away weekends and bank holidays, it's only 4 teaching days off. It seems short compared to previous years.

I'm v happy in work and at a good school but post Covid, behaviour and mental health for students are both still poor.

Ofsted came on the last two days of term before Christmas last year. That was really challenging as we'd deliberately finished teaching the syllabus a day early so that we could have some fun lessons/quizzes/films on the last day.

That's crap. Have they mucked up the holiday lengths at other times then?

I'm office staff, not teaching. We also finish on the 22nd, the last working day before Christmas. But back on the 8th at least. I know that plenty of people who don't work in schools also have to finish on the 22nd, but they CAN at least usually take a day or half day somewhere to do Christmas shopping and prep. I hate having to do it all at the weekends in the run up to Christmas because the school weeks are so busy at that time of year (infants - SO much going on!). Our new head is expecting us all to volunteer at the Christmas fair in our own time but won't give us any time in lieu to go Xmas shopping at any other time. Talk about Scrooge.....

There's been some odd decisions made about term dates the last few years. I don't know what our LA is playing at. They've set our last day in July to be a Monday. Last day is always a half day for the kids. Some other primaries have set it as an INSET day which makes much more sense because who the hell is going to send their kid in for half a day of nothing on a MONDAY?! If they want to book a Saturday to Saturday holiday that basically knocks a week out of the available weeks so I can see many families ignoring that Monday half day completely and not bothering sending their kid in. Don't blame them at all. Silly decision by the LA.

The way it works out it's actually a day less than 6 weeks' holiday for staff. I can't remember that ever happening before in all my years working in schools. I usually go in for some of the holiday so it's annoying when a day gets knocked off and doesn't seem to reappear anywhere else!

ShowOfHands · 19/11/2023 16:02

verrymerryberry · 19/11/2023 15:39

21st here back on 8th

Those having very short time off did you have two weeks for half term? If not this seem ludicrous

We had one week at half term and the half term is a rare 8 weeker

But we are consoling our selves- we had OFSTED earlier this year and the last week we will do nice stuff because the kids won't cope - I'm secondary too- we also have exams for each year and yr 11 doing three past paper so we have all this to mark before Xmas!

We have some nice events to look forward to and a few work dos. Also my colleagues are bloody lovely! We are bringing a shed load of nice food and drinks (mainly Coke Zero - we are water and salad for the rest of the year!) for the last week and having a week of buffet lunches (in our 30 minute lunch "break" lol)

We had a week for half term as well.

We did go back slightly later in September (couple of days) and are closed for 2 days in the middle of June every year.

I'd rather have some time before/after Christmas tbh.

soberfabulous · 19/11/2023 16:05

I'm overseas and our last day is dec 8th!!!!!

MathsIs · 19/11/2023 16:10

Friday, December 8th here, too!

In England, but AP. (alternative provision)

Back on Thursday, January 4th.

TFMinx · 19/11/2023 16:12

We break up 15th and INSET Day on 2nd Jan! 😭

BCBird · 19/11/2023 16:17

I break up same time as you OP. It not just the kids that are the issue- SLT🙄think advent calendar is a good idea

Brunointhemiddle · 19/11/2023 16:22

Break up on the 22nd, back on the 3rd.
We don’t seem to have any longer off on any of the other holidays either so not sure what’s going on there.
I’m really unhappy in my school, decided to get the Christmas decorations up next weekend to try and cheer myself up !

Original poster
40andlovelife · 19/11/2023 16:23

BCBird · 19/11/2023 16:17

I break up same time as you OP. It not just the kids that are the issue- SLT🙄think advent calendar is a good idea

I hear you on this . Ivory towers and all that

OP posts:
crochetmonkey74 · 19/11/2023 16:24

22nd here too. I'm in a school.i have loved for years but recently I'm totally burnt out and fed up of ny working day being continually hijacked and being given more and more to do. I've been finding that my break times are being more and more eroded, so I've started 'stealing' time back. As soon as break begins, I walk off site to my car and listen to a podcast and once a fortnight in my PPA I actually leave the site and go for a walk to a nearby Costa for a quick coffee. I normally write my grocery list and just have a decompress. I honestly feel like if I don't do these things, I could resign tomorrow

Original poster
40andlovelife · 19/11/2023 16:24

TFMinx · 19/11/2023 16:12

We break up 15th and INSET Day on 2nd Jan! 😭

This happened to us a few years back. Back the day after New Year's Day, I was still hungover

OP posts:
Shadowboy · 19/11/2023 16:25

22nd. Back on the 8th. Which actually I don’t mind as I hate January so to feel nearly half way through when we get back will be better

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 19/11/2023 16:27

22nd.

What have I done to help get though....handed my notice in. 5 weeks to go and cannot wait. I'm jobless but that's better than continuing teaching before I have a complete breakdown.

nothatsallwrong · 19/11/2023 16:27

Think of us poor Scots who went back mid August. 22nd for us too and believe you me I am crawling already.

Thankfully we get a longer holiday this year- last year we were back on the 4th.

Original poster
40andlovelife · 19/11/2023 16:27

RSintes · 19/11/2023 15:56

We have a dumb-ass staff gathering on the 20th so it's now a non-teaching day. Colleagues and I have spent all HT and last trying to get a trip authorised for next year and it's been declined due to "missing valuable learning time" yet it's fine to cancel everything on the 20th and force us to do some shite festive-themed INSET? Go figure.

Festive themed inset sounds awful! I like to think im a fun person but the thought of having to be all jolly and do giggly things on an inset is so insulting

OP posts:
Original poster
40andlovelife · 19/11/2023 16:29

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 19/11/2023 16:27

22nd.

What have I done to help get though....handed my notice in. 5 weeks to go and cannot wait. I'm jobless but that's better than continuing teaching before I have a complete breakdown.

I am coming across more and more people handing their notice in without a job to go to. It's really sad that it's come to this. Good luck I bet you feel amazing knowing you're getting out

OP posts:
3amShopper · 19/11/2023 16:30

TFMinx · 19/11/2023 16:12

We break up 15th and INSET Day on 2nd Jan! 😭

This, but, I'm mostly happy with that. It gives me a week and a half to actually enjoy being off before Christmas instead of trying to cram "festive" into 48 hours and being utterly exhausted and drained.

Ineedhelp1981 · 19/11/2023 16:36

Break up on the 20th, go back the 8th Jan. Supposed to be the 4th of Jan but because of Twilight sessions we've been doing after school, they're given us the 4th and 5th Jan off.

HollyGolightly4 · 19/11/2023 16:38

Is there a chance that the inset day will be one that they'll turn around and say you don't have to come in school? That would be the dream.

We have inset on the 8th although it's a proper training day, it is a little bit of relief.

Night409 · 19/11/2023 16:43

MathsIs · 19/11/2023 16:10

Friday, December 8th here, too!

In England, but AP. (alternative provision)

Back on Thursday, January 4th.

I work in AP and we break up 20th Dec and go back 3rd Jan.

Beebalino · 19/11/2023 16:45

Break up on the 8th Dec, inset on the 2nd Jan and kids back 3rd. Independent boarding school though.

Timeturnerplease · 19/11/2023 17:11

TFMinx · 19/11/2023 16:12

We break up 15th and INSET Day on 2nd Jan! 😭

Same for us but I’m delighted; means a whole week of being able to do Christmassy things with young DDs, and none of that extra time after NY when they’re bored of being at home all the time.

MerryMerryn · 19/11/2023 18:25

Most are breaking up 22nd and go back on 8th round here.

MathsIs · 19/11/2023 18:36

The independent boarding school my children go to breaks up on Friday 15 December and lessons start on Tuesday 9 January. Many boarders will leave a day later and arrive a day earlier.

The AP where I work is in the independent sector, which might make a difference, @Night409 . It’s not connected to my children’s school so there’s no need for them to harmonise dates.

TFMinx · 19/11/2023 19:16

@Timeturnerplease I'd personally prefer a few days later either end. My DS's birthday is 4th Jan and I'd much rather celebrate with him then go back to school afterwards (as would he)