End of year in a school … wow 🤣

[Goolagoo]

I’m a teacher . I’ve never done end of year in a school before as I left my first role before the end and I’ve been supply since . I’ve done lots of long terms, but this time of year I’ve always been day to day and as a supply it’s a really chilled out time.

Ive been on long term in y3 for the past 6 months and WOW. I have never known exhaustion like it ! I’ve worked all my adult life ( so 20+ years ) and I’ve never known this feeling of crawling to the end ! There is so much to do …. I always thought with teaching the holidays would be great- don’t really get them as a supply as I still work part time through the summer in another ( not stressful ) job , so I still do get a break as I go down to part time for 6 weeks - but I am really seeing now how teachers need this break . I’m mentally and physically exhausted- I have nothing left for my family .

If you are a teacher and you’re going back in September to do this all again - I salute you ! I don’t think I could do it . I’m not taking any long terms , I do have a job out of teaching secured with the CS anyway but still on the fence about it - but this has , I think , cemented my decision that I’m not cut out for this .

How are other teachers feeling ?

Knackered. Before I worked in a (primary) school, I too thought end of year was just watching films etc, maybe a bit of tidying. I had absolutely no idea.

Behaviour deteriorates as some children can't cope with change. They're tired, grumpy, verbal insults fly around, football games can end in punch ups. In year there is paperwork coming out of our ears for transfer to secondary. Plus reports, SATs scores, transfer of info from year 5 teachers for new year 6 in Sept, ordering any special accommodation items for those pupils (writing slopes, special pens etc). Then there is organising end of year celebrations for year 6, hoodies, ice cream van for the last day, yearbook, year 6 play.

Many parents on here say how much they can struggle with their own children - now imagine being in charge of 30 of them! You can't switch off when you're working with kids, it's full on most of the time.

• In year 6 there is paperwork..."

I manage a primary school office in a very large primary school and have done for 10 years. Summer term is the most exhausting period of time imaginable and each year I say never again, but 6 weeks rest means I find myself back there come September. The 'long' (comparatively shorter than most other countries) holidays are very much needed for pupils and staff alike.

It’s exhausting isn’t it! I don’t have to plan for next year either - I can only imagine how those that do are feeling ! We have deadlines for data etc for tomorrow and I am sending that across just before I leave , not putting myself in a position to have to change anything , I am out that door ! Leaving it all behind !

It’s so true about behaviour - I have noticed this week it’s been the worst it’s ever been and I was naively thinking it would be a breeze as it’s the last week !

End of year in Primary is like labour. You have to forget how painful it is or you would never do it again.

Yes , more than ever now I really agree with the 6 weeks holiday! I was thinking maybe shortening it and having longer at other times but after this - no way. The children really need it , you can see it in them they’re done! I mean I’m feeling so overwhelmed and I’m an adult and ( kind of ! ) capable of dealing with it emotionally and I know how to relax and switch off but for them , they can’t deal with it like adults can and they really need these 6 weeks of just being children !

Secondary teacher here - behaviour is off the charts as well as general loudness!! Have only just got timetables for next year, have new groups to plan for, room changes, a new form and DofE added in for good measure! I am actually contemplating not going back in September. I'm done!

Can’t imagine the pressure of that too ! It’s immense for me as a supply , not going back . Hats off to you !

Pretty tired. I'm secondary and have some gained time due to 2 exam classes finishing, which helps. It's the one time of the year when the job feels vaguely manageable. I'll still have loads of work to do over the summer though, as we have a whole new GCSE syllabus in my subject starting in September.

Well said.
I've been thoroughly exhausted since May. Coming home every day feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated collapsing on the sofa paralysed both physically, emotionally and mentally. I've been teaching for 13 years and this is the worst I've ever known it at this time of year. Even on the last day of term i was running around like a headless chicken doing last minute jobs.

I should say... behaviour at my school is great, so at least I don't really have that to contend with! Getting some lovely thank-you cards etc from students this week too!

Secondary school student welfare role…my first year back since leaving my previous school during the pandemic.

I love my job but crawling towards the finish line is bang on the money.

I’ve never seen the appeal of lazy beach holidays but 19yo DD is on one at the moment and her photos are making me soooo jealous!

My Y1 class are absolutely feral this week. They're so completely exhausted, it's hot, and in addition to all the usual end-of-year stuff, we're having an extension built at school that means we have to remove every scrap of furniture from all the classrooms on my side of the building. So, today and tomorrow, they also have no tables and chairs 😭

It’s always like that at the end. I’m on my 30th year now. I brokeup on the 4th July though and don’t go back until September 2nd. I’d hate supply, I love the continuity and the relationships.

I taught in a primary school for 22 years. I was ill at the start of each holiday for about 60% of the time.
Both schools I taught in were really old and I used to spend at least a whole week of the summer holidays (often with my mum helping me) clearing the classroom ready for the deep clean and then preparing it again for the beginning of the September term.
The classroom walls were so horrible I used to

• cover every notice board and surrounding wall with brightly coloured frieze paper
• purchase & add educational displays to the boards
• label up to 36 classroom trays, sets of exercise books & cloakroom hooks
• rearrange the classroom library, which had to be packed away for the cleaning
• purchase furniture, floor cushions & classroom equipment from my own money
• wash, disinfect, buy storage for and rearrange all the classroom equipment

This was in addition to all the PLANNING that needed to be done for the actual teaching.
By the time I finished my teaching career it was crazy, as nothing could be taught without writing down exactly what you planned to do, how you would differentiate the teaching for varying abilities, questions that classroom assistants needed to ask in their groups and the evaluating each lesson afterwards. There were stacks and stacks of paperwork which had to be produced as proof that you knew how to do your job.
& don’t get me started on OFSTED inspections.
It is no wonder that teachers are exhausted, suffer from burnout and leave the job in their droves.

It's awful. Behaviour is awful. Children have no respect for adults anymore.

I know nothing about teaching (NHS) but when did lesson planning come on and what purpose does it serve? Do you feel as an experienced teacher that the quality of teaching delivered is better with lesson planning or do you think OTU just an unnecessary layer of paperwork?

Just to jump in - not massively experienced - but I have never taught from a lesson plan unless I’m being observed . There is no time to do everything . Even on supply , I’ll be given a plan and it’s just crazy , I’ll glance over it so I know what’s differentiated and the learning objectives and that’s it , I’ll then just do it my own way.

So true. Phrase of the year at my school "I'm reporting you" and then they do, and our professionalism gets questioned over the integrity of a 12 year old 🤦🏻‍♀️

My feet are burning this evening.

stripped the whole classroom. Walls are bare and had our class party.

sounds minor but it’s very full on.

more of the same tomorrow!

Oh i know how full on that is ! We’ve been stripping the class today too , I’m aching !

Awful that is , teachers are in such a vulnerable position ! Children know it too , the older ones

We don't break up until next Friday, the 26th. 😭 The staff are on their knees with exhaustion, and i'm not even sure the children are going to be able to make it to the end.

@Goolagoo absolutely, they know that anything they say will be investigated. If it can't be proven either way the teacher comes of worse because, well they are just children!

I am openly admitting I put a film on for 20 mins today - the children are as exhausted as me. The heat was ridiculous in my classroom and I'm mentally preparing for a year lead role in September....someone pass me the gin!