Last day of term

[tazmaniandevil]

Why on earth does school have to close at 13:45 on the last day of term? What is the purpose of this? Confused!!!!

[spanieleyes]

No they won't necessarily. Technically it counts as a full day as long as the children are registered in the afternoon.

[CauliflowerSqueeze]

Teachers' holidays are UNPAID.
I'm not sure people really grasp that fact.

[CauliflowerSqueeze]

OP if the school system irritates you so much, you are absolutely within your rights to opt out of it and elect to home educate.

[BeyondThePage]

Our school finishes at 2.15 - just after afternoon registration. That way they can officially count it as a full day, even though they go home before the afternoon lesson. Would be better if they finished at lunchtime, but then I guess they would not have their 190 days.

at least the kids are old enough now to go to town with mates, or come home and chill whilst I'm out.

[EvilTwins]

We usually finish at about 1.30 but currently have a shit temporary Head who has decreed that we are closing to children at 11.30. Most of the staff think it's ridiculous. We're not even secretly happy. In the past, we've had activities week in the last week and then whole school fun sports on the last day, before assemblies/tutor group parties. We still have activities week this year, but the Head has said no sports on the last day, full uniform (they usually do sports kit - activities week is non-uniform) assemblies starting at 9 and tutors to arrange activities for the rest of the time then home at 11.30. Makes a mockery of even getting them in. Waste of time.

[Chez1975]

Absolutrly disgusting these comments.
Ch leave earlier.
Teachers and Ta stay till gone 3 to sort and tidy classroom

Complete last minute reports.

Also come in during the hols to prepare classroom on numerous occasions.

Also do planning during the hols.

Teachers and TAs totally underappreciated.
Unless you work in the school you have no idea at all about the complete and utter stress and pressure we are in.

[MusicToMyEars800]

My DCs Primary school finishes at 1:30 on Friday, I don't mind it. It's not a private school either.

[belgina]

I love inset days at the end of the holidays. In the past we have taken advantage of this and gone on holiday late August/early Sept, because it was quieter.

I don't mind the early finish at all, especially in secondary school. My kids go into town with their friends for a couple of hours & then take the bus home. We live rurally too, but public transport still works fine.

[FuckingHateRats]

In my area of Scotland, we finish at 12pm EVERY FRIDAY. It's bloody marvellous.

In our school, we stopped trying to do any real work on the Tues of the week before we finished up. We had six full days and two half days of walking miles, various films and arts and crafts, swapping classrooms and singing assemblies :)

[wonderstuff]

But if they finish at lunch they won't be registered for the afternoon? I'm pretty sure no one is getting any more or less teaching time. My mates in private sector broke up on Friday. I think that state schools represent good value for parents.

[Giddyaunt18]

I know, my DD's secondary does it too. Very annoying for many parents. Luckily we live in walking distance.

[MusicToMyEars800]

HateRats That sounds fab

[Giddyaunt18]

I am a TA in primary and we don't finish earlier so I'm not sure why secondary schools do.

[user1486071876]

OP they are your kids - surely an extra hour or two is not a major issue.

We have had your kids all year now it is over to you - enjoy!

[LazyDailyMailJournos]

I'm sure being a teacher is very stressful. So are many other jobs! But we don't get 6 weeks holiday

So go and train as a teacher then Jaxhog and enjoy the longer holidays. Or alternatively there's nothing to stop you from taking unpaid leave from your current employer/job, is there? As you are aware, I'm sure, that teachers are only paid for 195 days service - so they aren't paid for the long holidays. Their salaries are simply split by 12 payments to make things easier for budgeting.

[Foxedme]

Mean HT of last Primary school I worked at wouldn't let us leave until the proper end of the day. When the kids left at 1 we then started prepping for the next term. Stripping or replacing backing paper, labelling books, planning, etc.

[yolofish]

The secondary school my youngest has just left after A levels has them in on Friday. They are doing a 'trek' round the village/woods and then having a funfair on school grounds. I think that's bloody brilliant! Staff will still be working hard, but I think it's such a lovely thing to do, and a great way to cement relationships between staff and pupils.

[Giddyaunt18]

Have to chime in with those supporting teachers. The teacher I work with is up working until 1 am most nights, doesn't leave school until 6 and works in the holidays . It is not cushy at all!

[NotYoda]

Seriously

Just F off with your end-of-term slag-fests

[user1486071876]

I'm sure being a teacher is very stressful. So are many other jobs! But we don't get 6 weeks holiday

to be fair nor do teachers!

I have missed my daughter graduation due to teaching and not being able to get time off work (from teaching your children), I have missed all sports days, assemblies, leavers parties etc as I have been teaching other peoples children - no worries it is my job but please do not give me the teachers dont do any work spend all time trying to annoy the parents, deliberately try to teach less by finishing 2 hours early etc .

[PinkFondantFancy]

It's a complete pain for working parents. Means I have to have a day off work but also have to do the school run. Total pain. At least if it was a whole day off I could take the kids out for the day!

[Ellapaella]

Can't see why it's an issue for anyone - it's great for the kids to leave a little early and I expect the teachers could do with the time to tie up loose ends etc before the new term starts. I would imagine most kids at secondary school are perfectly capable of letting themselves back into the house after school or going back with friends so can't imagine it would even be a 'child care' issue for working parents.

[user1486071876]

Also just wondering what you are doing now? My family are at Silverstone (I couldn't go as I had to teach on Friday and had to be a at school fete this Saturday) but apart from Mn I am preparing for next weeks classes and will probably finish about 6.00 having started at 9.00 this morning

[HemanOrSheRa]

DS's school finishes on Friday at 12.05pm precisely. Honestly, I can't think of anything worse than trying to contain the excitement of a secondary school full of kids waiting for the holidays to start .

[doingfuckall]

I've NCed for this.

I teach in Australia and for the whole last week of the summer term, the pupils will be "given something to do" if they attend school. No-one turns up. Ever. No parent complains. Ever.

It's different in primary, though I have no idea what they get up to.

Aussie teachers are amazed when I say that UK schools teach until the p.m. registration of the last day. :o