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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up of having 5 minutes of my lunch lost every day?

250 replies

Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 17:23

This isn’t a massive big deal or anything but I’m wondering if others think it’s worth raising.

I’m a teacher in a secondary school. We have 30 minutes for lunch.

The duty staff start rounding the kids up quite early and sending them in - so those of us who teach on the ground floor have kids coming in early. I had kids at my door today at 1:52 (lesson starts at 2.)

I know I could make them wait outside but that is noisy and disruptive and they just keep asking when they can come in so not exactly relaxing.

AIBU to be a bit fed up? We have hardly any time for lunch as it is.

OP posts:
PumpkinPie2016 · 04/02/2022 17:54

Same at the secondary I work at. We get 30 mins, heads of year start sending kids in at just after 20 mins 'to get them all in on time' Hmm both staff and students having lunch cut short.

I am a head of department so on the senior team. We have raised it with the deputy head but nothing is changing.

I do break and lunch duty every day as part of the senior team but I generally have a free before or after whereas my poor mainscale staff can sometimes be doing a full day with 20 mins for lunch. Probably legal but not ideal!

Original poster
Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 17:55

Selfishly it’s good to see it isn’t just me, but like you say t is a bit exhausting when you’re teaching all day!

OP posts:
ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 04/02/2022 17:56

Exhausting for the kids too probably who aren’t left with long enough to eat and have a break.

PurplePinecone · 04/02/2022 17:59

I hate this too. I tend to wait in office until it's close to start of lesson.

Can you have your lunch in staff room /office?

GalaxyOnOrionsBelt · 04/02/2022 18:00

My kids hate this. They also feel short changed. Definitely raise it.

PotteringAlong · 04/02/2022 18:01

@Chickenavocadobacon if we’re not working at lunchtime then we rotate whose classroom we have lunch in (4 of us together) so they don’t know where to find us!

Original poster
Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 18:01

Could have lunch in our office but I like quiet at lunch after so much talking!

OP posts:
Fink · 04/02/2022 18:11

I'd spend the first part of my lunch break in the room and set up for the next class during that time, and then use the last few minutes as a toilet break, pick up photocopying etc. so you only arrive back at the classroom a couple of minutes before 2pm.

BoredZelda · 04/02/2022 18:12

glass doors are standard for safeguarding reasons, you can't cover the window.

Actually, glass doors are standard for building regulations regarding fire escape.

BoredZelda · 04/02/2022 18:14

Could have lunch in our office but I like quiet at lunch after so much talking!

Which is the choice you make. Why not have your quiet lunch then for the past ten minutes go out of the classroom.

Darbs76 · 04/02/2022 18:14

Can you eat in the staff room?

SeasonFinale · 04/02/2022 18:14

If the lesson is supposed to start at 2 I would expect them to be at their desks and ready to start at 2 though. why are you eating in your classroom and not going elsewhere such as the staffroom and then you will control the time you choose to arrive back.

maddening · 04/02/2022 18:17

Why are secondary students being rounded up? At school we just had a bell, it was our own responsibility to get to class.

But the teachers were also in their own staff room.

Sherrystrull · 04/02/2022 18:20

@Fink

I'd spend the first part of my lunch break in the room and set up for the next class during that time, and then use the last few minutes as a toilet break, pick up photocopying etc. so you only arrive back at the classroom a couple of minutes before 2pm.
This is what I do too! Works perfectly.
HelloDulling · 04/02/2022 18:20

*glass doors are standard for safeguarding reasons, you can't cover the window.

Actually, glass doors are standard for building regulations regarding fire escape.*

And they are also standard for safeguarding reasons in school.

Original poster
Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 18:25

@SeasonFinale - I just want quiet, to be honest. I’m not eating at 2, but I do want to have the time I’m allocated for lunch, that doesn’t mean every second will be eating!

I don’t think it’s reasonable to have eight minutes - nearly a third of my lunch time - shaved off because I choose to stay in my classroom.

OP posts:
jusdevache · 04/02/2022 18:30

@maddening

Why are secondary students being rounded up? At school we just had a bell, it was our own responsibility to get to class.

But the teachers were also in their own staff room.

^^ This! And yes it's ridiculous you don't get a full lunch break OP.
Foolsrule · 04/02/2022 18:30

Go and sit in your car for the lunch break? Return at 1:59?

Original poster
Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 18:33

The car park is miles from the main building - by the time I got to my car it would be time to come back in again! Grin

Plus I do like to set up for last lesson and be there, ready. 1:58, fair enough. But much before 1:55 does feel a bit unfair.

OP posts:
KimmyKimdoo · 04/02/2022 18:37

I’m SLT in a secondary school and I don’t get a single lunch time, I’m on duty every day through the entire lunch hour. Losing 5 minutes a day is hardly a big deal? That said, we don’t send ours in until the bell - maybe raise it with SLT and see what they say? I wouldn’t want to upset any member of staff over that.

KimmyKimdoo · 04/02/2022 18:39

“ Why are secondary students being rounded up? At school we just had a bell, it was our own responsibility to get to class.”

Wow you really have no idea.

Original poster
Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 18:41

It is a big deal when you only have thirty minutes a day, actually.

You are being a bit disingenuous “@KimmyKimdoo. You’re on duty during the kids lunch time, that doesn’t mean you have no lunch time at all.

OP posts:
KimmyKimdoo · 04/02/2022 18:43

@Chickenavocadobacon I’m actually being honest. I’m on duty before school, break, lunch’s and after school every single day and I don’t have a lunch time at all. I normally take some dinner to eat on duty. That’s really not an exaggeration at all, it’s reality.

FloBot7 · 04/02/2022 18:43

I've never really thought about it but when I was at secondary school they used to start ringing the bell 5 minutes before the end of lunch. Most of us went when it rang then the stragglers were rounded up. We had a full hour so it had less of an impact. Must still have been annoying for the teachers.

Valhalla17 · 04/02/2022 18:46

Put a sign on the door to say the classroom isn't open until 1.59?