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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:
Original poster
Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 18:46

Yes, I believe that @KimmyKimdoo but what I am pointing out is that you do have a lunch, even though it might not be the same as the children’s.

You aren’t teaching the other five periods, in other words.

OP posts:
hedgehogger1 · 04/02/2022 18:48

@KimmyKimdoo

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.
I bet you're not teaching a full day too! Teachers shouldn't be losing out on lunch. It concerns me you can't see the problem
autienotnaughty · 04/02/2022 18:49

I would set up at start of lunch. Take lunch somewhere else. Return 2pm.

KimmyKimdoo · 04/02/2022 18:51

@Chickenavocadobacon no I really don’t have a lunch at all. Today during the 5 periods I taught two lessons, had a line management meeting with a HOD during another period, attended a meeting with other members of SLT plus some external visitors in another period and presented to our Trust on a whole school strategy in the other period. I then had duties in every “break” and between lessons I was on corridors herding students to classes. At the end of the day, after duty, I was straight on a conference call with another SLT in a sister school.

I really truly honestly don’t have a lunch time and that’s not uncommon. None of the other SLT in my school take a lunch either.

This isn’t a race to the bottom though, I’m just providing wider context that in schools this isn’t uncommon. However, I would suggest you chat to your SLT because if one of our teachers mentioned that to me, I’d go out of my way to ensure they got the time they wanted. I really wouldn’t want you to feel short changed.

Original poster
Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 18:52

You are entitled to a lunch break, you really should know this.

OP posts:
Zaccat1 · 04/02/2022 18:54

It’s the same at my school. Lunch is now typically 20 minutes. Staff no longer have time to go to the staff room depending on their location in the building.
Additionally pupils start the day at 8.50 but are at the classroom door at 8.38!

booplefloof · 04/02/2022 18:55

I am a teacher and lunch breaks are definitely in theory only.
Try what we may.
It would be great to have a much needed opportunity to recharge though.

YANBU

cherrytopcake · 04/02/2022 18:55

I'd raise it. This is the sort of stuff that eats away at you over time.

cherrytopcake · 04/02/2022 18:56

@Chickenavocadobacon

I know *@ShallWeTalkAboutBruno* but I’m fairly sure we will just be told to make them wait. The problem is it is a big school so for students on the other side of the building I guess they do need that time. Just a pain for those of us right next to the playground!
Then get duty staff to start rounding up the students furthest away first. Common sense no ?
Suprima · 04/02/2022 19:00

@KimmyKimdoo

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.
Don’t be such a martyr. You are entitled to a lunch break and you know it- whenever that may be. If you choose not to take it, that’s on you.

I’m also school leadership and I hope you aren’t spouting this race to the absolute bottom in your school? Not great for morale.

Original poster
Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 19:02

Same @Zaccat1, it’s so annoying! I’ve told mine to sod off (MUCH more nicely, obviously, but we have to register in another part of the building and I’m not traipsing up there twenty minutes early!)

@cherrytopcake, I feel you are awarding me far more power than I actually have!

OP posts:
GivenchyDahhling · 04/02/2022 19:02

The longer I taught the grumpier I got about things like this. To the point that I would sit in my office until the absolute last minute; never late but definitely never early. Every last minute is bled out of us as it is.

KimmyKimdoo · 04/02/2022 19:03

@Suprima I actually don’t get a lunch break, I don’t know how else to say that really?! It’s just the reality of our day. We do take food on duty with us usually. I said in my post that it wasn’t a race to the bottom, I’m just saying it’s not uncommon in schools (not saying that’s right or wrong really), just offering my own personal experience. I also suggested she speak to her SLT.

Sideswiped · 04/02/2022 19:04

@KimmyKimdoo, it's not right that you apparently don't have a lunch break - anyone should.
Can you not see that an 'ordinary' teacher (for want if a better expression) is paid far less than you and has far more teaching hours (and therefore more preparation to do), is pissed off that they can't enjoy the few precious minutes that they have in peace?

Original poster
Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 19:08

This is DEFINITELY happening to me, @GivenchyDahhling Grin

@KimmyKimdoo but you know that as SLT there’s generally more flexibility about your day than a classroom teacher, and I used to be on SLT myself.

OP posts:
eeek88 · 04/02/2022 19:08

Same thing happened at my school. I sent the kids back out, locked the door and went to SLT to explain what I’d done. Then remained absent from my classroom until the actual end of break. Didn’t happen again for several years until lunchtime supervisor staff had changed and the new ones thought they’d try it. I did the same thing and the problem stopped. It seems this is a universal problem!

KimmyKimdoo · 04/02/2022 19:08

@Sideswiped paid less than me is probably right.. far more preparation is definitely not - although they will be preparing and marking more lessons, I do different work. I do support teachers needing a lunch break and suggested multiple times that OP should speak to her SLT as I pointed out that I’d go out of my way to support staff if they were upset with something similar in my school. I was just sharing my experience too.

eeek88 · 04/02/2022 19:11

I wasn’t rude to the kids either, I said, ‘oh dear, poor you, you’ve had your break cut short by 6 minutes, let me go and sort this out.’

diddl · 04/02/2022 19:15

@KimmyKimdoo

“ 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.

Well I also have no idea as we were expected to shift for ourselves.

Plus woe betide you if you were being noisy outside a classroom whilst waiting to be let in!

5foot5 · 04/02/2022 19:18

YANBU. But wow I am shocked at how short lunch breaks are these days.

When I was at school we had more than an hour, about 1hr 15m I think. Certainly enough time to eat a 2 course lunch and take part in various activities, e.g. Choir practise, house matches before lessons started again. Of course we were at school until 4pm

These days there seems to be an unreasonably short time for lunch but the school day stops shortly after 3pm. Why is thus? Does anyone know when and why this changed?

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 04/02/2022 19:18

@5foot5

YANBU. But wow I am shocked at how short lunch breaks are these days.

When I was at school we had more than an hour, about 1hr 15m I think. Certainly enough time to eat a 2 course lunch and take part in various activities, e.g. Choir practise, house matches before lessons started again. Of course we were at school until 4pm

These days there seems to be an unreasonably short time for lunch but the school day stops shortly after 3pm. Why is thus? Does anyone know when and why this changed?

Private school?
WorriedGiraffe · 04/02/2022 19:21

I’d just make .50 the time I leave the room and go to the bathroom, arrive back when you are ready. Or eat lunch somewhere else. Honestly I can see why it’s annoying but I do think expecting to be able to ‘relax’ with no kids poking their heads round, whilst in the classroom for the full 30 minutes in a school is just plain unrealistic. Doesn’t make it any less annoying though I guess.

Pumperthepumper · 04/02/2022 19:23

Vote with your feet and send them back down.

Spiderysummer · 04/02/2022 19:25

I knew you would be a teacher! Annoys me too, children are collected from my class by a lunchtime supervisor who will be a minimum of 5 minutes late. We are expected to collect them 5 minutes before the end of lunch as they need to have had the register done by end of lunch. Always liked to try and set up and mark books during my lunch, so still not much of a break but time keeps being eroded.

Original poster
Chickenavocadobacon · 04/02/2022 19:28

You’re probably right @WorriedGiraffe but it is annoying. I just want a bit of time when I’m not ‘on’! I’m sure this is why I’m shattered all the time.

OP posts: