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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To worry about this as a teacher?

24 replies

Lis1992 · 20/12/2022 21:07

Hi all. So I’m sick today and was off work (secondary teacher) I’ve had two negative COVID tests and a lot of staff are sick too. People are tending to go to work if unwell, once they have a negative test. However I stayed off to avoid spreading any illness. Tomorrow is our last day before the end of term. I have a group of students who I didn’t see last week (as a student teacher was taking the class) The group did winter exams recently along with the rest of the school. (A full exam week) All students have seen their grade, they just haven’t got the paper back. The reason for this is I kept the exam paper itself to fill in feedback on their reports.

So I planned to give it back today, with individual feedback to all students and whole class feedback on marking scheme, but I was sick. Similarly I’m not sure I’ll be in tomorrow as I don’t know if I will feel better. I was awake all night coughing and have a constant runny nose. Would you be annoyed as a parent if your child didn’t have the paper back yet from a big school exam or happy with knowing the grade and having their report? Knowing the teacher will return the papers in the New Year. I’m anxious as it won’t be returned before Christmas and I hate letting things go on into January! So tell me would parents /students really care at this stage if I’m being ridiculous and overthinking in my sick state! Thank you.

OP posts:

Rotherweird · 20/12/2022 21:09

You are overthinking it! They’ve got the mark and will be far too excited about end of term and Xmas to take in feedback. Rest up and get well xx

Techno56 · 20/12/2022 21:10

I don't think you should worry about it.

These things always arrive eventually. My son has been left over the holidays without a mark or feedback and we don't really thing anything of it, these things happen, likewise he has spent ages revising for a test for it not to happen at the expected time and sometimes for a week or so afterwards. Just one of those things.

Just stay home and get better, no one will thank you for extra germs just before Christmas.

Cherryana · 20/12/2022 21:11

To be blunt and put your mind at rest - No one cares.

One student might go ‘op I thought I was getting it back today’. And that will be it. This holiday is too short and too full - no one is doing anything with your feedback.

Better to get it back in Jan when they can do something with the feedback immediately.

Original poster

Lis1992 · 20/12/2022 21:11

That’s so helpful guys. Really appreciate your feedback. I’m stressing about the possibility of not being able to attend work tomorrow, so that helped massively!

OP posts:

HyggeandTea · 20/12/2022 21:12

If they are Year 11, then yes, they need the paper back. My DS is getting ready for GCSEs and uses his marked test papers to identify areas to concentrate on.

Any other year, nope, no problem.

Fallulah · 20/12/2022 21:12

Secondary teacher here… no I wouldn’t worry. Unfortunately they only care about the grade.

My class had their grade for their mocks a couple of weeks ago but I’ve put off going through the paper and doing a feedback lesson because I know they will focus better in January.

BlackeyedSusan · 20/12/2022 21:12

I'd be more upset if y ou thought you had to crawl into work really sick.

CakeCrumbs44 · 20/12/2022 21:16

Realistically the kids aren't going to be going through their papers to find areas for revision during the Christmas holidays. It can wait until January :)

lanthanum · 20/12/2022 21:16

They'll understand. DD had quite a delay getting a test back recently due to teacher illness, but she wasn't bothered.

Hyggeandtea's DS (or a child like them) could always concentrate on the other subjects until next term, or use what you've said on their report as a starting point.

AppleKatie · 20/12/2022 21:17

Teacher here, they don’t care.

Kindly, is this your first year or are you an ECT? You need to breathe and be less worried about appearances or you will drive yourself mad.

The feedback in Jan when they are ready to hear it and act upon it is much more useful.

Winter789Mermaid · 20/12/2022 21:20

My DDs year 11 mocks were the last 2-wks and her school aren’t planning to give marks or feedback until Feb!! Probably explains why after 5yrs they are still a “needs improvement” School!
So I would rest up get well and do the feedback in January.

Reindear · 20/12/2022 21:21

HyggeandTea · 20/12/2022 21:12

If they are Year 11, then yes, they need the paper back. My DS is getting ready for GCSEs and uses his marked test papers to identify areas to concentrate on.

Any other year, nope, no problem.

I’m sure they’ll all be fine to wait 2 weeks

ForfuckssakeEXHstopbeingatwat · 20/12/2022 21:24

Another teacher here. It's fine. If they've been studying hard before Christmas they are absolutely not going to be hitting the books in the holidays, and even if they do, they can still do profitable work without specific feedback right this minute. Your head of dept should field any unlikely complaints.

Original poster

Lis1992 · 20/12/2022 21:26

meant to add the exams were end of November; however, as I was holding papers for reports, then the student teacher classes and the students were on a trip for two of the days too, I’ve barely seen the group.

OP posts:

Tallulasdancingshoes · 20/12/2022 21:28

Secondary head of department here - do not give this anymore thought. You’re not in so they can wait until January. It won’t make one bit of difference if they get it tomorrow or the first lesson back after Christmas.

Amoreena · 20/12/2022 21:28

I would be happy to get the grade and wouldn't think about when my dc got their paper back. January would be fine as then it would be fresher in their mind when they are more ready to learn than they would be if they were still at school now. Mine broke up last week and I don't know if they've had all their exams marked. I should get the report and parents eve in jan

GraceAnatomy · 20/12/2022 21:56

You sound like a lovely teacher, even when you're ill you're thinking of your students.

As a parent to S1 & S4 kids, I honestly would not think twice about it.

If its dwelling on your mind, perhaps the school office could email the year group on your behalf? That way it'll stop you thinking/worrying about potentially letting anyone down, the message will get to the students & their families that they will have their physical papers in the new year but unfortunately you are unwell and cannot distribute them because of this.

Get well soon.

Dello · 20/12/2022 21:57

Sorry but I think a cough / bad night sleep and runny nose is to be worked through.

BanjoVio · 20/12/2022 22:00

Tallulasdancingshoes · 20/12/2022 21:28

Another secondary HoD here. I agree with everything @Tallulasdancingshoes said. I’d be telling any of my staff to stay away, rest and get well soon. And parents will be more annoyed if you give their kids a horrible virus for Christmas.

ForfuckssakeEXHstopbeingatwat · 20/12/2022 22:02

@Dello even when that work involves standing up and making improvised speeches for 5 hours a day, whilst simultaneously observing and managing the behaviour of 30 teenagers, supervising a rowdy lunch queue and running a detention? It's a bit different to sitting at a desk replying to emails or having small group meetings with sympathetic adults.

walpnb · 20/12/2022 22:32

Dello · 20/12/2022 21:57

Sorry but I think a cough / bad night sleep and runny nose is to be worked through.

I did this three weeks ago as a secondary school teacher. Ended up with a chest infection, tonsillitis and shingles due to not taking time off when I should have done when I first became unwell. I was on the verge of being hospitalised when I finally went to see my GP for help - was it acceptable for me to have time off then? (Just checking for future reference 🙄.)

Dello · 20/12/2022 22:43

@walpnb being on the verge of hospitalisation would be a massive drip feed.
Plenty of other people have demanding jobs.
Standing in classrooms, talking, walking and working in a school for one day is not the type of work to suppress your immune system.

Its not logical to say a bad night sleep/runny nose will cause hospitalisation if you spend one day working. Human body does not work like that.

Cherryana · 20/12/2022 22:54

You see from the moment you enter the school until you finish - you don’t stop. There is no down time or even autonomy over your own time. It is energy draining on a good day.

If a non- teacher comments on this they are entitled to your opinion- however not all opinions have the same weighting when decision making. Those who know because they live it day in day out are saying rest and do not worry.

surreygirl1987 · 20/12/2022 23:39

I was ill recently. Had 2 days off, went back too early even though I was still unwell, then got much worse and had to have more time off. If you're ill, you're ill. Teaching is brutal.

I, like you, would worry about the exam papers though. What year group? I think it depends a bit on the context - do all the other classes have theirs back, and how long have they had them back for? Ny Year 11s have their mocks forst week back in January so that would be an issue for me, for instance. In most other circumstances it would be fine though, and nobody would even think to question it. I would probably have let them see them, to take notes on areas to improve, then taken them back for reports etc. I appreciate this doesn't help you much now. Can you get a colleague to collect on way to work if you're that worried and if it would put your mind at ease?

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