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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Whole class teacher gifts

62 replies

NowWhatt · 20/07/2023 11:38

I’m just wondering how common it is to do a whole class gift?

in my multi academy trust we’re not allowed to accept gifts over £30 so would have to politely decline the “class gift” if it was over this amount.

for those of you who have done a whole class gift did you check the schools policy first?

YABU - we do a whole class gift
YANBU - individual gifts only

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 20/07/2023 11:39

Do you really want the crap that most teachers get? Personally I'd take the £30 and the rest can go into the school fund, or another local charity if allowed.

Pootles34 · 20/07/2023 11:45

I should think it should be allowed if it's from multiple parents surely? The policy will be to avoid favouritism, so this shouldn't be a problem here?

Original poster
NowWhatt · 20/07/2023 11:50

Sorry if I wasn’t clear. I didn’t mean monetary gifts, I meant physical gifts (or vouchers) with a value over £30. E.g a £75 hamper

the policy is a blanket policy so even if a gift cost £5 per person (in the example of the £75 hamper, it being from 15 people) we would still have to decline

OP posts:
Babybabybabyy · 20/07/2023 11:52

What a horrendous policy 😬 you work hard all year and it makes far more sense for people to chip in together

Evanna13 · 20/07/2023 11:55

I think whole class gifts are great, can understand the policy for individual gifts but should be reviewed for whole class gifts.

LuvSmallDogs · 20/07/2023 12:04

Never been at a school where parents organise a whole class gift. I just get my DC cards for their teachers anyway, I don't know the teachers, some of them certainly are NOT "Best Teacher Ever" and I CBA spaffing money on tat they probably won't use or like.

Qilin · 20/07/2023 12:09

NowWhatt · 20/07/2023 11:50

Sorry if I wasn’t clear. I didn’t mean monetary gifts, I meant physical gifts (or vouchers) with a value over £30. E.g a £75 hamper

the policy is a blanket policy so even if a gift cost £5 per person (in the example of the £75 hamper, it being from 15 people) we would still have to decline

I think your school needs to make this clear for parents/carers so they don't get caught out. Maybe an informal message via the class reps, etc.

liveforsummer · 20/07/2023 12:14

Surely you'd split the hamper among class team therefore the cost would be dispersed? How would anyone know what a halter had cost - perhaps someone won it in a raffle for example. Seems difficult to police if not given direct cash/voucher

PIeaseCreateAUsername · 20/07/2023 12:19

That's a ridiculous policy if from multiple parents. Thats not a £75 gift its a £5 gift from 15 parents.

Bakingdiva · 20/07/2023 12:21

We do whole class gifts, makes life a lot easier for parents - we just bung some money to one person and then they get vouchers for the staff. My kids do individual cards to their teachers separately.

ClaribelLowLieth · 20/07/2023 12:23

This makes no sense. What would you rather have - 30 'World's Best Teacher' mugs or a £300 John Lewis voucher?

Mummymn · 20/07/2023 12:29

Sometimes it's like you can't win isn't it. I am self employed and some customers are lovely and get us little presents for Xmas. Some of them are maybe £1 boxes of chocolates and some are a bit more. Never have I thought oh I wish they would all get together and get me a £75 voucher or something good..

This is not teacher bashing it's mumsnet teacher bashing. Every year I see these posts and it makes me feel so stressed about whether I'm buying something good enough.

weathervane1 · 20/07/2023 12:29

In the commercial world I've worked in, we had a similar policy re: gifts from suppliers or clients do ensure that the gift was under the amount to qualify for tax as a gift in kind.

mondaytosunday · 20/07/2023 12:56

We did this in junior school if someone could be bothered to do it. Usually a John Lewis voucher. If no one has we made fudge (or similar, one year peppermint creams dipped in chocolate, another home made chutney). Senior school it stopped.

Tiredalwaystired · 20/07/2023 13:07

We donated books to the class library as a group gift one year (the local independent bookshop gave us a discount). And then added a small teacher gift.

Original poster
NowWhatt · 20/07/2023 17:07

I’ve done a quick google and it seems that quite a few multi academy trusts have similar policies.

has anyone (teachers) ever been in the position of having to refuse a gift?

OP posts:
Talapia · 20/07/2023 17:09

NowWhatt · 20/07/2023 11:38

I’m just wondering how common it is to do a whole class gift?

in my multi academy trust we’re not allowed to accept gifts over £30 so would have to politely decline the “class gift” if it was over this amount.

for those of you who have done a whole class gift did you check the schools policy first?

YABU - we do a whole class gift
YANBU - individual gifts only

We have to declare and are then told if we can accept.

TotalllyTireddd · 20/07/2023 17:12

Whole class gifts drive me bananas! Don't know why :)!! I know it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things! I opted out this year, but according to WhatsApp class group, our teacher has a pot in excess of £250 already, and counting!! ...

(If I was a teacher, I'd prefer Billy's half eaten apple and a home made picture from Jemima 😀 but that's just me!)

Crinklycut · 20/07/2023 17:14

I wouldn’t want the big gift as a teacher. Teaching assistants should get the ‘whole class’ gift / collection, however. Their pay is appalling.

Gymmum82 · 20/07/2023 17:14

What an awful policy. We do whole class gifts and have done since reception. The teacher usually gets about £200 in vouchers. We figure that’s much better than 30 bottles of wine and candles.
Our school is becoming an academy so I hope those rules don’t change. Class gifts are much easier for parents too and teachers deserve a treat

SleepingStandingUp · 20/07/2023 17:16

NowWhatt · 20/07/2023 11:50

Sorry if I wasn’t clear. I didn’t mean monetary gifts, I meant physical gifts (or vouchers) with a value over £30. E.g a £75 hamper

the policy is a blanket policy so even if a gift cost £5 per person (in the example of the £75 hamper, it being from 15 people) we would still have to decline

What if it's wrapped up? What if the price isn't clear? Do you honestly have to ask each parent how much they've spent on you?

Oysterbabe · 20/07/2023 17:17

We do whole class gift and the school is fine with it. The main teacher usually gets a £200 voucher at Christmas and summer and a few bits and bobs.

frecklejuice · 20/07/2023 17:19

We do a whole class gift, this year it was £200 Amazon voucher for the teacher and £50 each for the two TA's.

stayathomer · 20/07/2023 17:19

We did a whole class gift this year, only problem was it was the last year my children would have the most amazing teacher and they'd all had her so I had planned on getting her something special. I got a load of messages after saying some of the children had seen my child give the teacher a gift bag and wondering why I'd contributed to the class gift but also given a gift. Parents can be terrifying!!

theresnolimits · 20/07/2023 17:21

I wish the whole teacher gift thing was banned. It puts unfair pressure on parents and most teachers I know would rather have cordial and supportive relationships all year rather than a box of chocs and a card at the end of term.

It’s a professional job for which teachers are paid. It all feels vaguely patronising and I wonder if it were a predominantly make workforce whether it would still happen.