Teacher end of year gift?

[Bluepeach]

My S6 child is deliberating whether or not to buy their teachers (5 of them) an end of year/end of school gift. Is that common practice? Essentially, I think they want to but aren't sure if it would seem odd or not. Personally, I think it's a nice gesture. Wondering what others think?

It is a nice gesture, particularly if their year is the last year at that school.

Every school from primary onwards has co-ordinated gifts for the class teacher. One school allocated each class several members of staff so we got gifts for the maintenance and kitchen staff as well. The teachers at our school get gifts from the class every term. It's a class funded gift, usually a few small things or a gift voucher so individual children/ parents do not give gifts as well so it takes this pressure off.

So yes I think it is common practice.

DS bought flowers for the two teachers he felt had really supported him and he had a close relationship with.

In S6 it is a lovely touch from the pupil but totally different to primary schools, much more individual imo.

If your DD wants to, that would be so well received. Very thoughtful.

I occasionally get gifts from Higher or Advanced Higher pupils. It's not something I encourage (unlike some colleagues!) as I feel I work hard with all my students and I'm paid well for that but I do appreciate the thought. What I really like is a card. I keep those and refer back to them when (teaching) life seems bleak.

I asked ds at the time and he was not aware of anyone giving gifts to teachers at the end of S6, if they did they did it very discretely.

He did, with a bit of encouragement write a short email to the head teacher calling out and thanking a couple of exceptional/inspiring teachers he had during his whole time in secondary and saying why.

The teachers he mentioned were S3-S5 Physics teacher and S4 Maths teacher who he was gutted not to get in S5 for Higher as she went on maternity leave! Also his S4 English teacher, his most hated and weakest subject, but he got him an A at NAT5 and he credits him with his A at Higher too (he barely met his S5 English teacher - due to covid and illness).

Teacher. It's not something that happens a lot, but it's lovely - not the gift so much but the thought. Cards especially with nice words - I keep all of those. Could also get a card and get the whole class to sign it. If giving personally, no need to do it in class should be easy to saucy the teacher in the morning etc.

Yes, it's pretty common and it would be a nice gesture either way. It could be flowers, tea gift sets, something personalized like custom planners or sticky notes holders etc. Kids can make handwritten cards or draw something, my friend is a teacher and she appreciates cards and drawings a lot!

Do S6 pupils (17-18 year olds!) still do drawings? Would be amazing if they did.

Maybe if they taking higher art.....

Well the odd cock-and-balls perhaps.

😂

Ds1 and ds2 both gave gifts and cards to their music teacher, who really went “above and beyond” for them. Throughout secondary ds3 has given gifts to various teachers, nothing big, just fancy sticky notes, chocolates, nice note books, it’s his kind of thing. He will definitely be giving a couple of advanced Higher teachers something when he leaves in the summer.