Worst part of the year ending? Students buying me presents

As we approach the final month of the school year in primaries, and with secondaries about to change over their timetables, thoughts from children and parents start to drift towards who their teacher or teachers may be next session.

This can be an exciting and daunting time for children and parents (and teachers too). In the vast majority of cases, children will change to a new teacher for the next year. This is usually celebrated rather than mourned, as even though a child may have had an amazing experience with their teacher over the course of a school year, the idea of a fresh face to see every day is in most cases quite appealing by the time you get to June.

Parents and children may wish to mark this by giving a gift. A thank you and show of appreciation for the hard work the parent/child thinks that the teacher has put in to help them and/or their class. This seems innocent enough, however recently more and more schools near me have asked parents/carers not to provide end of year gifts for their teachers. The longer I work in education, the more I am starting to come round to an all-out ban on parental/child gifts to teachers, though like everything in education it is a more nuanced issue than it first seems.

In my own school, gifts are usually very modest and often come directly from the children. I’ve had handmade items, home baking or a chocolate bar, as well as small trinkets like a toy car they had at home that they wanted me to have. These are the most wholesome and appreciated gifts.

My school is in an area of high deprivation, so I am quite relieved I don’t receive too lavish a gift. The bottle or two of beer I sometimes get has always been appreciated, although the council is trying to take steps to remove this as an option which I can understand.

Read more:

Secret Teacher | School trips aren't easy but they mean much more than a trip

Supermarkets and card shops must make a killing in the month of June selling the same branded ‘World’s Greatest Teacher’ range, where you can get anything from a pen, diary and of course a mug with this message written across it (you wouldn’t believe how many of the world’s greatest teachers have worked in my staffroom going by the mug cupboard).

My favourite present given to a teacher in my school was a small plastic plant from this range with the phrase: “Thanks for helping me grow!” written across the pot. The irony of which must have escaped the manufacturer.

Schools understand the financial pressure parents/carers are under. Teachers are also humans and have their own rent/mortgage/bills/shopping to pay for. As genuinely appreciative of these gifts as I am, part of me always cringes and feels guilty for accepting anything that money has been spent on.

While gifts at my school are thankfully quite low-key, friends who work in other schools tell me of taking home 15+ bottles of wine in their car, lavish personalised hampers and Amazon gift cards. This would be my nightmare.

Children and parents talk and can see these items being handed over to the teacher in the playground. I can’t help but feel there must be a significant amount of pressure put on some parents to replicate or one-up each other.

I’ve heard of some schools where the parents club together to get one larger gift for the teacher. Again, I’m not sure this is a solution, as from my experience in staff rooms everyone clubbing in for a gift brings its own pressures. Another problem is sometimes a child is taught by a few different members of staff. This can make gift giving slightly awkward as well as increasing the cost for families.

Sign up for The Secret Teacher and learn what teachers really think.

In the age of a cost-of-living crisis and trying to limit the cost of the school day, I can completely understand why some schools are putting out a blanket ‘no gifts’ rule. It doesn’t sit perfectly with me as no teacher wants to tell someone how to spend their money, but due to the other factors it is probably the most sensible decision for all parties.

As much as I’ll miss my annual supply of chocolates that lasts me till Christmas.