As the summer term draws to a close, parents across the country face a familiar ritual: the end-of-year teacher collection. But at one primary school in south-east London, the whip-round has spiralled to a total of £560 — to be split between the teacher and teaching assistants. That works out at more than £18 per child in a class of 30.
The figure, disclosed by a mother-of-two who did not want to be named, highlights the awkward financial etiquette that now surrounds what was once a simple gesture of thanks. “Sometimes you are asked to put money into someone’s bank account and there’s a lot of pressure there,” she told the BBC. “You can’t just put a few quid in or you’ll seem tight.” Her family, she added, “were not in an uncomfortable position” but still “feel the strain”.
“A London primary school teacher collection reached £560, leaving parents feeling pressured and divided over the right amount to give.”
On top of the class collection, she noted that June and July usually bring bake sales and ice cream sales to raise money for the school, as well as collections for leaving support staff or PTA members.
The issue has divided opinion on the parenting forum Mumsnet. One recent thread described the amounts demanded as “insane”, while another parent said they felt pressured to contribute, especially if a class “Queen Bee” was organising the collection. But others argued that a sizeable contribution is reasonable, pointing out that teachers are “woefully underpaid and undervalued”. Even if you are giving £10 each for three members of staff, they said, that costs the same as taking the family out for coffee and pastries.
Maya, another mother who also asked not to use her real name because of “the politics of it all”, has organised the collection at her children’s London school for the past few years. She believes a class collection is more affordable than individual presents, so parents agreed on a contribution of £5 per member of staff — a total of £15 per child for the teacher and two teaching assistants. She does note that in a year when the teacher “hasn’t been the best” the payouts have …
The sums involved, for some, have turned a straightforward thank-you into an organisational extravaganza, with class reps sending flurries of WhatsApp messages to drum up contributions, before deciding on flowers, spa days, wine or vouchers. For parents already budgeting for the summer holidays, the cost—and the social pressure—can leave a sour note at the end of the school year.