ATL

Poll: Teachers reveal embarrassment at end-of-term gifts

05 December 2011

One-in-ten teachers have admitted to feeling 'awkward' when given end of year presents from their pupils, a recent survey by Teacher Support Network and Teacher Support Cymru has found.

Of those teachers taking part in the survey, nine per cent said they feel 'embarassed', particularly if their students are from low income families.

The Teacher Support survey, which was conducted among e-newsletter respondents, discovered that eight out of ten teachers are given gifts from their students at the end of term.

Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) revealed that they received gifts two or three times across the school year.

One teacher who responded to the poll said: "It is only in the last two or three years that I have received quite so many presents. A card with a nice message would be plenty"

Research conducted by Debenhams last year claimed that the average amount a child's parents spend on a present for a teacher is £50. Some families spend upwards of £100 and even as much £300 if they have more than one child.