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How can teachers get the most out of the Summer holidays?

After a demanding year, genuine rest is non-negotiable. Teachers learn an enormous amount in the first few years of their career – but one thing that a teacher must often discover for themselves is how best to utilise their time off.

The Summer holidays are an essential recovery period to prevent burnout, allowing teachers to start the next academic year refreshed. But exactly how teachers choose to recover – and when teachers re-engage with teaching once again – is very much an individual decision.

Unplug & prioritise your wellbeing

“The main thing that I’ve learned over the past three years is: give yourself a break,” said Tom, a teacher and Scholar who graduated from the first cohort of the FTS programme.

Tom went on to explain that whilst there is a temptation to plan for the whole first term over summer, plans are likely to change once you receive your classes and your timetable – and having six weeks off school feels much shorter than it actually is.

Organisations such as Education Support recommend setting boundaries: switch off email notifications, designate “worry time”, and keep a simple daily routine with at least one hobby session daily.

Plan – but leave plenty of downtime

Many teachers will use the last two weeks before Autumn term begins to get ready. This might include sorting your classroom, organising stationery, or even getting a head start on lesson planning.

For some, this can relieve stress in September and free up headspace during the first few weeks of term. Others may prefer to only spend a few days on these activities. The key? Structure any planning and preparations into a defined, limited block of time so that it doesn’t invade your thoughts during your downtime.

Choose one personal and one CPD activity

Once rested and prepared, engage in something enriching and inspiring. Teachers are lifelong learners, after all; even during their downtime, many still want to develop themselves in some way – whether or not directly connected to teaching.

Having a summer reading list is often a teacher essential, and it’s a great way to find an intersection between a hobby and a CPD activity. Here are some popular books amongst early career teachers:

  • ‘Love Triangle: The Life‑Changing Magic of Trigonometry’ by Matt Parker
  • ‘Running the Room: The Teacher’s Guide to Behaviour’ by Tom Bennett
  • ‘60-Second CPD: 239 Ideas for Busy Teachers’, by Hanna Beech and Ross Morrison McGill
  • ‘Leading Maths: The essential guide for new and aspiring maths leaders’ by Peter Mattock

Final thoughts

The Summer break is a gift for teachers – but only if you use it properly. It’s the time to catch your breath, recharge your batteries, and return with clarity and purpose. By planning a few early planning tasks (without sacrificing rest), and balancing your downtime with a dash of growth, you’ll enter the new academic year in September renewed, confident, and ready to inspire once again.