It has been another tough year in education, and the Christmas holidays will be a relief to teachers, support staff and leaders who, I know, are feeling exhausted and battered.

The past 12 months may not have been as tumultuous as the previous two years of Covid restrictions and related disruption.

But, by any measure, 2022 has been extremely challenging as schools and colleges have managed the transition to life after the pandemic, while facing the pressure of spiralling inflation and its impact on pay, funding and their disadvantaged pupils.

Listen to the Bard

Now, there’s a Christmas break ahead when, if you’re lucky, you can reclaim some space and time to reacquaint yourself with family and friends, and briefly rekindle that sense of who you are when you’re not dominated by work mode.

And I hope you’ll grab some time to reflect. Here is Shakespeare’s advice:

“In winter’s tedious nights sit by the fire

With good old folks and let them tell thee tales.”

(Richard II, Act 5, Scene 1)

And even though I hope your nights aren’t too tedious, I think it is worth reminding the people who work in our schools and colleges of your remarkable achievements of the past year.

Overcoming endless obstacles

After all, this time last year the English lexicon acquired a new word: “Omicron”.

It led to an inauspicious start to 2022, with the reintroduction of face coverings in classrooms for students in Year 7 and above in light of this new variant surge of Covid-19.

Schools and colleges have done a remarkable job since those still-anxious times in returning an increasing sense of normality.

Twelve months later, there are still challenges in terms of attendance, catch-up and behaviour, but school routines have been re-established thanks to the dedication and tireless work of educators.

Schools and colleges did a fantastic job, too, in preparing students for the first set of public examinations at key stages 4 and 5, and key stage 2 tests, since 2019.

They supported stressed and anxious young people brilliantly and managed an exam series that went remarkably smoothly.

This has enabled young people whose education has been disrupted by two years of pandemic restrictions to progress with confidence to secondary schools, post-16 courses, higher education and apprenticeships.

Leaders and teachers, along with parents and governors, also made a strong and principled case for an improvement in education funding and their efforts led to the government acting in the Autumn Statement with more investment in schools next year and the year after.

There are still problems, of course - including the lack of anything extra for post-16 and the huge pressure on special educational needs provision - but it is a step in the right direction.

The ed-sec merry-go-round

There was a crucial recognition in the Autumn Statement that education is not only a moral imperative, but also vital to economic growth.

You achieved all this against a backdrop of political mayhem.

Indeed, if things begin to drag over the Christmas season, you might want to inject a bit of fun by challenging your guests to name the five education secretaries of the past year (answer: Nadhim Zahawi, Michelle Donelan, James Cleverly, Kit Malthouse and Gillian Keegan).

Now it’s time for a break. And whatever your role and wherever you work, you’re going to need it. Because 2023 is already shaping up to be a bruising one.

But you know what bruising years feel like. You’ve not only survived them, but you’ve done something more.

With quietly unspoken integrity you’ve led young people, staff and communities through the biggest period of national crisis our generation has lived through.

You’ve been un-thanked beacons of optimism. Now you need to get a break. Happy Christmas.

Geoff Barton is the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders