Works poorly after end of term (4)
I believe the answer is:
mill
'works' is the definition.
(mill is a kind of works)
'poorly after end of term' is the wordplay.
'poorly' becomes 'ill' (synonyms).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'end of' indicates one should take the final letters.
The final letter of 'term' is 'm'.
'ill' after 'm' is 'MILL'.
(Other definitions for mill that I've seen before include "Building in which grain is ground to flour" , "works on > race" , "Plant with facilities for manufacturing" , "Advocate of the utilitarian" , "Flour is produced here" .)