7th May 2024

A Teacher’s Guide to Resigning

Resigning can be exciting but daunting, and every teacher’s resignation journey is different. The resignation process can be complex for a number of reasons: notice periods, an emotional attachment to the job, or simply finding it difficult to find a new opportunity. 

Not only are you saying goodbye to a role, but you’re also saying goodbye to the students and colleagues that you have built relationships with. Every school is different, meaning that the prospect of finding a new role compounded with leaving your current position can often be overwhelming. 

Resignation processes within education are naturally different from other industries, they have rules and regulations in place to ensure that teachers don’t suddenly leave, which means that you must follow protocol to have a smooth resignation process.

We’ve put together a guide for teachers looking to resign, highlighting the necessary steps that they must take.

Registering with an agency and scoping roles

Before resigning, it’s important to look at what jobs are out there for you. Getting an understanding of the schools in your area, the salary you’re eligible for as well as additional benefits is critical food for thought before you even consider handing in a letter of resignation. A good agency will be able to look at options for you confidentially and give you advice on what the best roles are for your experience level. 

The outcome of this may be that you’re well qualified for many positions, or your research may show that you need to invest more in your professional development before moving. Leaving a role hastily can damage your career development, so get the facts (and figures) first before considering resignation. 

Finally, it’s also important to have tenure on your CV. Especially in the earlier stages of your career, focus on longevity and building your professional experience instead of hopping between schools.

Finding a role

Once you’ve found an opportunity, it’s important to find out their start dates and be able to communicate your notice period, too. Your notice period will be found in your contract of employment.

Most teachers will submit their resignations in the summer term, meaning that they can start new positions in September which is when the school year starts in the UK. To ensure that you can leave your job at the end of the summer term (August 31st) you will need to submit your resignation no later than 31st May. 

If you want to leave your post at the end of the spring term, you will have to give notice by 28th February. If you want to resign at the end of the autumn term, your letter has to go in by the 31st of October.

In essence, the key dates revolve around term end dates, giving you the opportunity to provide enough notice and wrap up your lessons for that term before moving into a new position.

Once you have found a role and communicated this, you can submit your resignation letter and sign your contract providing you aren’t submitting your resignation beyond the cutoff dates provided.

You can also find out from your school what the cutoff dates are, in case they have slightly different ones. 

How to structure your resignation letter

Contrary to popular belief, your resignation letter doesn’t need to be a rendition of War and Peace! Instead, you want to keep it short and sweet. 

Detail your last date of employment, the school you’ll be going to and the position you’ll be taking. Make sure to thank your Headteacher and the rest of the staff, and you’re good to go. It is good practice to give this letter to the Headteacher, or if you’d prefer, send an e-mail so there is a digital record.

You’re good to go!

Now you’ve done all of the heavy lifting, paperwork, and interviewing, you can see out the rest of the term, say your goodbyes, and get excited about your new role. It’s important to leave on a good note with your current school, and nurture those relationships, as they will still be crucial for your long-term professional development and networking opportunities.

Want help with finding a new teaching role? Let’s get you started… register your details here and one of our team will be in touch!