During your teaching career there will be times when you find yourself contemplating on whether your current position is still right for you. If you do decide to move on, then you must do so in a responsible manner because resigning from a teaching role is very different to resigning from most other jobs.

First and foremost, there should be minimal disruption to pupils’ education, secondly the school will need enough time to find a replacement and bring them up to speed, and lastly you are not just saying goodbye to an office full of colleagues; you’re saying goodbye to classes of young people (and their parents).

If you find yourself in this position, be sure to know how much notice to give and when, and how to follow the correct process.

What is a teacher resignation day?

There are many reasons why a teacher may want to leave their post and hand in their resignation. It could be from finding a more lucrative opportunity, to relocating, or even difficulties with the job itself. Whatever the reason, it should be handled responsibly in order for the school to make arrangements to minimise disruption to the pupils education.

Teacher resignation dates are the deadlines for handing in your notice if you wish to leave that post, these occur three times per school year. For schools, it helps to anticipate their future staffing needs early enough to secure cover. For teachers, it’s a framework for planning their next career move.

What are the teacher resignation dates?

Teacher resignation dates are the official dates that you can leave your teaching position.

Teachers are restricted to particular conditions of service that are contained in the Burgundy Book, which specifies dates teachers can resign, notice periods as well as influencing teachers pay and conditions.

Generally, teachers are expected to leave their posts at the end of one of the three school terms . The dates of the three English school terms run from the following dates:

• Autumn Term:  1 September to 31 December
• Spring Term:    1 January to 30 April
• Summer Term: 1 May to 31 August

Teachers planning to leave their current positions should hand in their notice by the below dates.

• Autumn Term:  to leave at 31 December (Christmas), give notice no later than 31 October
• Spring Term:    to leave at 30 April (Easter), give notice no later than 28/29 February
• Summer Term: to leave at 31 August (end of the school year), give notice no later than 31 May

They are required to provide two months’ notice, so to leave on the previous dates the deadline for notice is respectively the 31st October, 28th/29th February and 31st May. Teachers who provide their notice for resignation during these dates have the right to leave their posts on the dates previously mentioned.

They’ll need enough time to find a replacement or supply teacher and for you to debrief the new teacher with the areas you have covered in the curriculum.

Senior Teacher and Headteacher notice period

If you are a senior teacher or headteacher, your notice period will be a bit longer and will vary depending on the term in which you intend to leave. Headteachers need to hand their resignation earlier, giving schools plenty of time to recruit a suitable replacement and perform a successful handover.

• Autumn Term:  to leave at 31 December (Christmas), give notice by 30 September (three months’ notice)
• Spring Term:    to leave at 30 April (Easter), give notice no later than 31 January (three months’ notice)
• Summer Term: to leave at 31 August (end of the school year), give notice no later than 20th April (four months’ notice)

So, before you start looking for a new position or arranging interviews, make sure you know how much notice teachers have to give and how to follow the correct procedure. 

It is vital to check with your individual school before making firm plans. Due to the fluctuation in school term dates across the UK, your notice periods and teacher resignation dates can vary depending on the school you work in, and how long you have been in your position.

How to resign from a teaching post

Once you have decided on resigning, you need to notify the school administrators and the Headteacher with a notice of resignation. A notice of resignation should always be provided in writing. Follow our guide on how to make sure you get your letter of resignation right.

Pay during notice

You can expect pay up to the last day of the current school terms, including holidays as long as you’ve provided appropriate notice for your absence.

Leaving without giving notice

There may be a reason where a teacher has to resign from their post without the correct notice. A sudden change in circumstances can happen and if you discuss the situation with your employer, they may be understanding and it’s possible to work out a new arrangement.

However, it’s worth being aware that resigning without giving appropriate notice is a breach of contract, which will not only lead to you receiving a bad reference, making it more difficult for you to find another position, but legal action could be taken by the school.

Always discuss your reasons for wanting to leave with your headteacher before quitting without notice, as they may be open to discussion. If you feel you are not able to discuss the issue with the school, but you need to leave, you can also contact your union for more advice.

For more support, advice and information regarding employment-related issues visit

NEU - https://neu.org.uk/advice/notice-periods

NASUWT - https://www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/conditions-of-service/resigning-from-your-job.html

We’re here to help and support you

It can be nerve wrecking to hand in your notice. You’ll probably wonder if you’re doing the right thing, or worried if you’ll find a new job. Don’t be. Handing in your notice is just the first step towards an exciting career move, there are many more things to do after resigning from a teaching job. 

At TLTP Education, all our consultants are trained to support you and your career decisions every step of the way. Pick up the phone and call 020 8709 6540 and have a chat with one of our friendly team, or start your journey by registering here https://www.tltp.co.uk/user/registration.