​If you are a teacher and have been thinking about leaving your teaching job and making a move this summer, today is the day that matters. 31 May is the annual teacher resignation deadline for the summer term, which means if you want to leave at the end of August, this is your last chance to hand in notice and do it properly.

It is a date that comes around every year and catches more teachers out than it should. Life in school is busy, the second half of the summer term is relentless, and it is easy to let the deadline creep up on you. But missing it means you are contractually committed until at least the end of the autumn term in December. That is another six months, and for many teachers in the right mindset for a change, that feels like a long time to wait.

So if today is your day, here is everything you need to know.

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Why the 31 May Deadline Exists

Teaching in England and Wales operates under the Burgundy Book conditions of service, which sets out the nationally agreed terms for teachers in maintained schools. The structure exists because schools recruit around term cycles. Senior leaders and governors need time to advertise, shortlist, interview and appoint before the start of September, which is why the resignation deadline sits at the end of May for summer leavers.

The standard notice periods under the Burgundy Book are two months for classroom teachers leaving at Christmas or Easter, and three months for those leaving at the end of the summer term. That puts the summer deadline slightly later in the year proportionally, which can catch people off guard if they assume it mirrors the others.

For headteachers and members of the senior leadership team, the notice periods are longer. Senior leaders leaving at the end of the summer term typically need to give four months' notice, meaning their deadline falls around 30 April. If you are in a leadership role and have already missed that window, the Christmas term is your next realistic leaving point.

One important caveat worth repeating: not every school follows the Burgundy Book. Academies operate outside local authority control and can set their own contracts, so always check your individual contract before assuming the standard deadlines apply. Many academies mirror the Burgundy Book structure, but some do not.

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The Right Way to Hand In Your Notice

Resigning from a teaching job is not as simple as sending a quick email to your line manager. Done well, it protects your professional reputation, maintains relationships and sets you up for a strong reference. Done badly, it can make a difficult situation worse.

Check your contract first. Before you do anything, confirm the exact notice period you are required to give. Your contract will specify who the letter should be addressed to and how it needs to be submitted. Most schools require written notice addressed to the headteacher, but some have specific HR processes. Do not assume.

Address your resignation to the headteacher. In the majority of schools, your formal resignation should be directed to the headteacher, even if your day-to-day line manager is a head of department or assistant head. The headteacher is the person legally responsible for accepting your resignation.

Submit it in writing. A verbal conversation with your line manager does not constitute a formal resignation. Your notice needs to be submitted in writing, whether that is a physical letter, an email, or both. The NASUWT strongly advises retaining evidence that your resignation was sent by the relevant date, such as a read receipt on an email or a copy of any letter handed in. This matters if there is any future dispute about the date your notice was received.

Get the tone right. Even if you are leaving because you are exhausted, frustrated, or ready for something completely different, your resignation letter is not the place to air grievances. A clear, professional, and warm letter does several things for you: it maintains the relationship with your headteacher, protects your reference, and reflects well on you professionally. You will want a strong reference from this role, and the impression you leave matters.

Have a conversation before you send the letter. Ideally, your headteacher should hear that you are leaving from you directly before the formal letter lands. A brief, professional conversation, even if it is just to say you are moving on and that you will be putting it in writing today, is a small act of courtesy that goes a long way. In most schools, these professional relationships are smaller and more personal than in other sectors.

Keep it simple. Your resignation letter does not need to be long. A clear statement of your intention to resign, your leaving date, and a sentence or two expressing genuine thanks for the opportunity is entirely sufficient. You do not need to justify your reasons in detail or write at length about where you are going.

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What Happens After You Hand In Your Notice

Once your resignation is formally accepted, the school will begin its recruitment process. You may be asked to assist with the handover, contribute to end-of-year reporting, and attend meetings about your replacement or the transition for your classes. Most teachers find this period manageable if the relationship with leadership has been handled well.

You will continue to be paid through to 31 August, even though the summer holidays begin earlier than that. Your employment is contractually active until the end of the term, and you remain bound by your contract throughout the holiday period.

If your school asks whether you would consider staying, be ready for that conversation. A counteroffer or a change of role is sometimes on the table. Go in knowing what you actually want.

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Now You Know How to Hand It In, What About the Letter Itself?

Knowing the process is one thing. Sitting down and writing the letter is another, especially if you have been in the same school for years or if the decision has not been entirely straightforward emotionally.

Our next blog will walk you through exactly how to write a teacher resignation letter that is professional, warm and gets the tone exactly right. We will cover structure, what to include, what to leave out, and how to sign off in a way that leaves the door open rather than closing it behind you.
Click Here to read our next blog - How to write a teacher resignation letter.

If you are ready to take that next step in your career and want to explore what is out there in the Midlands and beyond, Link3 Recruitment is here to help.

Get in touch with the Link3 Recruitment team today. Visit: www.link3recruitment.co.uk | Call: 0115 6972550