Question about notice period

[Twerking9to5]

I’m desperately unhappy at current school and want to hand in notice. I would, however, like to officially end on 31st August so I’m paid over summer. I can see on burgundy book website that the deadline for this is 31st may.

However, if I want to tell them I’m leaving but want my official leaving date to be 31st may, does that leave them open to terminating my contract earlier? Basically I’m under so much pressure and I want it to be known I’m off as they’ll lay off (hopefully). But I don’t want to put myself in a vulnerable position.

Would love advice please!

[xyzandabc]

Sorry, I'm confused. Do you want to finish on 31st August as per your 1st paragraph or 31st May as per your 2nd paragraph.

[Twerking9to5]

Sorry yes that was wrong and v confusing. I want my resignation date to be 31st may, making my final paid working day 31st August. Just wondered whether I had to wait til that exact day in may to resign if I want last day to be 31st August.

[profpoopsnagle]

In your letter, state your resignation date is 31st August. You have until the 31st May to tell them otherwise you will be in breach of contract. You will be required to work at school up to the last date of the summer term and be paid over the summer holidays. Most schools appreciate the longer heads up to get another teacher.

[Janek]

Speak to your union - they will know the correct answer and protect you if the school try to do something shady once you know the correct answer.

[Twerking9to5]

I’m not a union member unfortunately. At the time of going back to work after maternity we were scraping to pay childcare costs so I didn’t join. Obv wishing I had now

[Twerking9to5]

prof thank you!

[ScienceNut]

Agree with Prof,

Hand your notice in whenever with 31st Aug as your effective from date. Should be no hassle.

Then join a union now!

[BossWitch]

And join a union!! You may need the legal protection one day.

[Twerking9to5]

I will. This has taught me a lesson in the value of a union!

[RamsayBoltonsConscience]

Also if you didn't hand your notice in until 31st August, you'd be contractually obliged to work until the end of the Autumn term

[trinity0097]

It’s very simple, resign at any point up to the end of May to leave at the end of August.
They can’t make you go earlier if you had it in, but if you know you are going and wait to hand it in it will be viewed badly by your school as they will struggle to fill the vacancy, different if you have no choice, but if you know now hand it in now!

[Appuskidu]

You can hand your notice any time in between now and 31st May and leave on 31st August.

[Mrstumbletap]

Isn't the 31st of May in half term though?

[castasp]

"handing your notice in" just literally means handing over the letter stating when you'd like to stop being paid (and therefore stop working for them). The date you hand the letter in is completely irrelevant as long as it's done before 31st May.

What is important is the date you put down in your letter, so you need this to say 31st August 2018.

Dear (Head Teacher)

I would like to inform you that I am resigning my post of teacher at (school) from 31st August 2018

Yours Sincerely

Twerking9to5

and that's it!

If you absolutely know for sure that you are leaving then hand it in as soon as possible. If you are even slightly unsure, then wait until the last Friday before May half term.

[Ilovewheelychairs]

You’re doing them a favour by not leaving it until the last possible date to resign; gives them much more opportunity to advertise and get the most suitable candidate to succeed you. I am leaving in August. I gave my notice in on 18th December 2017! The school have no problem with this, in fact, they have openly been grateful for the longer notice period. I am only on a temporary contract as well so they could easily have just stopped my pay as of my last day worked in July. But they haven’t because I’ve done the right thing by them.

[Appuskidu]

Isn't the 31st of May in half term though?

Some years it is, some years it isn’t.

It doesn’t matter. It’s still the cut off.

[ohreallyohreallyoh]

Have a look on the TES forums - I got a resignation template from there last year - I resigned as early as January but worked to the end of the year and was paid all the way to the end of August.

[Kathsmum]

Nasuwt was free for first year. You NEED to be in a union to cover yourself never mind advice etc.

[rillette]

NEU are running a special offer at the moment, I got a year's membership for £10.

[Mrstumbletap]

That price is only until September and then it's £179