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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

The staffroom

When can I leave?

26 replies

Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 18:35

Came back from mat leave recently...will have worked enough days that I don't have to pay backed the enhanced maternity pay by the end of may. Does anyone know if / how I can leave at the end of May? When would I need to resign or is it too late? Thanks

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FellOutOfBed2wice · 27/03/2018 18:40

Yes, you can. I did this last year. Have since taken up a part time role in a school more convienient for me but I had to serve- I believe it was- 14 weeks before I could officially leave. Luckily 6 weeks of that was summer holiday as DD2 was born on September 2nd.

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FellOutOfBed2wice · 27/03/2018 18:41

Oh and you just have to resign in line with the normal teacher resignation dates. So May half term to leave at the start of the summer holidays.

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AssassinatedBeauty · 27/03/2018 18:41

It's too late to leave at the end of May, it would be the summer now.

local.teachers.org.uk/haringey/Resignationdates.cfm

You need to read your maternity policy to find out how many weeks you need to stay for to avoid paying back your enhanced pay.

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Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 18:42

Thanks. But if I want to leave at the end of May, is that possible do you know?

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Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 18:42

Ah ok thanks. Is that for definite? I don't think I can cope that long.

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PlateOfBiscuits · 27/03/2018 18:43

You can asked to be released from your contract early and the Govs will decide. I’ve known it happen but they can refuse.

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Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 18:46

Thanks everyone. Not the news I wanted but at least I know. I had tried NUT advice line but gave up after 30 minutes on hold.

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grumpypug · 27/03/2018 18:51

I find the union emails much more effective than waiting on hold on the phone.

But yes, teachers can definitely only leave at the end of the term unless there's 1.5 terms notice, so to leave at May 1/2 term you would have had to hand in your notice at Christmas (and even then it's at the heads discretion).

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Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 18:52

Being a teacher is so shit sometimes.

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Stubbings17 · 27/03/2018 18:55

As far as I know it's only half a terms notice. I handed mine in last October half term and then left at Christmas.

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AssassinatedBeauty · 27/03/2018 18:58

I resigned at October half term and left at Christmas. So it would be end of Feb half term for an end of Spring term leaving date.

Do you have an urgent need to leave or is it that the work is intolerable and you want to leave asap?

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Hobnobsarenotfordunking · 27/03/2018 19:01

Exit dates for teachers are Christmas, Easter and July. The notice period for these is by the half term previous.

So you can’t leave at May half term regardless of notice, unless your Governers decide to release you.

I left my last job at Feb half term at the discretion of the Governors so it can happen. Have you talked to someone at work about you not coping?

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Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 19:03

Partly work intolerable and partly childcare not working out. Some days I think I can stick it out till July but then today I'm in tears and desperate to get out.

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Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 19:03

No I haven't talked to anyone at work, well only friends. I can't see SLT being in any way helpful or supportive.

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AssassinatedBeauty · 27/03/2018 19:07

I'm so sorry, I really feel for you. I went back after my first, found the workload unbearable on top of childcare, and my line management to be callously disinterested in that. I was asking for help and just given more and more work to do. I resigned in Oct half term without a job to go to. I really do know how you feel.

If you know you are going to resign as soon as you can, maybe you could consider asking to be let go sooner, and see what they say.

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Hobnobsarenotfordunking · 27/03/2018 19:10

Are you currently full time? Would a drop to part time help you manage the work load more?

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AssassinatedBeauty · 27/03/2018 19:10

For me, going part time just meant trying to do as much work in less time and for less money.

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carringtonm · 27/03/2018 19:11

It's half a term's notice to leave at the end of a term (so Oct HT for a December finish, Feb HT for Easter finish etc). Otherwise it's at least a term's notice - you cannot leave at a half term as standard. If you hand your notice in tomorrow, the earliest you can leave is end of August UNLESS you can negotiate an early release from your contract.

Could you ask if you can reduce your hours between May HT and the end of the school year? If you've already done the minimum amount of hours so that you don't need to pay back the maternity, then your employers may be open to offering you some flexible hours which could make it more manageable until you leave? You can hand in your notice right up until the end of May for an August finish, so you could try and get part-time hours arranged before then and once that's sorted and in writing then just hand your notice in for the end of May, with your reduced hours already sorted.

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Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 19:11

Thanks Beauty. It's nice to hear some kindness. I'd oringinally thought I could stay and get pregnant again but I just can't take it.

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Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 19:13

Thanks - I already am part time. But the 3 days a week are killing me - it's a long commute and also I'm not happy with the childcare I have

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Eggzandbacon · 27/03/2018 19:18

We let people leave early sometimes on the basis we think they might go off on the sick - I think if you emphasise how much you are struggling it might make a difference

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Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 19:18

And yes, exactly that Beauty. And my partner teacher is not helpful!

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Hasbrobeen · 27/03/2018 19:24

Thanks. I guess that it makes most sense to stick it out till summer and get August's pay rather than leave a few weeks earlier.

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AssassinatedBeauty · 27/03/2018 19:48

If you can manage to get through till the summer it would be better financially, certainly. But do look after your mental and physical health - if you're in tears daily (as I was towards the end) then consider seeing your GP and discussing work stress.

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carringtonm · 27/03/2018 20:24

@Hasbrobeen It's such a tough job - I've recently gone back to work after three months off with stress. I'm going on Maternity Leave soon so counting down the days!

If you can hang on until the end of the school year then you'll benefit from six weeks' pay for no work! Hopefully that can keep you going - it's not that long in the grand scheme of things. But if you're really struggling then see your GP - you will qualify for some full sick pay which might allow you some extra time to make a decision about your future. I wasn't happy to go off at all but it really was the best thing I could have done and it gave me time to put myself first and mentally have a break. I've been able to go back feeling refreshed and a better teacher as a result.