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Original poster

Teacher Resignation Dates?

15 replies

higgledypuggledy · 07/07/2017 09:22

I'm a school governor, and my understanding is that teacher resignation dates are as per schedule [[https://www.tes.com/news/blog/leaving-dates-and-resignation-dates]].

I've just heard that a teacher has announced this week that she's not coming back in September. I don't know the circumstances, and I'm not sure if it would be appropriate to ask (I'm not on the staffing committee), but it obviously puts the school in the awkward position of having to do a last minute recruitment.

How unusual is this and what does it mean from a contract-breaking perspective for the teacher? (I may be making too much of a leap, but a lot of teachers in my area seem to be moving to the private sector at the moment, so perhaps they wouldn't really care about honouring the protocols of state school contracts).

OP posts:
Original poster
higgledypuggledy · 07/07/2017 09:23

Sorry, link failedl: www.tes.com/news/blog/leaving-dates-and-resignation-dates

OP posts:
bebumba · 07/07/2017 12:52

Although this may be the case for state maintained schools I think academies can set their own notice periods.

Original poster
higgledypuggledy · 07/07/2017 13:18

I think many academies adopt national terms and conditions. Ours does.

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FrToddUnctious · 07/07/2017 19:11

Maybe the teacher hadn't planned to leave but has no choice to leave now for some reason. I can think of a few possible reasons.

FrToddUnctious · 07/07/2017 19:12

No choice but to leave now

Original poster
higgledypuggledy · 07/07/2017 19:25

You might be right, and there might be perfectly compassionate reasons for letting her go.

But, on the face of it, it's a contract breach, so I'm curious as to how common it is and how schools deal with it.

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Bobbybobbins · 07/07/2017 19:30

We have had this a few times but it has always been agreed with the headteacher and so it hasn't caused any problems with the school.

user1497480444 · 07/07/2017 20:38

Its quite common, You only need to adhere to the resignation date in your contract if you need a reference, otherwise, it is irrelevant.

Having said that, depending on the circumstances, a teacher leaving without proper notice might still get a good reference.

It might not be the teachers choice, it might be the school, is it an NQT who has failed their induction? Is it a redundancy?

If it is a short term or temporary contract, the notice dates do not apply anyway.

If she has been badly treated she will be entitled to leave. if she has a compromise agreement she will be entitled to leave. If she feels the timetable she has been offered for next year is in breach of her contract, she will also be entitled to leave! If the job has made her ill, she is entitled to leave.

Quite apart from that, you still have 8 weeks to fill the vacancy.

One of my colleagues is so angry and upset with the school that she doesn't intent to tell them until September that she is not coming back.

( She doesn't need a reference)

I believe you can sue for breach of contract, but this will cost the school more than they are likely to recoup, especially if she has mitigating circumstances, or a defense.

Original poster
higgledypuggledy · 07/07/2017 22:39

One of my colleagues is so angry and upset with the school that she doesn't intent to tell them until September that she is not coming back

Hopefully she'll think of the students and give them more notice. No matter how angry she is with the school it's the students who will suffer.

OP posts:
ClearEyesFullHearts · 07/07/2017 22:47

Hopefully she'll think of the students and give them more notice. No matter how angry she is with the school it's the students who will suffer.*

Hear hear. Angry

cherish123 · 07/07/2017 23:24

It is usually a term but this is between the teacher and headteacher/HR.

user1497480444 · 08/07/2017 03:40

Hopefully she'll think of the students and give them more notice. No matter how angry she is with the school it's the students who will suffer.

well, I'm not trying to persuade her otherwise, she has been bullied horrendously by students and received no back up at all by the school. And there have been so many changes of staff and supply teachers in so many departments that I doubt the students will even notice one more to be honest.

It might not be something I would do myself, but I certainly don't judge her for doing it, and will not be warning her department either.

mrz · 09/07/2017 06:48

"But, on the face of it, it's a contract breach, so I'm curious as to how common it is and how schools deal with it." I wouldn't say it's common but it's certainly not unknown. There are many reasons why someone can't give the required notice period and it would be usual for a teacher to discuss these reasons. The head /governors are at liberty to wave the notice period and release staff from their contract.
I would imagine the head is busily looking to employ a replacement. Perhaps needing to employ agency staff until someone suitable can be found.
Last year we were told in the last week of the holidays that a teacher wouldn't be starting cue lots of frantic phone calls but we had a replacement teacher by the time the children returned.

hesterton · 09/07/2017 07:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chillyegg · 09/07/2017 07:09

All i have to give is 2 weeks notice and that works the other way aswell. Im on a temp maternity cover contract.

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