Leaving - handing in notice - what is the protocol?

[incogneetow]

I work as support staff in school and am going to leave this summer.
I want to tell some close friends and it's unreasonable to expect they won't tell anyone, so others may find out.

Am I obliged to formally tell the HT or my line manager now? Is it expected? Or is it fine to leave it until much later?

You should know how long the period for notification is, it should be in the T & C for your job. A teacher has to give notice no later than the half term before the end of term they want to resign in, so end of May for July. I imagine support staff have a shorter period.
So no, it isn't expected that you tell anyone before that if you don't want to.

You almost certainly won't be legally obliged to give notice yet (probably a month notice period), however it is the polite thing to do if you know for certain you are leaving.

I meant tell the head or line manager informally by the way, you could then do a letter later.

A teacher is on a half-term notice in maintained schools, and one term in the independent sector.

I would imagine that support staff are on a one month notice. It will say in your contract. If your year ends on 30th August, then your notice would be 30th July, if this were the case.

If friends are going to gossip, it is courtesy to tell the head teacher. It is courtesy anyway, unless you think you are going to be treated badly for the rest of the time you are there.

Yes, I know I only HAVE to give a month's notice.

But I mean more how outrageous would it be if the HT found out and I hadn't told him personally?

And does it matter that the HT has no sense of courtesy himself?

Arrggghh... I think I'm going to have to tell him soon, but I really don't want to.

Tell them all in New Year of your plans.