Handing in Notice

[MrC88]

Hi all, wondering if anyone can help me?

I’ve just accepted a new teaching job in a different college and I’m aware my notice period should be from May 31st to leave at the end of August but I’ve only just got the job this Friday. I’m handing in my notice on Monday, meaning I’m giving 72 days notice (two month and a half almost). I have 4.5 weeks of annual leave left to my name. Do you think I’ll have any major trouble?

Thanks

It depends if your school is over staffed. If they are, and you going solves a problem rather than creating one, it may be okay. Otherwise they might make things uncomfortable for you. The resignation dates are in the contract, unless you are in an academy that works to different rules. You talk about annual leave, which makes me think your school is not typical, so it might be different for you.

Congratulations!
Your current school must know you've gone for this job, so did you tell them it was for a September start and if successful you'd like to resign after the resignation date?
The new college also knew you were applying after the resignation date, so did you tell them you were unable to start until January unless you could be released early?

Your current school doesn't have to accept resignation now and could make you stay until Christmas. They might accept it if they're confident they can recruit and/or it means they can resolve being overstaffed.

Are you a teacher, working under ‘normal’ (burgundy book) conditions? Then, yes. You could have major trouble. Your current school can insist you stay until December 31 (and they will struggle to recruit for September) and your new school shouldn’t be hugely surprised by that. Have you told them you’ll start in September?

Hi and thanks for the replies!

My current college did not know I was going for the interview. My new boss is someone I used to work with and they understand how the current college I’m with operates. We are recruiting for new staff next week for my subject and there are more candidates than roles so there’s a strong chance they could find someone to replace me in next week’s pool of applicants

You might find your current school already know as references should be taken prior to interview so either your current boss knows and is likely unimpressed, or your new college hasn't followed safer recruitment by getting your references.

It's one thing to need to ask for some flexibility in leaving dates/resignation windows if you've been upfront and honest, it's another to want that flexibility when you haven't told you current college that you've applied, interviewed and accepted another job for a September start.

Hi Lola

I did not tell them for two reasons, first was because the interview invite came through after May 31st and the second was to not send my team into a panic for no reason. I have a good relationship with my managers and have over 3 years service

Are you in a school or a post-16 FE college?

I think you may have trouble if you’ve not even told them you were applying and asked for a reference.

Post 16 FE

I don't doubt you would have had your reasons, just in general not telling your school/college you're applying for another job is a big no-no.

Your team wouldn't have gone in a tailspin as they wouldn't have needed to know, but your head ought to have known and safer recruitment means that references should have been requested before interview.

I have known some people get jobs after the resignation date and their resignation for the end of term be accepted. I've also known people apply after a resignation date and their new school/college was willing to wait for the candidate to work their notice period. In all those situations the candidate had been up front with the current and intended school.

Does your new college know you aren't contractually able to leave until Christmas unless your head agrees otherwise?

They may release you early but they don’t have to. You are contractually obliged to stay until Christmas if they say no. Is your new school happy to wait until January if necessary? Presumably they understood that this was a possibility, as they were interviewing in June. As SLT, you understand that if you’re interviewing in June then there’s a good chance you’ll have to wait until January for a good candidate. In June, if you really need a September start, then you’re looking at a choice between NQTs, people coming back from a career break and those so unhappy at their current school that they resigned without a job to go to in May.
If your college is the sort of place where you didn’t want management to know you had an interview, then I imagine it’s also the sort of place that might be awkward about releasing you early when they don’t have to.

Thanks all, going to sit down with my manager in the morning before I officially hand my notice in writing