Missing the resignation date - 31 May?

[1400spincycle]

I’m a part-time cover teacher at a primary school on a 1 year contract which ends 31 August this year. I’m keen to leave, but unfortunately I’ve not been able to line up a new job yet and the 31st May resignation deadline is looming.

I have an interview for a new role but it’s not until 5th June - and of course there is no guarantee of me getting it anyway.

SLT have not said anything about if my contract will be extended or if they have a position for me in September - they are recruiting for new teachers in mid June so they will probably only know if they need me by July?

Does anyone have any recent experience of how best to manage this situation, especially really don’t want to leave before I have another job to go to.

You need to check your contract. What's your stated notice period? Is it a fixed term contract? Both parties would need to agree to an extension (i.e. you and the school) and so, technically, you wouldn't need to give notice. It's all rather contract specific though.

Good luck for the interview.

I'm confused. If your contract ends in August you are free to keep applying for new jobs. You don't need to resign by May 31st like teachers who are on a permanent contract, your contract simply comes to an end if you get offered another job. It's a two way thing when it's a fixed term contract. They can decide whether to offer you a new contract or not, but equally you can decide whether you want to stay. You don't have to wait to see whether they offer you a new contract, you are free to leave at the end of the school year when your current contract ends whether they want you to stay or not.

If you don't get offered a new job, you obviously hope they extend the contract so you still have a job for September. If they don't, I'm sure you'll be able to pick up a similar contract elsewhere from another school who have failed to appoint and desperately need someone from September. As long as you're not too choosey, it should all work out ok.

Good luck

If your contract is fixed term, you don't have to resign by 31st May. You are free to continue applying for other posts and to leave at the end of the year.

If your school offer you a new contract then you can choose to accept or not.

Have you spoken to anyone in SLT about it? If you are happy there and would like to stay, its worth voicing that to them.

The title to your post is misleading if I’m honest OP!

You are on a fixed term contract that ends on the 31/08 so you aren’t bound to the resignation deadline as your contract will end. You can still go for the job interview and get the job and start in September without there being any implications for you.

I will say though - if the school does have upcoming vacancies that they are looking to fill in June - why have they not approached you already? You can’t be held onto a string until July and be an after thought if they don’t manage to recruit anyone as that’s what it is coming across as.

I am currently on a one year maternity cover contract ending 31 august. I have secured another role for September, and I have not handed in my resignation as I don't need to, since my contract ends in August. It sounds like you are in the same position. Good luck with your application, I hope you get it! 😊

If you are on a contract that is ending, the deadline doesn't apply to you. If they wanted to keep.you, they should have offered you a new contract by now. You are under no obligation yo stay.

Thanks for this - that makes things simpler - they have invited me to apply for their vacancies - but I’m not very keen. I just want the flexibility to keep looking